Flims Waterway Trail (Trutg dil Flem)

This mountain trail at Flims has three special attractions: a gorgeous high alpine river valley, a huge waterfall, and a river gorge with seven interesting bridges crossing it.

It’s long hike at over 14 km with over 1000m of elevation descent, but it’s worth the effort. This hike is suitable for families with experience hiking and kids that have some endurance. The views are spectacular and very unique. 

Trail overview

This map shows the Flims Waterway trail and important elements of the trail.

1. Take a bus to Flims, Dorf. Or drive to Flims and park in the Stenna parking garage next to the gondola station.
2. Ride the FlemsXpress to Nagens for the longer trail, to Segneshütte for the slightly shorter trail.
3. Follow signs for the Trutg dil Flem trail, direction Flims.

You ride a gondola to Naguns. Hike out to the Segnesboden high river valley, visiting the big waterfall. Then follow the river down the mountain all the way back to the Flims town center, crossing seven fancy bridges with artistic designs.

Trail map

Here is the detailed trail map that you can load onto your phone. 

See trail on Komoot • SchweizMobil • OutdoorActive

The hike is long and descends over 1000m. It takes some endurance but worth the effort. We had 4 kids in our crew ranging from 8 to 13 years old. They all hiked much faster than the adults. It took us about 6 hours.

Shorter hike options

Option A: Start the hike at Segneshütte instead of Nagens. This skips the tour around the Segnesboden valley. But you can do a short walk out to the biggest falls and get a taste of the valley. Then turn around and follow the waterway trail down to Flims. This version is about 10.5 km, about 90 mins shorter than the full version.

Option B: Start your hike at the Startgels station and hike down to Flims. This version visits the seven special bridges and is only about 5.7 km / 2 hours.

Where to eat

There are mountain restaurants at Segneshütte and Startgels stations.

There is a official picnic area with a fire pit at the 12 km, with picnic tables, water fountain and WC.

How to get there

This trail is located in Flims, a mountain resort in southeastern Switzerland. 

To reach the trail, you can ride the “Flems Express” gondola from Flims to Segnes.  

By car:

Drive to Flims. Park in the Stenna Parking garage adjacent to the cable car station – Via Nova, 7017 Flims

By public transport:

Take a train to Chur. Then a bus to Flims Dorf, Bergbahnen. The cable car is a short walk from the bus stop.

Make sure to take the express bus, not the regional bus, which has the same bus number and leaves at the same time but takes about 20 mins longer.

Planning your day

Tickets

You’ll need a one-way ticket on the FlemsXpress gondola from Flims to Segnes.

In 2025, this one way ticket costs Adult CHF 75 for Flims to Segnes. You get a 20% intro discount as a new customer, so in reality you pay CHF 70. 

Discount 50% off the full fare with Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, and GA.

Children age 15 and under are 50% discount, under 6 free..

You can buy tickets online in advance to save time when you arrive. But tickets don’t sell out. See current prices.

Note: if you are doing one of the shorter trail options described above, you will need a different gondola ticket than described here. Show the ticket office agent which hike you plan to do and they will sell you the correct ticket.

Opening Times

The FlemsXpress gondola runs to Segnes from early June to mid October. It runs 8:30 – 18:00 daily. Check live status of lifts.

This trail is usually free from snow around late June through mid October. Check webcam at Berghaus Nagens.

Photo story of trail

The trail has changed a bit since my last visit, using a different gondola to reach the trail. So my photo story is missing some of the first part of the trail.

1. Riding up to Segnes

View of Flims as we ride up the mountain.

2. Hiking to Segnesboden valley

From the Segnes station, walk up the service road, following trail signs with the green 764 Trutg dil Flems.

Note: Some of my pics are from mid July 2025, where there was an unusual snowstorm over the weekend. It melted after a couple days. This area is usually snow-free from July through September, but snow can happen any time at these higher elevations.

Here’s your first view of the Segnesboden valley.

There are a couple short sections where there is a chain handrail on the mountain side. But it’s not too scary or difficult. 

Crossing one pretty waterfall on the way down.

Winding around the mountain.

Almost to the valley floor.

One of the waterfalls along the way.

You have to cross a couple rivers, hopping from stone to stone. Better to have waterproof shoes just in case.

Crossing the biggest part of the river here. There is a small bridge over the biggest part.

When the trail forks, keep following the 764 signs, direction Segneshütte.

This part has a stone walkway to help protect the moor and keep your feet dry.

Looking across the valley to the trail we descended earlier.

Waterfall   

Now to the biggest waterfall in the valley. It’s amazing!!!

Do not leave the path and walk on the river plain, which is protected nature reserve. 

3. Hiking down to Startgels

When you are done admiring the waterfall, follow signs to Startgels. You will follow the river down the mountain.

We passed a honey farm, selling jars of delicious honey from these local bees. Bring cash.

Looking back to the Segnesboden.

4. Trail down river

Before your reach the hut, the trail forks to your left and heads down along the river. If you want to go to the hut for refreshments, hike up there, then hike back here to catch the trail.

Very steep and rocky in this section. Nice to have walking sticks here.

The first of many bridges crossing the river.

Some cows grazing.

The trail is usually along the river but higher up.

Through the tall grass.

We found lots of wild blueberries here and spent some time picking.

5. Trail split at Startgels

Your footpath will briefly join this dirt road and cross this bridge. 

Immediately after the bridge, turn left on the narrow path that heads down to the river. It looks like a bike path, but the left side is for people and the right side for bikes. Do not continue walking on the road, which is also a trail but not the one you want.

Continue to follow signs for trail 764 Trutg dil Flem – Flimser Wasserweg, on the right side of the river.

Now the trail descends some steps into the gorge. The white sign Bei Hochwasser points to an alternate route that should be used if the water level is very high. That alternate route does not cross the river with the bridges.

6. Crossing bridges along river

The normal trail crosses over several interesting stylish bridges.

7. Nice picnic spot on river

The first picnic spot next to the river, at about the 10-11 km mark. We built a small fire but there wasn’t much wood. Plus it took us so long to get here, we were eating at about 16:00. There is an official picnic area with wood in another 1 km or so but not next to the river.

View away from the river.

Heading back into the forest.

Views down to Flims.

The trail joins the paved road briefly.

Here the official “Feuerstelle” with a fire pit, water, tables, wood, and a WC.

After the picnic area, the trail splits a couple times and we weren’t sure which to follow. But now I know that all trails lead to Flims, so don’t stress. The official trail continues along the river, meandering back to the cable car.

We were in a hurry because it was late and one of our crew was sick. So instead we followed signs to Flims and walked through the village to the bus stop. But I don’t think it was much faster.

OK, that’s it. It was a hard hike for the kids but so beautiful and definitely worth the effort. I hope you like it.