Ausserferrera lies at an altitude of 1,316 metres in Val Ferrera, on the Averser Rhine, known in Romansh as Ragn da Ferrera. The village consists predominantly of old wooden houses. The settlement of Cresta lies on a terrace 350 metres above the village and is inhabited only in summer. Today, Ausserferrera is a locality in the municipality of Ferrera in the canton of GraubĂĽnden; until the end of 2007, it was an independent municipality.
Hikes with Different Destinations
A hike to Alp Nursera and through the Schwarzwald begins at the Ausserferrera PostBus stop. Along the way, you can visit a mine tunnel on a guided tour. This lets you combine a walk through the landscape with a glimpse into historic mining—although visiting the tunnel requires a guided tour.
Another hike leads from Ausserferrera to Sufers. It crosses the Ragn da Ferrera, also known as the Averser Rhine, and heads towards Alp Nursera. Its highest point is just over 2,000 metres; from there, the view extends into Val Schons as far as Haldensteiner Calanda. The route then descends through the Göriwald to Lake Sufnersee and ends in Sufers. If choosing between the two hikes described, you can decide based on their different highlights: one combines the trail to Alp Nursera with a guided visit to a mine tunnel, while the other leads over a high point to the lake and on to Sufers.
Rock, Forest and Old Trails
The bouldering area Magic Wood, located entirely within the forest, lies on the Ragn da Ferrera. It is approximately 250 metres wide and 500 metres long; access is via a bridge. The rock faces near Ausserferrera consist of Penninic rocks from the Suretta nappe, particularly Rofna gneiss, a porphyritic gneiss.
The Alte Averserstrasse also combines hiking with the history of construction: it was built in 1895 and made accessible to hikers again in recent years. The section towards Ausserferrera features carefully restored natural-stone bridges. The historic road and the route to Sufers offer different insights into the paths through the valley: here, the restored bridges and the former road are the focus; there, the high-altitude route, with views into Val Schons and a descent to Lake Sufnersee.
Mining and Church Architecture
The historic Schmelzi smelting works are located near Ausserferrera. The site is open to the public; the disused mines and visible historic remains have been preserved there. Those interested in mining history will find Schmelzi as a separate place to visit alongside the guided mine-tunnel tour on the hike to Alp Nursera and through the Schwarzwald. The two experiences differ in that the tunnel visit is guided, while Schmelzi is open to the public.
The village of Cresta is home to an old, protected church in a scenic location. Erwin Poeschel dates the Evangelical branch church of Cresta to the Late Romanesque period, after 1200, based on the straight-sided light openings in the apse and the projecting portal lintel. This attribution links visible architectural features to a date and adds to the picture of the village, with its predominantly old wooden houses.
Getting Around the Valley
Both Ausserferrera and Sufers can be reached by PostBus from Andeer. For your specific journey, it is worth checking the timetable before setting off. This allows you to factor in your arrival in Ausserferrera and the possible starting point at the stop when planning your hike, without assuming there is a direct PostBus service between Ausserferrera and Sufers.
Discover more destinations: Scharans, Feldis, Pignia, Tartar, Masein, Portein, Sils Im Domleschg, Andeer.
Go to the main travel overview: Hinterrhein.
