The Swiss National Park (Romansh: Parc Naziunal Svizzer; German: Schweizerischer Nationalpark; Italian: Parco Nazionale Svizzero; French: Parc National Suisse) is located in the Western Rhaetian Alps in eastern Switzerland. It is found within the canton of Graubünden, between the towns of Zernez, S-chanf, Scuol, and the Fuorn Pass in the Engadin valley, which is near the border with Italy. Established in 1914, the Swiss National Park is the oldest national park in the Alps and in Central Europe.

It is part of the global UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and holds an IUCN category Ia designation, which is the highest classification and indicates a strict nature reserve. Today, the Swiss National Park covers an area of 170.3 km and is the largest nature reserve in Switzerland.

Description

The Swiss National Park includes many different types of land, from low valleys to high mountain peaks. The highest mountain in the park is Piz Quattervals, which is 3,165 meters above sea level. This peak can be reached by hiking through the mountains. As of 2022, this is the only national park in Switzerland. Plans are being made to create more national parks in the future. One proposed park, called the Adula National Park, was planned in the Adula Alps. However, in November 2016, people living in the area voted against the plan.

Inside the national park, visitors are not allowed to leave marked trails or sleep anywhere except at Chamanna Cluozza, a mountain hut located within the park. Because of these rules, there are over 80 kilometers of marked hiking paths. These paths are divided into 21 separate hikes with different lengths and difficulty levels. Dogs are not allowed in the park, even if they are on a leash. These strict rules make the Swiss National Park the only park in the Alps that is classified by the IUCN as a strict nature reserve, which is the highest level of protection for natural areas.

A visitor center is located in Zernez. A road that goes through the park crosses the Fuorn Pass (also called Ofenpass) and continues to South Tyrol in Italy. In addition to the Swiss National Park, there are sixteen regional nature parks in Switzerland.

The Swiss National Park is home to many large animals. Visitors often hear and see alpine marmots, which can be observed up close in special areas set aside for viewing. Other large animals found in the park include ibex, red deer, chamois, red foxes, and golden eagles. Occasionally, visitors might see wolves or brown bears, but these animals are not permanent residents of the park and are rarely seen.

History

After the 19th century caused much of the Swiss countryside to be damaged or used for farming, Dr. Fritz E. Bühlmann and others in the Swiss National Council called for the creation of a nature reserve in 1904. The Swiss Federal Council formed a group to find a good location for the reserve. The area around Fuorn Pass was chosen because it was far from towns and cities and had many types of plants and animals. In 1909, supporters of the idea rented the Val Cluozza from the town of Zernez for 25 years. In 1913, a group from the Federal Assembly visited Val Cluozza and supported the idea of a national park. The next year, the area around Fuorn Pass and Val Minger were rented from their towns, and the lease for Val Cluozza was extended to last 99 years. Zernez supported the idea more because the rented land had little value for farming. On August 1, 1914, the Swiss National Park officially opened. At first, a private group called the Schweizerischer Bund für Naturschutz (now called Pro Natura) paid the costs of the lease. However, in 1913, this group could no longer afford the costs, so the Swiss Federal Government took over the payments.

In 1936, the Val Tavrü was removed from the park at the request of the town of Scuol. In 1959, the National Park was legally changed. A law called the Federal Law for the National Park was passed, which made the land leases permanent and banned high-voltage power lines in the park. In 1961, the park was expanded again, reaching a total size of 166.5 square kilometers.

In 1964, zoologist Robert F. Schloeth became the park’s director. He led the park for over 25 years and influenced its development. During his time, a new visitor center was opened in Zernez in 1968, and a Nature Learning Trail was added on Fuorn Pass in 1976. Under Schloeth’s leadership, the park became part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and was classified as a IUCN category Ia area.

The most recent expansion happened in 2000, when 3.6 square kilometers of the Macun Lakes and surrounding area were added to the park. A proposal to create a less protected area near the park was rejected by the public. In 2008, a new visitor center was opened in Zernez. Changes to the park’s boundaries since 1909 are shown in the table below.

Park rules

In the park, visitors must follow strict rules. These rules are set by a special law from the canton of Grisons and are enforced by park rangers throughout the park. If visitors do not follow the rules, park rangers may fine them up to 300 Swiss francs. Some of the rules include:

• Visitors must not leave the marked paths or the resting areas marked with posts. The paths are defined by the law. Breaking this rule may result in a fine of 250 CHF.
• Littering is not allowed. Breaking this rule may result in a fine of 100 CHF.
• Visitors must not pick or remove natural objects such as animals, plants, sticks, or stones.
• Dogs are not allowed in the park, even if they are on a leash.
• Entry to the park during winter is not allowed.
• Winter sports, cycling, and flying of any kind are not permitted.
• Bathing in lakes, pools, streams, or rivers is not allowed.
• Campfires are not allowed. Breaking this rule may result in a fine of 300 CHF.
• Overnight stays are not allowed, including in parked vehicles along the main Pass dal Fuorn road or in bivouacs.
• Visitors must not disturb the natural environment.
• Flying drones of any kind is not allowed.

Hiking routes

There are 21 numbered hiking routes in the National Park. Routes 3 and 4 are alpine hikes. Hike number 4 reaches the top of Piz Quattervals, which is the highest peak in the park at 3165 m.a.s.l.

Notable peaks

• Piz Pisoc, 3173 meters.
• Piz Quattervals, 3165 meters.
• Piz da l'Acqua, 3126 meters.
• Piz Chaschauna, 3071 meters.