Scopi
3,190 m
Switzerland
Also known as Scopí, სკოპიAlso known as
Scopí · სკოპი
- Elevation
- 3,190 m
- Prominence
- 792 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T4 (Camptocamp (F, engagement I)) · T3+ (hikr.org report (2010), steep scree below the summit)
A cairned but unpainted path from the Lukmanier Pass (1,917 m) over the avalanche gallery above Lai da Sontga Maria, up grassy slopes to the Pouza dil Scopi cirque and along the broad west ridge to the flattened summit with its military radar station. About 1,280 m of ascent, 3½ hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 5.6 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,291 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 3,190 m
- Time Up
- 5h 02m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 21m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Lukmanier Passhöhe (1,917 m; car park by the Ospizio Santa Maria and PostBus stop) walk north beside the road towards the avalanche gallery, climb onto its roof and follow the track along the lake shore above Lai da Sontga Maria for about 10 minutes, to a prominent cairn (about 1,971 m) where the path to the Scopi branches off. It is marked by frequent cairns rather than paint and is easy to miss in the dark. The path climbs steep grass and rhododendron slopes in wide switchbacks (a few eroded spots) to about 2,150 m, where the ground eases into the Pouza dil Scopi cirque. Above about 2,500 m the meadows give way to stones; a steep pull leads to the broad west ridge, which is followed (one short spot needs a head for heights) to a cairn at about 2,954 m. From there many zigzags climb the south-west face to just below the large military building, and a last stretch of hard snow in early summer, or loose scree later, leads to the levelled summit plateau, the summit cross and register, reached on the left (west) between the installations. About 3½ hours from the pass. Descend the same way in about 2½ hours. Beware of stones knocked down by other parties or station staff on the summit scree. A private cable car serving the military station rises from the Graubünden side but is not open to the public. Strong walkers combine Piz Miez, Scopi and Pizzo del Corvo along the ridge (T4–T5, II).
Start
Lukmanier Passhöhe1,917 m
- Summer bus 62.140 / 90.481 Disentis – Lukmanier Passhöhe – Olivone – Biasca (four times a day each way; first arrival 08:33 from Disentis in 2026)
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lukmanier Passhöhe → Scopi | 5.6 | 1,291 | 18 | 5h 02m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Lukmanier Passhöhe1,917 m
Car park by the Ospizio Santa Maria; PostBus stop
- Summit: Scopi3,190 m
Key Passages
- Branch-off cairn on the gallery roof
- Steep pull onto the west ridge
- Scree or snow below the summit buildings
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest peak around the Lukmanier Pass (3,190 m), on the Graubünden–Ticino border. An easy 3,000 m summit by a cairned path straight from the pass road, crowned by a military radar station and a wide view from the Adula to Monte Rosa.
Scopi rises steeply east of the Lukmanier Pass, above the Lai da Sontga Maria reservoir and the Val Santa Maria. With no higher summits nearby it commands a broad panorama: the Adula Alps, the Tödi, the Gotthard peaks and, on clear days, the Mischabel and Monte Rosa. The summit was levelled for a FLORAKO air-surveillance radar and an air-traffic-control building owned by the Swiss Army, served by a private cable car from the pass road. There are no access restrictions for walkers, and a cross and summit register stand on the free part of the plateau.
The normal route is a steep but straightforward mountain path, cairned rather than painted, with about 1,280 m of ascent from the pass. Its appeal is the ease of reaching 3,000 m directly from a pass road served by summer buses, the flowering rhododendrons in early July and the view; the summit buildings are its drawback.
Climbing Notes
This is a long but non-technical day: about 1,280 m of ascent and 6 hours round trip, so reasonable fitness and sure-footedness on steep grass and loose scree are what matter. The final slope below the summit buildings holds hard snow into early July; take crampons or microspikes and an axe then, and proper boots at any time. Watch for stones dislodged by people above.
The path is not painted, so note the cairn on the avalanche-gallery roof where it starts, especially if setting off in the dark. Start early to avoid afternoon storms and to fit the bus times if travelling by public transport. In winter and spring Scopi is a steep, serious ski tour (around AD-) that needs stable snow.
History
The first recorded ascent was in 1782 by the Benedictine monk and alpine pioneer Placidus a Spescha of Disentis with Johann Bagliel. Spescha returned alone in 1790 and again on 30 June 1814. Hans Conrad Escher von der Linth, Kaspar Hirzel and Jean-Louis Vaucher climbed it on 4 September 1819. The summit was later levelled for the military radar, which lowered it by about 10 m, according to a 2025 trip report.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; steep ski terrain with avalanche risk
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Ski touring for experienced parties only, stable snow required
- Apr
- Spring ski tours
- May
- Snow; pass road may be closed
- Jun
- Summer buses from mid-June; hard snowfield below the summit
- Jul
- Rhododendrons in flower early July; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Usually snow-free; scree below the summit
- Sep
- Often stable and clear
- Oct
- Summer buses end mid-October; early snow
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- The summit radar and air-traffic-control installations are military property; stay on the open part of the summit plateau. The cable car to the summit is not open to the public.
- Getting There
Disentis/Mustér (Graubünden) or Olivone (Ticino)
Zurich (ZRH) or Milan Malpensa (MXP)
- Summer bus Disentis – Lukmanier Passhöhe – Olivone – Biasca (PostAuto and Autolinee Bleniesi), four times a day in each direction
- Year-round buses Disentis – Curaglia – Fuorns and Biasca – Olivone
- By car to the Lukmanier Pass; large car park by the Ospizio Santa Maria
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Weather