Flüela Wisshorn
3,085 m
Switzerland
Also known as ფლიუელა-ვისჰორნი, Flüela-WisshornAlso known as
ფლიუელა-ვისჰორნი · Flüela-Wisshorn
- Elevation
- 3,085 m
- Prominence
- 628 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: III- (gipfelbuch.ch (optional direct line up the 10 m slab)) · T4 (hikr.org trip report, 2009)
A short, high-starting scramble from the Flüela Pass road: a marked mountain path from the Wägerhus car park (about 2,207 m) to the Winterlücke (2,787 m), then about 300 m of cairned scree and easy block scrambling (I–II) on the north-west ridge to the fore-summit and a narrow, exposed crest to the top. About 3 hours up, 2 down.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 4.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +878 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 3,085 m
- Time Up
- 3h 26m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 16m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the car park and bus stop 'Wägerhus/Abzw. Jöriseen' on the Davos side of the Flüela Pass road (about 2,207 m). Follow the good path towards the Jörifurgga for about 20 minutes, then fork east onto a similar mountain path that climbs past point 2437 and around a rock spur to a terrace near point 2560 and up to the Winterlücke (2,787 m), 1–1¼ hours from the road. The last spring water crosses the path at about 2,440 m. This part is T3. From the col climb the north-west ridge, at first on its left side. After about 20 minutes either follow faint, partly loose paths left of the crest or stay on the crest itself on easy, enjoyable gneiss blocks. In the last third a slab about 10 m high bars the way: the SAC description crosses it on the north side about 80 m below the fore-summit; gipfelbuch.ch describes a direct layback line (III-) or a bypass through a brittle couloir on the right. Scree and blocks lead to the fore-summit with its large cairn. To reach the main summit, pass a small gendarme on the Davos side, then cross or skirt a very narrow, exposed 5 m crest; the last 20 m are easy. Descend the same way (about 2 hours). A longer return from the Winterlücke drops to the Jöriseen and climbs back over the Jöriflüelafurgga (2,722 m) and through the Müllerschtälli to rejoin the approach path, adding about 250 m of ascent and 1½ hours at T3. The ridge has become less stable in hot summers as permafrost thaws, and more rockfall has been reported; a large rockslide hit the west face in March 2019 without touching the summer path.
Start
Wägerhus/Abzw. Jöriseen2,206 m
- Summer PostBus between Davos and Susch over the Flüela Pass to the stop Wägerhus/Abzw. Jöriseen
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wägerhus/Abzw. Jöriseen → Flüela Wisshorn | 4.1 | 878 | 0 | 3h 26m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Wägerhus/Abzw. Jöriseen2,206 m
Car park and summer bus stop on the Flüela Pass road, Davos side
- Col: Winterlücke2,783 m
- Summit: Flüela Wisshorn3,085 m
Key Passages
- Winterlücke (2,787 m)
- 10 m slab in the upper third of the north-west ridge
- Narrow, exposed crest between fore-summit and main summit
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
A 3,085 m gneiss peak directly above the Flüela Pass road between Davos and the Engadine. From a car park at 2,207 m, a marked path to the Winterlücke and a short, cairned ridge scramble lead to the top in about three hours.
The Flüela Wisshorn is the highest point of the Silvretta's southern outliers above the Flüela Pass, facing the Flüela Schwarzhorn across the road. Its north side holds the remnant Jörigletscher above the Jöriseen, a group of small lakes below Piz Linard's long ridges, while its west face falls towards the pass road.
Because the road reaches 2,200 m, the ascent is short: about 880 m in total. The first hour is an easy walk on a marked path to the Winterlücke; the rest is an unmarked ridge of blocky gneiss with cairns, a 10 m slab and a narrow, exposed crest between the fore-summit and the main top. SAC grades it T5, which places it at the top of the alpine-hiking scale: it suits experienced mountain walkers who are used to scrambling and route-finding, not people new to rough terrain.
The summit looks over the Jöriseen and Vereina to Piz Linard, and south over the Engadine to the Bernina. In winter and spring the mountain is a popular ski tour from the pass road, with a ski depot below the final ridge.
Climbing Notes
A half-day outing for fit walkers who are comfortable on loose scree and grade I–II rock with exposure. Altitude is not an issue. Wear stiff boots and a helmet, and consider a short rope or cord if anyone in the party is less experienced: the slab in the upper third and the narrow summit crest are the places where a hand on a rope helps. The ridge is marked only by cairns, so it is not a place to be in mist.
The Flüela Pass road is closed in winter and reopens in late spring, which governs both the summer and spring ski-touring seasons; the summer PostBus serves the Wägerhus stop. Start early on hot summer days, as rockfall on the ridge has increased with thawing permafrost, and check recent condition reports on hikr.org or gipfelbuch.ch. After snowfall the north side of the ridge can be icy enough to warrant crampons and an axe.
History
The first ascent is credited to O. Schuster, A. Rzewuski and B. Tauscher in 1880 (Günther Flaig, Silvretta alpin, 2005, as cited by Wikipedia). In March 2019 a large rockslide broke away from the west face; the SAC notes that it did not directly affect the summer path to the Winterlücke.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Flüela Pass road normally closed in winter
- Feb
- Pass road closed; access only by long ski tours
- Mar
- Ski tour possible once access allows; check avalanche bulletin
- Apr
- Spring ski touring, dependent on the pass road opening
- May
- Ski tour from Wägerhus when the road is open; final ridge on foot
- Jun
- Snow on the ridge and approach; crampons and axe useful
- Jul
- Summer season; summer PostBus running
- Aug
- Usually snow-free; start early on hot days because of rockfall
- Sep
- Often stable weather
- Oct
- Early snow possible; pass road may close
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No hut is needed; it is a day ascent from the pass road. Accommodation is available at the Flüela Hospiz on the pass and in Davos.
- Rules
- The Flüela Pass road is closed in winter; opening dates vary with snow (check Graubünden road information)
- Getting There
Davos
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
- Train to Davos Platz (Rhaetian Railway), then the summer PostBus towards the Flüela Pass and Susch to the stop Wägerhus/Abzw. Jöriseen
- By car: Flüela Pass road from Davos (about 12 km) or from Susch in the Lower Engadine; parking at the Wägerhus turn-off at about 2,207 m
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- Weather
- Avalanche