Oct 316 min read

Morteratsch Glacier Trail

5.8 km easy family hike with a treasure hunt and a glacier. Suitable for off-road strollers.

Morteratsch | Engadin | Canton of Graubünden (Switzerland)

The "it" factor

Munggeweg Amden hike Amdo Mugg Groundhog

What makes it special:

An easy 5.8 km hike to and from the glacier, highly accessible for families
Sabi’s Big Dream treasure hunt for kids
Free entry
Starts near a waterfall route, a restaurant with a playground, a goat enclosure, and a summer-only cheese dairy with another playground and rabbits

What needs to be considered:

No playgrounds or play stations along the trail itself
Open year-round, but restaurants may be closed outside the summer season. For non-summer visits, check with tourist info for current accessibility updates

Don't feel like reading? Watch a video instead!

Morteratsch Glacier Trail Walk-Through Video

The fun factor

The Morteratsch Glacier in the Engadin Valley, close to Pontresina and St. Moritz, ranks as the third-longest glacier in the Eastern Alps. This stunning glacier is accessible via a 2.9 km stroller-friendly trail from Morteratsch train station or car park, totaling 5.8 km round-trip. One of the easiest glacier paths in Switzerland, it’s more of a scenic stroll than a traditional hike, making it highly accessible for families.

Along this scenic path, 16 informative stations provide insights into the glacier’s history and the effects of climate change, making it a fascinating walk for all ages.

For kids, there’s the engaging Sabi’s Big Dream treasure hunt, which adds a fun element with tasks and stamp collections along the route. While the summer visitors can’t walk on the glacier ice from this trail, we think the experience is still worth it.

Plus, the hike begins next to an impressive river and waterfall, with an optional 1.2 km side Cascada da Bernina trail following the waterfall for an added adventure (no strollers).

There’s a playground right at the start and end of the trail, next to the Morteratsch Hotel, however, there are no play stations or playgrounds along the Morteratsch Glacier Trail. It’s therefore perfect for families with kids who enjoy hiking independently, or for those with strollers. The combination of Sabi’s treasure hunt storytelling, the beautiful natural surroundings, and endless rocks to explore make this trail an engaging experience for families, connecting everyone to the glacier in a uniquely fun way.

Here are our top 6 Fun Factors of Morteratsch Glacier Trail

1. Embark on Sabi's Treasure Hunt

Pick up a free Sabi’s Big Dream booklet at Hotel Morteratsch, Camping Morteratsch, the Sabi letterbox on the Glacier Trail, or the Pontresina Tourist Information and join Sabi, the glacier elf, on a fun journey along the glacier trail! The story, available in English, guides young explorers with quizzes and fun facts about the glacier’s ancient history. Along the path, there are information boards with hole punchers. Each punch adds a letter to your booklet, and once all are collected, they reveal a secret word. Hand in your completed booklet at the Morteratsch Hotel or Pontresina tourist office to receive a prize!

2. Finish with Glacier Views and Stone Stacking

The trail ends at a bridge over a river where you can grab your final letter-stamp, sit on a bench, and enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-covered peaks of the glacier. Reading about the glacier’s evolution and seeing how much of the snow has melted offers a powerful reminder of climate change’s impact. We felt lucky to witness this natural beauty, hoping that some of its snowy peaks remain for future generations.

From here, you can choose to cross the bridge and explore the stony valley (note: strollers aren’t suitable here) or simply relax by the bench. Both sides of the bridge are filled with stones—perfect for building cairns (stone towers). We built seven of them while soaking up the natural scenery—such a fun way to connect with the landscape!

From there, you follow the same scenic path back to the starting point.

3. Say hello to the goats

Just behind the Morteratsch Hotel, there’s a small enclosure with friendly goats where you can go in and pet them. If you have an animal lover in the family (or even a big fan like our dad!), this is a sweet way to kick off or end your glacier adventure. Just keep in mind that the goats aren’t always around, so it can be a fun surprise when they are.

The food factor

Just nest to the beginning and end of the hike there is Hotel & Restaurant Morteratsch with a nice ambience and kids menu. They also have a playground next to it and a goat encosure. During our trip we kicked things off with a visit to the goats as a beginning treat and we saved the playground for a reward after the hike, along with delicious ice cream.

Just a short walk from the main trail, nestled in the forest, you’ll find the Alpine Cheese Dairy Morteratsch, (Alp-Schaukäserei Morteratsch) which is open only during the summer. They serve a fantastic brunch and cheese-centered meals all day. There’s also a small bunny enclosure and a playground, making it a delightful spot for families to relax and enjoy a unique alpine treat.

The comfort factor

If you are coming from far and looking for accommodation, you have a few options. For more comfort, you have hotel Morteratsch - it has family friendly vibes as well as a Family Special Packages. We have not stayed there - only had a snack at the restaurant, but it looked very nice and welcoming.

If you want more of a wild nature experience, like we chose, you can opt for one of the best glamping sites we have stayed at - camping Morteratsch. They are open all year round and have a wide selection of accommodations - from tents to glamping houses. We opted for a barrel whcih can fit up to 4 people and loved it. It even came equipped wit a nespreso macine! Just note the toilets are separate.

The fitness factor

The hike follows an easy and wide path, covering a total of 5.8 km round-trip and is suitable for off-road strollers. The trail is completely safe, with no steep drop-offs, making it suitable for hikers of all ages.

The trail includes around 130 meters of elevation gain and is linear. Once you reach the endpoint, you’ll need to return by retracing your steps along the same path.

The views factor

The trail begins next to a waterfall and river, offering beautiful views right from the start. It initially follows the river before veering slightly away onto a forested path. As you progress, the forest thins out, revealing a more open, rocky landscape.

The final stretch is stunning, with a clear view of the glacier framed by snowy peaks in the distance, a flowing creek, and a landscape scattered with stones—an impressive end to the hike.

The value factor

The hike is completely free, with easy access directly from both the car park and train station—no gondola required.