Rhine gorge – Ruinaulta

The Rhine gorge – the Swiss Grand Canyon

There is a reason why the Rhine gorge between Reichenau and Ilanz is known as the ‘Swiss Grand Canyon’. It is one of the most spectacular landscapes in Graubünden and is unique in the Alpine region. In the wild gorges, you can experience pure adrenalin while river rafting or take a hike along the craggy rock formations. Easily accessible hiking trails around the gorge offer you varied landscapes, breathtaking views, vast forests and unique nature experiences. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, you can travel through the Rhine Gorge by convertible minibus, train or PostBus.

Virtual tour

The Swiss Grand Canyon

Discover the Rhine gorge

Three restaurants - one culinary trail

Culinary delights at the edge of the Rhine Gorge

One trail – three venues. On our Woods & Water culinary trail, you will get to know both the culinary attractions and natural attractions of our region. You start off in Flims Waldhaus, where you can savour your first course in the Bistro Kaufmannfrauen. Then you make your way past Lake Cauma and along the Rhine gorge to Conn, where you can tuck into your main course. After a short detour to the Il Spir viewing platform, you will stop for dessert at the restaurant on Lake Cresta before returning to Flims via the impressive Felsbach gorge.

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Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Adrenaline kick in Graubünden

Canoeing and rafting

River rafting in the Rhine gorge: a thrilling experience. Explore the impressive, untamed Ruinaulta by rubber raft from Ilanz to Reichenau. This is one of the most exciting routes in Europe for canoeing, kayaking and river rafting. From the water, you can enjoy the steep cliffs and craggy rocks, while the rapids and spray ensure a fun, refreshing experience. You can start off on a whole-day or half-day trip in the company of experienced guides with various embarking and disembarking points. Bookings can be made via the Flims, Laax and Falera guest information centres on +41 (0)81 920 92 00.

For detailed information and dates of the tours, please check with the respective tour operator:

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Discover the Rhine Gorge by foot

Hiking tour: Valendas – Versam

The approximately 1.5-hour hike from Valendas to Versam in the heart of the formidable Rhine gorge is an amazing experience. The trail mostly follows the bends of the Rhine, traversing small sections of forest and taking you past expansive meadows. We recommend using the practical Ruinaulta ticket for the return trip. This allows you to use public transport in and around the Rhine gorge for an entire day.

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Discover the Rhine Gorge by bike

Mountain bikes/electric bike

Spectacular views of the Rhine Gorge await you on Rhine Route 2 and the various bike and gravel routes around the gorge. The signposted routes offer panoramic views, elevation gain and trails with little traffic. You can enjoy special delicacies on the culinary trail, and thanks to the various charging stations you can get back home safely.

Bike trails

Round Trips & Touring in Graubünden

Alpine Circle

The King's Loop of the Alpine Circle passes at the beginning the Rhine Gorge in Surselva. On the route from Bonaduz to Ilanz, you can enjoy views over the Grand Canyon of Switzerland. It continues across the Ticino into the Misox and San Bernardino.

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Viewing platforms

You can find a number of viewing platforms around the gorge, presenting unique views of the natural phenomenon.

Il Spir

The Il Spir viewing platform is located just a few minutes from Restaurant Conn. The platform was developed by Chur architect Corinna Menn and inaugurated in September 2006. You can savour a unique 180-degree view of "Swiss Grand Canyon" from here. From Flims Waldhaus, you can reach the viewing platform in around 45 minutes on a pram-friendly hiking trail. It is accessible all year round.

Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Islabord

From the modestly designed Islabord balconies, you can enjoy unique views to the north and over the UNESCO-World Heritage Site Tectonic Arena Sardona. You can reach Islabord by foot from Versam. The viewing platform is open from May to October.

Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Zault

A natural spiral-shaped elevation winds along the start of the Rhine gorge and offers breathtaking views into the depths of the gorge. The Zault viewing platform is accessible from the hiking trail. It was developed by the Bonaduz engineer Walter Bieler. The viewing platform is open from March to November.

Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Crap Signina

Between Laax and Sagogn, the Crap Signina platform sits majestically on a cliff above Sagogn. You can reach it in around 30 minutes from Laax or Sagogn. Panoramic panels provide information about the views over Val Mulin and in the direction of Ilanz. You can also spend some time in comfort here during bad weather, as the platform is sheltered.

Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Spitg

The romantic Spitg viewing platform offers extraordinary 270-degree views of the Versam ravine, the Rhine gorge and the mountain landscape around Flims. You can reach the viewing platform from Versam or from Trin station by foot in around 1.5 hours. Please note that the ascent is partially exposed, so it is important to watch your step and have a good head for heights. The viewing platform is open from May to October.

Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Alix

You can take the hiking trail from Valendas to reach the Alix viewing platform. Spectacular views of the Rhine gorge also await you here. The viewing platform is open from May to October.

Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Wackenau

The Wackenau viewing platform is located at the end of the vast Rhine gorge. It is named after the castle ruin situated above it. You can reach it from Trin station or from Bonaduz. The viewing platform is open from May to October.

Respect nature

Code of conduct

The Rhine Gorge is not only a fascinating place for excursions, but also home to numerous animal and plant species, some of which are particularly endangered. For the protection of wildlife and plants, we kindly ask you to observe the following rules in the area of the Rhine Gorge:

  • Please only walk on marked hiking trails
  • The hiking trail along the Rhine is not a biking route
  • Use only official fireplaces
  • Camping is only allowed on campsites
  • Land canoes and boats only at marked places
  • Take garbage back with you
  • Dogs must be kept on a leash
  • 1 April until 15 July - No trespassing on the gravel banks marked with boards for the protection of ground-nesting bird species
Die Rheinschlucht, der Swiss Grand Canyon, auf allen Wegen erleben.

Punt Ruinaulta footbridge

The detailed suspension bridge at Trin station which was completed in 2010 is the third bridge in our region to connect the left and right banks of the Rhine. With a length of 105 metres and a passage width of 1.8 metres, the Punt Ruinaulta is one of the longest suspension bridges in Graubünden. A riverside path was developed here alongside the Rhine, allowing hikers to better explore the exceptional Rhine gorge.

Useful information

Your ways into the Rhine Gorge

Discover the Rhine Gorge from Flims Waldhaus, Laax Dorf or Trin. You can reach the Il Spir platform from Flims Waldhaus, past the turquoise-green Lake Cauma and the Conn restaurant. 
From Laax, you can reach the Crap Signina platform or the Valendas station - perfect for hiking and biking adventures. Another highlight is the Punt Ruinaulta wooden suspension bridge, which you can reach from Trin.
 

Transportation

We recommend exploring the Rhine gorge with the Ruinaulta ticket. This allows you to use public transport in and around Ruinaulta for an entire day. The Ruinaulta ticket is available from the Flims, Laax and Falera guest information centres. This special ticket is also perfect when combined with a hike in or through the Rhine gorge. 

Additionally, the Rhine gorge taxi connects the Rhine gorge with Brün.

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Rhine experiences

Want to find out more about the Rhine Gorge? Here you can get even deeper insights and information about the Rhine Gorge.

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