Alp Era
Description
From Filisur, follow the signposted mountain bike route to Alvaneu Bad and Surava, where the ascent to Alp Ozur begins. The easy gravel road becomes steeper with increasing altitude, especially in the section after Alp Aclas. Just over 1000 meters of altitude are covered until the ascent is largely completed at Alp Ozur. This is followed by the transfer section to Alp Era, the start of the descent. Initially, the trail is easy to recognize, but is then barely visible on the meadow. Simply follow the markings, and at the edge of the forest you suddenly find yourself in front of a single trail in a class of its own. This leads smoothly through the pine forest, never steep, always nice and flowy and interspersed with the occasional hairpin bend. A stream has to be crossed twice, but here the path has slipped a little and you have to hump your bike through the scree. Finally, you reach the path in the Schaftobel, which leads spectacularly through a rocky section further down. The scenery is reminiscent of the Val d'Uina, but the path here is much less dangerous and also "decorated" with a large waterfall. A little below the rocky passage, the serpentine path branches off to the left in the direction of Alvaneu Bad. The gravel and country roads then take you back to Filisur.
Note: The path from Alp Era through the Schaftobel is closed until further notice due to the risk of falling rocks and damaged infrastructure.
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Details of the tour
25 km
1230 m
1230 m
1 day
Filisur
Filisur
1312
limited
More information
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User comments (33)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
We rode the tour on 23.10.2022. The ascent of 1000m with an average of over 14% is a decent warm-up. As mentioned by the previous rider, the first crossing of the stream is definitely not without its challenges and can get even worse after heavy rainfall. I would definitely NOT attempt this passage on an e-bike! You have to hold the bike with one hand and use the other to support yourself on the side and make sure you don't slip. The other bridges are passable and, as already mentioned, one of them is missing a plank. The most interesting section comes with the rock gallery in the lower part of the ravine. Here too, part of the side walkway on the rock face has been washed away. If it rains heavily, I don't know how much of it will remain. There is no alternative way down the ravine. But the ravine is definitely adventurous with a wild beauty. If you only want to see the rock gallery without riding the critical upper part, you can also ride along the gravel road almost to the gallery... it's definitely worth it.
We rode the tour today 24.08.24, the description of sgiaco regarding the ravine crossing is still up to date, unfortunately nothing has been done there since 2022, the crossing is quite adventurous, .needs some alpine courage and maybe a short safety rope, but all other bridges go and in the most spectacular section of the Schaftobel, in the "Uina section", repair work is in progress :-) We would do it again, but definitely do NOT recommend it with e-bikes! The trail in the upper section is a little difficult to find in places as it hasn't been maintained for years.
I rode the tour on 16.10.2022. On my own responsibility. The single trail is fantastic, technically not difficult, partly exposed. Slipping, falling etc. means danger to life. The landscape is sensational. The three bridges are "new" and passable for courageous people. A plank is missing from the first bridge. The crossing of the first tributary (height 1597) is tricky/critical. The path is torn away. The stream has to be forded (no problem with little water). Scrambling up the opposite slope on a bike is dangerous. It would be easier with two people.
We rode the tour on 14.08.22. On our own responsibility.
Very impressive tour through the wild and romantic Schafstobel.
Many thanks to the path builders who maintain the path and rebuild the bridges.
We rode the tour today.
The trail is generally closed. But you are allowed to do it on your own responsibility.
Crossing the stream at 1575m is not easy!
The bridge at around 1500m is missing planks.
The path from 1485 is repaired. The "bridge" at 1374Hm is under construction and the "bridge" at 1251Hm is currently under construction. (tree trunks and cross planks) But if I look at the traces of the last flood, the bridges will be gone again at the next flood.
I rode the tour from Alp Era on Aug. 3, 21. The Schaftobel is impressive, wild and very beautiful. The bridges up to point 1485 are all gone and crossing the streams is not easy. Especially when there is a lot of water, as there is at the moment, and the trees are still there. It's a shame that this path is no longer being restored, but somehow understandable. From point 1485, the path has been repaired a little.
The path is officially closed. However, it is used by hunters and alpine farmers. All on your own responsibility.
We drove in from Plan da Pe. From there, everything is rideable except for one spot at P1127. This can be bypassed with some difficulty.
The path is still closed (07.07.21), it is no longer passable and will probably not be repaired. 2 bridges are missing, various damages due to landslides/rockfalls, approx. 10 fallen trees blocking the path
I rode the Schaftobel today 9.8.2020. the path and the landscape are indeed world class. but as it is at the moment I classify some passages as dangerous. Since the first bridge over the Schaftobelweg is destroyed, you have to cross the stream. Sometimes you have to walk knee-deep through the torrential water (which certainly varies depending on the amount of water). This is not everyone's cup of tea. Further down, the concrete foundations of the next bridge are totally undermined. Sooner or later they will be gone!
g Jann
Currently, the second bridge is also gone and the Schaftobel with its relatively strong current has to be crossed.
The path is still officially closed. However, it can be used relatively easily. The bridge is missing at the first stream crossing. However, the crossing is relatively easy. The tour is not recommended in bad weather.
Hello Niklaus,
We would like to do the tour by e-bike. Is it easy to cross the stream on an e-bike?
Greetings
Hanspeter
Is the trail open again?
When will the trail be open again?
The trail is currently closed due to forestry work. Status 25.07.20
oh ok, should have read the comments before...
An impressive tour in every respect, far away from the biking crowds.
Technically easy to ride up; the ascent is steady but steep. Wonderful, flowing trail in the forest below Alp Era. If you are careful and sure-footed, the closed passage is also doable in pairs - as of 23.7.20. The route back through the gorge towards the valley is spectacular, the landscape wild and unforgettably beautiful.
Rode the tour today (May 9, 2020). The descent from Alp Era is closed. Several trees are lying across and the path is partially washed away. There is also a risk of falling rocks. Tour is scenically top.
Checked 2019
We rode the tour on 08.07.2019. It is really beautiful and above all impressive! However, at the point where the path has slipped, surefootedness is required! A 20m long rope would certainly not hurt for second climbers. We would do the tour again.
...wants to do the Tour Alp Era on com. Thursday for the Alp Era tour. Is the Schaftobel still closed?
I'm looking forward to your feedback. I also have the tour on my radar;-)
We have just ridden the tour. Officially, the ban still seems to be in place due to the risk of falling rocks, but the signs have not (yet) been installed. The path is currently in good condition and the passage through the stream is the same as in previous years. Bike tracks in the upper part show that the trail is used regularly.
BLOCKED!
We wanted to ride the tour on 19.8.18 and start from Surava. After just a few hundred meters, we came across a sign saying that the trail descent was closed. Unfortunately, we hadn't read the previous comment beforehand. We then decided to spend the day differently.
We rode part of the tour on 12.08.2018. We ignored the official signs stating that the hiking trail was closed.
We descended via the Val Era to the Untere Schaftobelhütte. There, a sign telling us that the path had been "really" impassable since 7.8.2018 due to numerous mudslides persuaded us to turn back. It was already late afternoon and rain was forecast. So we no longer had time for an expedition to follow up this tip or to ride.
We decided to try the hiking trail towards Sela. This alternative route, from the Untere Schaftobelhütte (1480m) uphill (1780m) until the slope can be crossed, the bike often has to be carried or pushed. It is also definitely not worth continuing to the forest road to Sela. On the crossing, there are always steep, rocky counter-climbs over which the bike has to be carried and pushed again and again. Anything but a flowing trail.
Admittedly, the first trail through the forest is fun and flowy, and the gorge is spectacular in terms of scenery. But after that it's all highway: wide, boring, monotonous. Your technical rating of 3 is definitely too high. The only difficult part is crossing the stream. The last hairpin bend is a little more difficult. There are many more beautiful tours, especially in the Davos/Filisur region.
Technical rating 3 is absolutely justified. Even if large sections are much easier, there are always a few more technical sections, especially at the start.
I also don't agree with the highway throws after the ravine. On the one hand, the very difficult (or barely rideable) serpentine trail directly after the gorge and then the flowy surfing through the forest is anything but boring. Unless you mean the gravel roads back to Filisur described in the report
I rode the tour on July 18, 2017.
The ascent is regularly very steep (unfortunately I had to walk a lot as it was too steep for me). However, the road is in tip-top condition. But then came the compensation for the steep ascent! A trail in a class of its own. The signs that the trail is closed are of course still there. But as Thomas also wrote, it is possible, even if it is not easy. But turning back is definitely not an option. To cross the stream (where there is no longer a bridge and the path has also been washed away), good footwear is essential (e.g. bike shoes with Vibram soles and not CC bike shoes with carbon soles), as you really have to climb and there are hardly any footholds in the scree. There should also be at least two of you, so you can help each other with the bike. But the continuation of the trail is also a blast! Then the "Val d'Uina panorama" is simply gigantic. Thomas, you're absolutely right, you get that Val d'Uina feeling and that's by no means an exaggeration, I completely agree! In contrast to Val d'Uina, you can ride everything safely here, which is not the case on the Val d'Uina rocky trail, where it's rightly forbidden for safety reasons and should be respected by all bikers. Bikers keep falling to their deaths there because they think they have to ride (that's what locals told me).
...I think this tour to Alp Era is a real treat. The trail in the forest in the upper part is pretty, but to compare the gorge with the Val d'Uina is very daring. But in the end it's always a matter of taste. I think there are certainly many other tours in the region that are more worthwhile than this one.
I don't share your opinion of this tour and the fact that you find the comparison with the Val d'Uina daring. This trail is one of the most beautiful I've ridden, and there are quite a few of them. I also know the Dolomites and of course the various areas in the Alps (Central Switzerland and Graubünden as far as Ticino). You really unsettled me with your comment and I'm glad that I rode the tour anyway.
I would love to know where your even more rewarding tours can be found.
We rode the tour today because we didn't know about the closure. It was closed because the hiking trail had slipped near a stream. However, if the stream is riding normally, you can get through with the necessary caution and suitable shoes.
Otherwise an impressive tour, technically not so challenging (but exposed in a few places), very impressive scenery. However, I found the 1000m ascent on the permanently steep alpine road quite strenuous.
The Schaftobel has been officially closed since 24.5.17: http://www.baw-gr.ch/wanderwege/wegsperrungen.html
The path from Alp Era to Alvaneu Bad through the Schaftobel is closed from point 1490. A detour is only possible with a considerable time expenditure of more than 3 hours