It is no secret that Switzerland is home to some of the most scenic natural scenery in the world. Apart from lakes, glaciers, and mountain peaks, Switzerland also has gorges. One of the most popular gorges is called the Rhine Gorge.
In this article, we’ll talk about the Rhine Gorge and how to get there.
Overview: Rhine Gorge
| Gorge: | Rhine Gorge (English) Rheinschlucht (German) Rinualta (Romansh) |
| Length: | 13 kilometers |
| Depth: | 400 meters |
| Location: | Between Ilanz and Reichenau, Grisons |
| Bodies of Water: | Anterior Rhine |
| Mountains: | Glarus Alps Lepontine Alps |
History of Rhine Gorge
A Romansh name, Rinualta, combines Ruina, which means scree slope, with aulta, which means high. This name refers to a steep mountain slope composed of rock fragments and other debris. 10,000 years ago, the Rhine Gorge was formed by massive cubic meters of rock breaking off from the Flims landslide.
The Flims landslide was the biggest in the Alps with over seven cubic kilometers of rock falling. In the years that passed, the river carved a deep rift in the massive rock. This resulted in the Rhine Gorge’s steep cliffs and imposing shapes.
In the aftermath of this landslide, we now have a beautiful region that is filled with activities. Among the things you’ll find are orchids, birds, hiking trails, walking paths, etc.
Rhine Gorge is part of Geopark Sardona, a tectonic area that includes the Glarner Overthurst UNESCO World Heritage site. By focusing on geology, geological history, and mining (visitor mines), the Geopark itself offers adventures and educational experiences. Other places in the Geopark include Seerenbach Falls, Tamina Gorge, Berglistüber waterfall, and more.
The Rhine Gorge is incredibly picturesque with its craggy rocks, dense forests, and flowing river.
How to Get to Rhine Gorge
You can get magnificent views of the Rhine Gorge on many different paths. There are lots of ways to get there: hiking, walking, biking, river rafting, or taking the train.
There are two things I personally recommend: 1) Hiking from Flims – Il Spir Viewpoint – Versam-Safien or 2) taking the Rhine Gorge Adventure Train.
How to Get to Rhine Gorge by Hiking
Rhine Gorge can be reached via a variety of trails. Here is a fantastic resource regarding all the hiking trails that have fantastic views of the Rhine Gorge: Graubünden Hiking Trails and WegWandern.ch. I recommend the following hikes:
- Flims-Caumasee-Conn-Versam-Safien – Flims, Waldhaus is the starting point for this trail. The hiking trail leads to Caumasee after that. Continuing along the beautiful lake, you’ll reach Il Spir’s platform. Once you’ve viewed the Rhine Gorge from the viewing platform, you can descend into the valley through the dense forest until you reach the bottom. After you cross the bridge, you can walk along the Rhine River until you reach Versam-Safien station. From there, you can wait for your train back home.
- Tuora (656.3) – While this hike is similar to the aforementioned hike, it goes via Salums. It also returns to Flims Waldhaus rather than ending at Versam-Safien Train Station.
- Senda Rinualta (659) – Starting in Laax, Staderas, this hike also takes you to Caumasee and Il Spir.
- Plangga (656.9) – This is a short trail from Versam-Safien until Versamer Tobel.
It is recommended that you check the Flims Laax website to find out if any hiking trails are closed before visiting.
How to Get to Rhine Gorge by Train
If you can, I recommend hiking around Rhine Gorge, because I think the views are much better from up there. Alternatively, if you aren’t so keen or able, or you don’t have the right gear, you can take the train.
Train rides to Rhine Gorge are especially enjoyable on the Rhine Gorge Adventure Train (Erlebniszug Rheinschlucht in German). It’s available on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-May to mid-October. In summer, the Rhine Gorge Adventure Train runs even more often (usually from the end of June to the end of August). Similar to the Historical Trains that travel from Davos to Filisur, this train has open observation cars.
It’s also possible to view the gorge from inside the train, as mentioned earlier. Trains from Chur take you directly to the Rhine Gorge, so no hiking is required.
Depending on which part of Rhine Gorge you want to see, you can go to the following train stops: Trin, Versam-Safien, and Valendas-Sagogn.
| Train Stop | Duration of the train journey from Chur |
|---|---|
| Trin | 15 minutes |
| Versam-Safien | 20 minutes |
| Valendas-Sagogn | 25 minutes |
How to Get to Rhine Gorge by Biking
Cycling is also an option if that’s what you prefer. Trail 260 is known as the Rhine Gorge Tour (Rheinschluchttour). The bike trail leads from Laax to Flims, Trin, Tamins, Bonaduz, Versam, Valendas, Ilanz, Sagogn, and back. It’s advisable to do it over multiple days.
In case you choose to use electric bikes, you will also find various charging stations in the region.
Viewing Platforms of Rhine Gorge
There are many other viewing platforms from which to see the Rhine Gorge. Among the most famous is Il Spir near Flims and Caumasee.
| Viewing Platform | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Il Spir | Conn | The viewing platform with the most impressive views of the Rhine Gorge, in my opinion. This panoramic view shows the gorge from 180 degrees. There is a wonderful restaurant called Restaurant Conn near the platform. |
| Islabord | Versam | From Versam Village, you can reach a viewing platform within minutes. In addition, there is a bus station nearby. |
| Zault | Trin | The spiral viewing platform can be reached by hiking from Trin Station. You get fantastic views of the Rhine Gorge from here. |
| Wackenau | Bonaduz | This viewing platform lies slightly above the Wackenau Ruins (Burg Wackenau). You can reach it by hiking from Trin Station or Bonaduz. |
| Alix | Valendas | From the platform, the visitor enjoys an impressive view of the confluence of the Carrera stream. The viewing platform is accessible via the hiking trail from Valendas village. |
| Punt Rinualta | Trin | Despite not being a viewing platform, this timber bridge provides a magnificent view of the Rhine River and is close to many other viewpoints. The bridge spans the Rhine and is supported by steel girders. |
Final Thoughts: Rhine Gorge
Rhine Gorge is much wider than other gorges in Switzerland. This also means that in contrast to most other gorges, the Rhine Gorge will take more than one hour to explore in its entirety. As a matter of fact, it is much larger than the others, as trains can even pass through it.
In spite of its name, the Swiss Grand Canyon cannot be compared to the Grand Canyon of the United States. One difference is that rather than orange hues, the rocks are more whiteish-gray. The gorge is also dotted with more trees, as well as a prominent river, the Rhine. In addition, the Rhine Gorge is considerably smaller than Grand Canyon, being only 3% of its size.
So, if you enjoyed the Grand Canyon, Rhine Gorge should be right up your alley if you’re looking for Switzerland’s version. Despite not exactly being the same, it is still special in its own way.
The Rhine Gorge is easily accessible by foot or public transportation. For a more relaxing experience, you can also ride the Rhine Gorge Adventure train in the summer. Rhine Gorge is a wonderful place to visit, and I highly recommend it.
Resources
- Rheinschlucht – www.rheinschlucht.ch
- RhB. Im Naturwunder: Eindrucksvolle Rheinschlucht. Contura, Herbst/Winter 2022/23.
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