Solitary mountain running experience: Ardez – Ova Spin

The tour from Ardez in the Engadin through the Val Sampuoir and over the Fuorcla Stragliavita to the Ofenpass is rarely visited and offers a secluded running experience. Right at the beginning, Ardez, a prime example of Romanesque architecture, invites you to explore its narrow streets and sgraffito-decorated Engadin houses. The remote route to the Ofenpass is very challenging and technically demanding. From there, there are post bus connections to the Val Müstair or the Engadin.

Before you really get started, it is worth taking a detour to the small hamlet of Sur En near Ardez with its picturesque Engadine houses

Ardez - Val Sampuoir - Alp Sampuoir – Plan Surröven - Fuorcla Stragliavita – Margun - Alp Laschadura – Alp Ivraina Ova Spin (by post bus to Val Müstair or Zernez).

The tour starts at Ardez train station. For the first 1.5 km, we follow the road towards Sur En down to the Inn River. After the bridge, we follow the road for another 800 m. At the first junction (P. 1393), we turn left and follow the signpost towards Alp Sampuoir up the valley through the forest, following the river, partly on the road that was built for the water catchment.Before Alp Sampuoir (suckler cows), the forest thins out. We follow the hiking trail up the valley to Plan Surröven, with a small building at 2,267 m above sea level. The first 1,000 meters of elevation gain are completed! The trail now becomes steeper and steeper, with only traces of a path at times.It takes a few drops of sweat to reach the Fuorcla Stragliavita. Here it is almost flat, and the pass is a good place to take a break to enjoy the impressive mountain panorama and gather strength for the descent. This leads over steep alpine pastures, often with only traces of a path, to Alp Laschadura (Mutterkäse), 600 meters lower. From Margun, the trail flattens out again and is clearly visible. At Alp Laschadura at P. 1998, we follow the signpost towards Alp Ivraina/Ova Spin on the eastern side of the valley. After a short climb, we reach the pastures of Alp Ivraina, from where we descend through the forest to Ova Spin on the Ofenpass road. From here, we take the post bus to Zernez or Val Müstair. The tour can also be done in the opposite direction.