The eight-kilometre-long Walser Trail leads from the hamlet of Giraniga to Miraniga. The Meierhof–Giraniga–Miraniga–Surcuolm–Meierhof cultural hike is the longer route option, at 17.8 kilometres with 538 metres of ascent and descent each. It is described as technically easy, but is also classified as moderate. If you choose this route, consider both classifications together: the technical description does not replace the overall moderate classification.
Walser Trail and cultural hike
Along the Walser Trail in Obersaxen, 23 information panels cover culture and nature. They address the Walser migration in the 13th century and the Walser language. This means you will encounter cultural topics at several points along the trail. In the wider region, the cultural hike also explores mills, castle ruins, natural bridges, language boundaries and agricultural land use. This route connects Giraniga and Miraniga with Surcuolm and Meierhof; its thematic scope extends beyond the individual places along the trail.
St. Sebastian’s Chapel in Miraniga
Miraniga is home to St. Sebastian’s Chapel, built in 1668. Its wall paintings were created by Johann Jakob Rieg in 1705. The furnishings include a notable Baroque altar with Rococo ornamentation and a signed painting created by Father Fridolin Eggert in 1688. The dates relate to different parts of the chapel’s history: its construction, the painting and the wall paintings. The art terms also each have their own emphasis: the altar is Baroque, while its ornamentation is Rococo.
Mountain scenery and notable trail landmarks
The Walser Trail crosses the Schlettertobel on a 44-metre-long suspension bridge, about 16 metres above the streambed. The Durchblickspanorama viewpoint is near the PlĂ mpoort family picnic area. It offers a panorama and identifies the peaks of the opposing mountain ranges.
PlĂ mpoort lies on a mountainside in alpine pastureland southeast of Miraniga. The family picnic area has firewood, a grill, tables, benches and a drinking fountain; there is a toilet in the small log cabin. It can be reached via the Walser Trail from southeast of Miraniga after 2.5 kilometres. When planning your route, you can take into account both its hillside location and the stated trail distance.
Winter trails and seasonal activities
The winter hiking route from Obersaxen-Miraniga passes through a quiet mountain landscape and offers fresh mountain air. Cars are not permitted on the winter hiking trails along this route, even when there is no snow. Follow local signs and safety instructions. Weather and trail conditions on the Walser Trail can vary; check conditions before your hike.
Another winter route option is the Kartitscha–Miraniga–Meierhof toboggan run, designated as an easy sledging route. It is 4.10 kilometres long and operates seasonally. These details clearly distinguish it from the hiking routes: here, the focus is on a designated sledging route with seasonal operation, while the cultural hike is described in terms of its distance, elevation gain and classification.
Discover more destinations: FriggahĂĽs, Affeier, Platta.
Back to the main travel overview: Obersaxen.
