Albula Alps

The Albula Alps are a mountain range in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland and form part of the Rhaetian/Alpine chain. The range includes multiple three-thousand-metre peaks, with Piz Kesch its highest named summit.

Jagged ridges, cirques and glaciated summits dominate the landscape; routes in the range include alpine climbing and long ridge hikes. The area is traversed by both a high mountain road over the Albula Pass and the Rhaetian Railway’s Albula line, the latter noted for its tunnels and viaducts.

Major development in and around the range has long focused on alpine transport and mountain tourism, with trail networks and mountain huts supporting multi-day routes. Glacial retreat and alpine geomorphology continue to shape the terrain and access routes.

The Albula Alps lie in eastern Switzerland’s canton of Graubünden. The range sits between high valleys of the central-eastern Swiss Alps and is accessed from towns and villages in the region via mountain passes and valley roads.

• Alpine scale: Hosts alpine terrain with several peaks above 3,000 metres and glaciated cirques useful for mountaineering and high-mountain hiking.
• Transport corridors: Contains engineered transport routes through high terrain - both a paved mountain pass and the Rhaetian Railway line which is recognized for its historic engineering.

What to See #

• Piz Kesch (highest peak): The highest named summit in the range, reaching 3,418 metres and forming a prominent glaciated massif that is a popular objective for alpine climbers and mountaineers.
• Albula Pass: A high mountain pass and historic transport corridor that crosses the range, with a road used by motorists and hikers as an access route into surrounding valleys.
• Albula Railway (Rhaetian Railway): A railway line that traverses tunnels and viaducts through the mountains and is noted for its historic alpine engineering and scenic alpine route.