Clavadel: Trails to the Alp and Sertig Dörfli

Clavadel lies at around 1,664 metres above sea level and is considered one of the sunniest areas in the region. The village connects trails towards Clavadeler Alp and Sertig Dörfli with a history of its own: its name is associated with the Romansh word «clavau», meaning hay barn. If you are looking for a hotel in Clavadel, it helps to distinguish between destinations based on how you plan to get there, what you want to do and your interests. This way, you can shape your stay around whether you want to explore the trail to the Alp, a route to Sertig or the area’s cultural and historical features.

Getting to Clavadel and the Alp

Clavadel is about a five-minute drive from Davos. To travel to Clavadeleralp, take PostBus route 8 from Davos Platz railway station to Clavadel, then continue on foot for about an hour. Factor this walk into your schedule. Check the timetable for route 8 for your travel day.

The W15 winter route from Clavadeler Alp to Clavadel is listed as 3.1 km long. Its seasonal operation may vary; before planning, check whether the route is suitable for your travel day.

Hiking trails and views towards Sertig

The hiking trail along the eastern slope of the Sertig Valley leads from Clavadel to Sertig Dörfli. Sections of the trail pass through larch and spruce forests. Further up the valley, it offers views of the mountain panorama, including Hoch Ducan (3,063 metres above sea level), Mittaghorn (2,735 metres above sea level) and Plattenflue (3,013 metres above sea level). Another route is the Clavadel trail, which follows a natural road from the hamlet of Clavadel to Wildboden.

Sertig Dörfli is home to typical Walser houses and traditional granaries on stilts. This means the route from Clavadel brings together landscape and architecture at its destination. The two trail descriptions also lead to different places: the hiking trail along the eastern slope ends in Sertig Dörfli, while the Clavadel trail leads to Wildboden.

Clavadeler Alp: show dairy and regional products

The Clavadeleralp mountain restaurant is located on Clavadeler Alp, on Davos’s Jakobshorn mountain, at an altitude of over 2,000 metres. The Clavadeler Alp show dairy is at 2,028 metres above sea level and offers guests a view of the Alpine panorama. At the Alp, you can buy Clavadeler Alpine cheese and Alpine butter directly; homemade South Tyrolean specialities are also on offer.

At the Clavadeleralp mountain restaurant, bread is made on the Alp every day. If this particular offering is important to you, ask before your visit whether it is currently available. This will help you plan your culinary detour without conflating the trail to the Alp with a visit to the restaurant.

E-mountain biking to Clavadeler Alp

The e-mountain bike tour to Clavadeler Alp is 12.9 km long and takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. It involves 535 metres of ascent and 535 metres of descent, and is rated easy. On the tour from Davos, you reach the show dairy via a section of forest road; from there, the route continues on natural trails to Ischalp. Seasonal conditions can affect access. The route length, approximate duration, elevation gain and difficulty rating together provide a more specific overview than distance alone.

History and architectural heritage

The private Clavadel sanatorium opened in Clavadel in 1903. Historical information boards installed by the municipality of Davos can be found, among other places, near the Clavadel clinic. The year 1699 appears beneath the gable of Sertig Church, which to this day belongs to the farming families of the valley. The little church hosts devotional services and family celebrations.

The «Hinter den Eggen» chapel, built in 1699, stands in Sertig Dörfli. The chapel and the Walser houses with their granaries on stilts give the destination a distinctive architectural character. Together with the history of the place name and the private sanatorium opened in 1903, these details show different facets of the history of Clavadel and the Sertig Valley.

Discover more destinations: Davos Platz, Fideris, Saas, Luzein, Küblis, Grüsch, Valzeina, Conters Im Prättigau.

For the main travel overview: Prättigau-Davos.