The area around Klosters is best known in winter, when it forms one of the region's larger ski areas together with Davos. There are also some very good summer hikes. This slightly less obvious option works well as a moderately strenuous day walk, includes an appealing place to stop, and can finish with an easy gondola descent.
From Klosters Dorf to Schlappin
The hike starts in Klosters Dorf and initially climbs towards Schlappin. For a while, the route follows the paved Schlappinstrasse, which carried relatively little traffic when we walked it.
Later, we left the road and followed simple hiking paths slightly above the valley. Views repeatedly opened back towards Klosters Dorf and across to the opposite slopes.
After roughly four kilometres, we reached Schlappin. The small settlement lies at the end of the first longer climb and is a very natural place for a break.
We stopped at Berghaus Erika. It serves smaller cold plates and snacks as well as warm meals and drinks. Especially if you do not want to rush the tour, it is a well-placed stop at about the midpoint of the hike.
The longer climb from Schlappin
There are several ways to continue from Schlappin. We chose to climb towards the ski area above Klosters.
The path soon becomes steeper. The ascent is certainly noticeable physically, but it remains technically very simple. A large part follows broad forestry tracks, allowing you to gain elevation at a steady pace.
At roughly 2,000 metres, we reached the Schlappiner Jochweg. From here, the character of the hike changed significantly.
The high path to Madrisa
Instead of continuing steeply uphill, the route follows a fairly gentle high path towards Madrisa for the final two kilometres. It traverses the slope with repeated views towards the mountains around Gotschnagrat, Grüenhorn and Casanna.
The high path itself is also technically uncomplicated. It is mostly quite level and only rarely feels more exposed, making the final section much more relaxed than the long climb before it.
Eventually, we reached the Madrisa mountain station. From here, the gondola runs directly back to the valley, avoiding a descent of well over 900 vertical metres.
For summer 2026, the official adult downhill fare is CHF 24. The published operating season runs from 13 June to 18 October. These details change, so I would check the current timetable and last descent before leaving.
We clearly chose the gondola. After climbing almost 1,000 metres, avoiding the long descent back to Klosters felt very welcome.
How difficult is the hike?
Our recorded version was 8.4 kilometres long, with about 950 metres of ascent and 170 metres of descent. Physically, I would call that moderately demanding. Anyone who hikes regularly should manage it, but the ascent continues through much of the day.
Technically, the route is easy. The beginning uses the road, followed by straightforward forest and hiking paths. Most of the longer climb above Schlappin is on broad forestry tracks. The final high path is relatively flat and never felt seriously exposed.
That makes the tour a good choice for someone who wants a substantial uphill day without difficult or strongly exposed mountain terrain.
Other options from Schlappin
To lengthen the hike, you can continue higher over Schaffürggli before heading towards Madrisa. This adds more climbing and reaches higher terrain.
Another option is to continue deeper into the Schlappin valley. The valley extends much farther towards the Austrian border and feels considerably more remote.
In theory, you can even continue to Tübinger Hütte on the Austrian side. As part of the same day hike, however, that would be very long. I would only consider it for a deliberately ambitious day or with the hut as a separate destination and overnight stop.
You can also finish the main route without the gondola and descend all the way from Madrisa to Klosters Dorf. We deliberately saved ourselves that additional descent.
That flexibility is what makes the hike attractive to me. Schlappin provides a good stop, the next section gives you a long but technically easy climb, and the final high path brings broad views. At the end, you can decide whether to walk all the way down or save your legs and take the Madrisa gondola.