Research along the way: Forest and environment

The path leads past several scientific measuring stations, because science is not limited to laboratories. On the contrary, outdoor work is an essential part of environmental research. Around Davos, scientists from the SLF operate numerous facilities and experimental sites. Some are new, some are almost a hundred years old. Together they provide important insights into snow and avalanches, forests and meadows, biodiversity and climate change.

We recommend combining this short excursion with a guided tour of the SLF. (Every Friday at 10.00 a.m. except on public holidays, only by appointment until Thursday, 12.00 p.m., on +41 81 417 01 11)

From the SLF we follow the Flüelastrasse in the direction of the Flüelapass and after just under 400 metres turn left into the Baslerstrasse. At the second bend, a forest path branches off, which runs parallel to the Baslerstrasse at the beginning, but climbs more steeply. Follow this until you reach a T-junction, where you turn left. Soon we see a fence on the left, behind which there are numerous measuring stations. Here, WSL scientists have been researching how Bäume react to changing environmental conditions since the 1980s. A display board explains the details. We follow the forest path and turn left behind a railway underpass to Lake Davos. Once there, we have the choice of following the lakeside path to the left (shorter) or right (plus approx. 20 minutes) to the lido. From there a small path leads under the railway tracks and we reach a few buildings. Behind the last house on the right, we turn onto a footpath. Shortly before it ends, we see a measuring station on the right, part of the Intercantonal Measuring and Information System IMIS, which collects data on weather and snow throughout Switzerland. Shortly after this, we return to the SLF.