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About this place
Piz Linard is a pyramid-shaped peak of 3,410 m above Lavin and Zernez in the Lower Engadine. It is the highest summit of the Silvretta range, in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Where is Piz Linard and what makes it special?
The mountain belongs to the Rhaetian Alps and rises above the Engadine valley on the Lavin side. Its clean pyramid outline and its height make it the top point of the whole Silvretta group. The hut at its foot, Chamanna dal Linard, carries the same Romansh name.
How hard is the climb?
This is a genuine alpine outing, not a hike. The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) grades the normal route up the south flank as PD, 2a. Hikers describe it as T5 with grade I scrambling. You do not step onto glacier ice on the way up, but the route needs sure footing and rock experience, and rockfall is a real hazard. Do not underestimate it.
How do you get to the summit?
Start in Lavin. The walk to the Chamanna dal Linard, at about 2,327 m, takes roughly 2.5 hours. Other approaches lead in via the Vereina area or over the Flüela Pass.
From the hut, the normal route crosses a grassy hump to the rocky south face, then a scree slope, then climbs a broad couloir to the west ridge just below the top. The SAC lists about 1,080 m of ascent and 3 to 4 hours, with descent by the same line. The south and south-east ridges are more scenic but also more demanding.
Where can you stay?
Chamanna dal Linard is a small SAC hut run by the Engiadina Bassa section in Zernez. It is open roughly from June to September. A night there lets you start at dawn, which suits a climb of this length.
What is its history?
The first certain ascent dates to 1835, when Heer and Madutz climbed the west flank. Tradition credits the geographer Campell with an earlier visit in 1572 and a golden cross left on top, but no independent source confirms it.
When should you go?
The climbing season runs from summer into early autumn, matching the hut's opening. Leave early and check the forecast: the couloir below the summit sheds the most stones once the rock warms up.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Piz Linard? 3,410 m, the highest peak in the Silvretta.
Do I need glacier gear? Not on the normal south-flank route. You do need a helmet, sturdy boots and experience on rock and scree.
Where do I start? In Lavin, in the municipality of Zernez. The hut is about 2.5 hours away on foot.
How long is the climb from the hut? About 3 to 4 hours one way, with roughly 1,080 m of ascent.
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