recommended route
Circular hike Aual Claif
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Aual ClaifPhoto: Jörg Clavadetscher
«Auals» is the Romanesque term for the historic irrigation channels and ditches in Val Müstair. This easy circular hike follows the Aual Claif and takes between 2 and 2.5 hours. The Aual Claif carries water from July to October.
easy
Distance 4.9 km
2:00 h
181 m
181 m
1,524 m
1,373 m
In the dry Val Müstair, the meadows and fields have been artificially irrigated for centuries to secure and increase the yield. The water was often channelled over long distances from side streams or even from the main river Rom to the agricultural areas.
As part of the overall agricultural melioration, a network with modern irrigation systems was installed in the Val Müstair and the Auals visibly lost their importance. With the abandonment of the Auals, the old crafts and knowledge were also forgotten. Today, the value and functions of the Auals are mainly of a cultural-historical nature. But biodiversity also benefits from the still water-bearing Auals. Thanks to an initiative of the Swiss Landscape Conservation Foundation, the municipality of Val Müstair and the nature park, selected Auals have been restored for several years and the remains of former Auals have been made visible again in the terrain.
Difficulty
easy
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
1,524 m
Lowest point
1,373 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt
0.6 km
Forested/wild trail
0.8 km
Path
2.8 km
Road
0.7 km
Safety information
The tour was assessed in favourable weather conditions, it is imperative that the current weather conditions and weather forecasts are observed before starting the tour.Emergency call:
144 Emergency call, first aid
1414 Mountain rescue REGA
112 International emergency call
Start
Sta. Maria, cumün (1,375 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'828'754E 1'165'548N
DD
46.602012, 10.424898
DMS
46°36'07.2"N 10°25'29.6"E
UTM
32T 609129 5161924
w3w
///propelled.packet.binders
Destination
Sta. Maria, cumün
Turn-by-turn directions
Starting from Sta. Maria, PostBus stop cumün, follow the Umbrailstrasse and take the second turning on the left towards Guad. Now walk through the fields in the direction of Müstair. At the first crossroads, turn right up the gravel path to «Aua Naira». Here the path branches again and you follow the hiking trail to the right in the direction of «Döss da las Levras». After a short section on the Umbrail road, quickly leave it again and follow the hiking trail on the right towards «Döss da las Levras / Muranzina». After about 300 m, the hiking trail begins along the Aual Claif and goes almost to its socket at the Muranzina. The water of the Aual Claif used to irrigate most of the meadows of Sta. Maria. After the wooden bridge over the Muranzina, you can descend to the right towards Sta. Maria.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- By Rhaetian Railway (from Chur, Landquart/Prättigau or from the Upper Engadine) hourly to Zernez station.
- Continue by PostBus (from Zernez or Mals) hourly to PostBus stop Sta. Maria, cumün
Getting there
- Von Norden: über Landquart – Klosters per Autoverlad durch den Vereinatunnel (Selfranga - Sagliains). Von Zernez auf der H28 ins Val Müstair bis nach Sta. Maria (40 Minuten Fahrtzeit ab Vereina Südportal).
- Von Osten: via Reschenpass (Nauders) auf der SS40 bis nach Mals. Von Mals auf der SS41 bis an die Schweizer Grenze nach Sta. Maria.
- From the south: Via Bolzano and Merano on the SS40 to Malles. From Mals on the SS41 to the Swiss border in Sta. Maria.
Parking
Free parking in Sta. Maria, behind the petrol stationCoordinates
SwissGrid
2'828'754E 1'165'548N
DD
46.602012, 10.424898
DMS
46°36'07.2"N 10°25'29.6"E
UTM
32T 609129 5161924
w3w
///propelled.packet.binders
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
In 2010, the book «Flurbewässerung im Val Müstair» was published, which presents the results and photographs from the inventory of the Auals. In addition, the book takes a look at the past times of the Auals as well as other regions with similar irrigation systems. The updated new edition was published in summer 2018 and can be obtained from the Center da Biosfera at a price of CHF 20.
Book recommendations for this region:
Show more
Equipment
Good shoes, rain and sun protection, water bottle, first aid kitReviews
Difficulty
easy
Distance
4.9 km
Duration
2:00 h
Ascent
181 m
Descent
181 m
Highest point
1,524 m
Lowest point
1,373 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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Rating
Photos from others