Four-Day Trip to Bernina Region: Hike to Lagh da Caralin and Palü Glacier

(This post published on October 24, 2025) 

Saturday August 31, 2013 -- On Friday afternoon (photos HERE) we travelled five hours to the Bernina Pass and walked the four kilometers to the mountain hostel called Sassal Masone, where we spent the night so that we could start early in the morning on the very long hike planned for the day. 

About a year earlier, Urs had discovered this area with a friend, when they hiked from this hostel to a glacier lake called Lagh da Caralin, located below (and fed by) the Palü Glacier in the Bernina Massif. This hike was the first excursion for our 3-day hiking trip to the Bernina/Poschiavo region, walking to the lake on the north side of Alp Palü, and then descending on the south side via the turquoise Palü Lake and then following the Palü River to the train station at Cavaglia, on the Bernina Railway Line. (This whole region used to be covered by glacial ice and you can see the remains of the moraines and the rock that could not be worn down). 

From Cavaglia, we had an exciting train ride to the village of Poschiavo, from where we then took a bus up to Val da Camp (overnight at Swiss Alpine Hostel Saoseo) to prepare for the second day of hiking…. 

Starting out bright and early (well... 8 a.m) with fantastic weather and views! We are heading to a glacier lake in that funnel at the back (Palü Glacier)

These are structures typical of the region, they are above-ground cellars.  (The restaurant keeps all its beverages stored in there). 

These are structures typical of the region, they are above-ground cellars. 

Our Hotel Sassal Masone, only two couples overnighted this night.

It's turning out to be a spectacular day!

A look down at Lake Palü (Lagh da Palü) which we will reach later in the day before heading down the little valley behind it to the clearing at the back. The lake is left over from the receding glacier.  

In the depression at the middle of the photo is the lake we are heading toward.

Panorama view of Palu Glacier and Piz Varuna.

This is the trail which we walked from Sassal Masone, to Lake Caralin, then down to Lake Palü and ending at the train station in Cavaglia, for the train ride to Poschiavo. (Side note October 2025: The northern section of trail to the lake is no longer an official trail).

Heading off on this very interesting trail. 

Right in the center of this photo is a ridge of debris called a moraine (which we walked past later), left by the receding glacier. The cliffs below that were too hard to wear down, but lower down the earth was scooped out by the glacier.

Another tunnel. 

View of the Palü Glacier from the tunnel!

Several waterfalls along the way. 

There is a really steep drop on the south side of the trail. 

As we head toward the back of the valley, we get this view to Lake Palü and the winding galleries of the railway line descending from Alp Grüm. The mountains at the back form the border with Italy. 

Now we are getting closer to the lake, with the glacier ice above, and the waterfall that drops into the lake. We first have to cross the hillside of fallen rock. 

Up ahead is the glacier moraine, debris left behind by the retreating glacier. 

Crossing the "avalanche" of rocks. 

On the final stretch to the lake, we cross this cool bridge over the Palü River, which now descends toward Lake Palü.

Now the first view of Lake Caralin. (We got here at about 11:30 p.m. and had our lunch here). 

Setting up my camera for a self-timed photo!

This is the self-timed photo!

Enjoying a break at the beautiful glacier lake, before heading out on the second half of our hike, back out of the valley. 

On the left we can see the path that we just came on. Above the trail is the hostel. And above Palü Lake (on the right) you can see the track where the Bernina Line weaves its way down from Alp Grüm. 

Our trail now heads toward the moraine which we pass on its east end. 

A look back again toward the "dip" where Lake Caralin is located. The mountain at the back is Piz Palü, at 3899 meters one of the highest peaks in the Bernina Group. 

We have rounded the moraine now and can have a look at its south side. 

Directly to the north now, we can see the "rock avalanche" which we crossed on our way to the lake. 

A zoomed look at the little "cellars" and the Sassal Masone hostel. 

Another look behind us as we head down a forested section. 

Ahead of us: We are getting closer to the lake, and we can see the winding railway line (these are galleries). 

Close-up look at the railway galleries of the Bernina line. 

Down at lake level now. At the right is another glacier moraine, debris left behind when the glacier retreated. But the rock wall behind it was too hard for the glacier to wear down.

Crossing the Palü river. 

Trying out a selfie....

Looking behind us now at the "dam" between the lakes. Palü Glacier on the left, and the hostel at Sassal Masone on the very right (on the hill below the Sassal Mason peak, from which the hostel gets its name). 

We had to cross the dam and then head uphill a bit, before following the river down the next valley toward Cavaglia. 

Down below is Cavaglia, a stop on the Bernina Line. This is where we will get on and continue into the  Poschiavo valley. 

From the station in Cavaglia a look back at where we descended from (through the forest). 

Back of the railway station in Cavaglia. 

This is what our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps: On Friday we walked 4 km from the Ospizio train station on Lago Bianco to the hostel at Sassal Masone, and then another 9 km from the hostel to Cavaglia via Lake Caralin. 

The train now winds it way down into the Poschiavo Valley. To the south is Lake Poschiavo

Now we can see the town of Poschiavo. At the end of the valley are the mountains in Italy.

Always a stunning ride along the Bernina Line of the Rhätian Railway. The front train here is more modern with larger windows, but the older train at the back is better, as you can open the windows.

VIDEO:

Riding the Bernina line from Cavaglia to Poschiavo.

Final stretch to the Poschiavo station. 

From Poschiavo we then took a bus to a different valley called Val da Camp, but we did have a little bit of time to walk around the streets of the town. 

A short walk through the alleys of Poschiavo before catching the bus to Val da Camp. 

Location of the Poschiavo region within Switzerland. 

This is what Lagh da Caralin looked like a year earlier, in July 2012 when Urs hiked up here with a friend.