The Thur waterfalls are a set of pretty falls in the Toggenburg region. From the Unterwasser village, you reach the falls with a short and easy walk along a little river.
When you get close to the falls, the path turns into a wooden walkway built into the rock walls, so you can walk above the river and access a couple different lookouts over the falls. There are also some stairs that climb through a small tunnel to a higher viewpoint over the falls.
This is a nice add-on the Toggenburg Tone Trail or Thur River Trail.
| Location: | Toggenburg region in Eastern Switzerland |
| Address: | |
| Car: | Parking near Dorfstrasse 29, 9657 Alt St. Johann 1hr30 from Zurich |
| Train: | Bus stop: Unterwasser, Post 2hr from Zurich |
| Trail: | 750m to falls |
| Condition: | smooth dirt to falls, stairs along falls |
| Skill: | easy |
| Open: | April thru November |
| More info: | www.wanderland.ch |
Gallery
Trail map
The path starts near Dorfstrasse 27, 9657 Unterwasser (one block from bus stop and Coop grocery). Follow signs to Thur-Wasserfälle. It’s a dirt path along the river leading to the falls.
It takes about 10 minutes and is easy walking. I’d leave the stroller behind; small children should be able to walk it without problems.
If you fancy a long hike, there is an 8 km trail from Unterwasser to Wildhaus that passes by the falls.
How to get there
By public transport: Take a bus to Unterwasser, Post. Then walk east on Dorfstrasse, turning left on Hofstrasse, following the Thur-Wasserfälle trail signs.
By car: In Unterwasser, there is a small public parking area next to the Hotel Restaurant Sternen at Dorfstrasse 29, 9657 Alt St. Johann. Make sure not to park in the spots reserved for the hotel customers.
Costs & Planning your day
There is no entrance fee to visit the falls.
There is a small picnic area in the forest next to the river, just before you reach the falls. See on map. You can get picnic supplies at the Coop grocery near the start of the trail.
Photo story
Here’s the start of the trail following the river.
Do not cross the bridge but do take a picture.
Keep following the river up the valley. Eventually the path turns into an elevated walkway with a fence. There is a fire pit and picnic area next to the river before you start on the walkway. We were there the last weekend in March when the water level was low and the river was practically empty. But it was still pretty. Below are the first falls you’ll see. A local told us that in summer these first falls are much smaller.
Even though the big waterfalls weren’t running yet, there were a few small falls that were so pretty. We’ll have to go back in May to see it in full force.
The path forks and leads through a tunnel with stairs to a lookout at the top part of the falls.
Want to see more waterfalls?
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