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Rhein Gorge • Forest Hike to “Swiss Grand Canyon” Viewpoint

Beautiful forest walk to lookout over the Rhein Gorge, with interesting cliff formations dropping into a river below. Good choice for spring. Easy 7 km round trip, possible with strollers.

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This is an easy walk through the forest and flower filled fields out to a dramatic lookout over the Rhine Gorge, aka “Swiss Grand Canyon.”  The walk is a little long for little kids, so happily it is obstacle-free and suitable for strollers if your kids need a break.

There’s a playground at the start, a delicious restaurant in the middle, fire pits, and lovely views. If it’s a hot day, combine this with a swim at the gorgeous Caumasee.

Location:   Graubünden Switzerland
Address:
Car: Parking: Rudi Dadens 3, 7018 Flims
1hr30 from Zurich
Train: Bus stop: Flims Waldhaus, Caumasee
1hr50 from Zürich HB
   
Trail: 3.5 km each way, about 1.5 hr each way with kids
Condition: dirt road, strollers ok
Skill: easy
Open: best April to October
Prices: free
Services: restaurant, fire pits, small playground
More info: www.flims.com   www.swissgrandcanyon.ch

Overview

This trail starts in Flims Waldhaus in south eastern Switzerland, easily reached by car or bus.

Hiking Map

This trail starts in Flims and leads to the Rhine Gorge lookout tower at the end of the cliffs. It takes about one hour to reach the viewpoint. This portion of the hike is a wide dirt road, suitable for strollers. After admiring the view, you can simply walk back the same way you came. 

Longer option:

Instead of hiking back the way you came, you can hike down the canyon to the river, where you get a different perspective of the rock formations. Then walk along the river to the Versam train station. From here, you can ride a train to Chur, then continue on public transport to your starting point. Details for that hike in this post.

Getting to Rhein Gorge trail head

By car: Drive to Flims and drive past the gondola to the south part of town, called Flims Waldhaus. There are several metered parking lots in this area (see on the map). The main parking is at Rudi Dadens 3, 7018 Flims. There is another parking in woods near the playground at Via Dil Lag, 7018 Flims.

By public transport: Take a train to Chur, then a bus to Flims Waldhaus, Caumasee. Follow trail signs to Caumasee and Conn.

1. Starting the trail

From wherever you parked your car or got off the bus, just start walking into the forest, following signs to Lag la Cauma and Conn and you’ll eventually get on the right trail.

If you parked at Parking #1, you’ll find a big playground and a picnic area with fire pits right next to the parking before you start the trail. There is a slide, swings, zip line, grills and toilets.

The path is a wide relatively smooth path, ok for strollers. 

If you want to see the lake on your way, follow signs to Caumasee for a short detour. This picture was taken in early June after a freak snow storm. This is a popular place to swim on hot summer days.

Here we are approaching the restaurant (and hotel). Isn’t the setting magical? It makes me want to have a party there. We’ll come back here in minute. First, let’s go to the lookout tower, about a 5 min walk past the restaurant.

The lookout tower

The funky lookout tower. It took some convincing for my boys to climb this tower; they were scared, but it was totally safe.

View down from the tower. You can hike down there, see this post.

View to the west down the valley.

It’s hard to get a selfie up here because the platform is a bit small.

The fire pit near the lookout tower.

The restaurant

On our first visit, we decided to eat at the restaurant mostly to escape the rain, but the food was so delicious that we made a reservation the next time we went back. Just look at that pretty tall salad topped with an edible flower. The handmade ravioli were great too.

The grounds around the restaurant are scattered with little lounging areas. Looks like a great place to read a book or take a nap.

There was a see-saw behind the restaurant if your kids need to get their wiggles out. I hope it’s still there when you go.

After admiring the view, you can hike all the way down the gorge to the river below.

For the second half this hike, see Rhein Gorge: Hike down the “Swiss Grand Canyon”.

Rhein Gorge

Switzerland has many impressive gorges cut by rivers and glaciers over millennia, some that are tourist attractions you must pay to visit and other others wild in nature and require a hike to visit. Here are ten that we recommend.

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Comments

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4 Responses

  1. Hi Tanya, we’d like to do the Rhine gorge end April. They have a ticket called the Rhine gorge ticket beginning in April. Is it a separate ticket that needs buying or can a day travel card/GA card be used. I can’t find that info. It says adults and half fare prices.
    To the Rhine and back with the Rhine Gorge Ticket: It gives you one whole day’s unlimited travel by train and post bus – children up to the age of 16 even travel free of charge with the Junior travelcard. Valid on trains between Reichenau-Tamins and Ilanz and on post buses between Tamins – Flims – Falera – Ilanz and Ilanz and Versam Safien / Tenna Post incl. Rheinschlucht-Bus Laax – Valendas – Imschlacht – Tamins (timetable: www.rheinschlucht.ch).

    1. Sorry for the late reply. I don’t think you need the Rhine Gorge Ticket for what you are planning to do. The day travel card/GA can be used or just buy regular train tickets as needed.

  2. I did mention in the summary that it was stroller friendly. But to be more clear, the whole trail to the restaurant is a dirt road, so easily done with a stroller. After the restaurant, it's more of a regular trail, but I still think you can do it with a stroller. Of course, the lookout point requires stairs, but this is short and you can simply leave the stroller at the bottom. I hope this helps 🙂

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Hi! I’m Tanya and our family has been living & hiking in Switzerland since 2005, collecting dozens of fun hikes and activities for all ages and abilities. More about us…

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