Lai Neir

Lai Neir is a small mountain lake on the Alp Flix plateau in the municipality of Surses, canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. The name is Surmiran Romansh for "Black Lake", and the German name is Schwarzsee. It sits at roughly 1,918 m above sea level, surrounded by alpine pasture and moorland.

Where is Lai Neir?

The lake lies on Alp Flix, a broad plateau at about 2,000 m that belongs to the Parc Ela nature park, an area of around 250 square kilometres of mountain country in Graubünden. The coordinates are approximately 46.535 N, 9.638 E. The nearest village at the foot of the plateau is Sur, and Savognin is also close by.

What will you see there?

Lai Neir is part of the Lais da Flix group, the Flix lakes, which also includes Lai Blos. These are moorland lakes ringed by wet ground. The lake is entered in Switzerland's inventory of raised and transitional bogs of national importance, which gives the area real ecological weight. Expect open, quiet scenery with a wide horizon rather than a developed attraction with facilities.

How do you get to Lai Neir?

The most popular route is a loop from Sur across Alp Flix. Komoot listings put it at 9 to 11 km, usually 3 to 4 hours, with about 430 to 580 m of ascent, graded moderate. A variant starting in Rona runs about 11.3 km and takes around 4 hours 10 minutes. Bring sturdy hiking shoes, water and layers, because mountain weather changes fast.

When should you go?

Hiking season in this part of the Alps runs roughly from late spring to autumn. Higher stretches of trail can hold snow long after winter, so check current trail conditions locally, for example with the Surses tourist office, before setting out. In summer the Alp Flix pastures are green and suit a full day out with a rest by the water.

Can you combine it with other sights?

Yes. Walking the plateau lets you see several lakes in one day, and the Surses area has further trails, including routes toward the peaks above Lake Marmorera. Alp Flix suits visitors who prefer quiet terrain to crowded viewpoints.

Frequently asked questions

What does Lai Neir mean? It is the Surmiran name, one of the Romansh varieties, and means Black Lake. It corresponds to the German Schwarzsee.

How high is the lake? About 1,918 m above sea level, on the Alp Flix plateau in Surses.

How long is a typical hike? Loops from Sur cover 9 to 11 km and take about 3 to 4 hours at a moderate level of difficulty.

Is the lake protected? Yes. Lai Neir is listed in the Swiss inventory of raised and transitional bogs of national importance, and Alp Flix lies within the Parc Ela nature park.