Imboden between mountains, gorges and water

River floodplains, gorges and alpine landscapes

The Rhäzünser Rhine floodplains are among the most intact floodplain landscapes in Switzerland and are of national importance. In the wider region, the Rhine Gorge provides a habitat for rare plants, including various orchids, as well as rare animals, particularly birds, butterflies and bats. The lower Segnesboden, also known as Plaun Segnas Sut, was added to the national inventory of moorland landscapes of outstanding beauty and national importance in 1996. Weihermühle contains a fen of national importance; it is home to dormice, numerous orchid species and sundews, a native carnivorous plant.

Geological formations also shape the landscape. Martinsloch is a natural opening in a rock face, measuring 19 metres wide and 22 metres high. Kunkelspass connects Vättis in the canton of St. Gallen with Tamins in Graubünden; its mountain landscape is part of the UNESCO Sardona Tectonic Arena World Heritage Site. The municipality of Tamins has set up an exhibition room at the pass.

Lakes and water activities

After the snow melts, around 20 potholes on Alp Mora fill with crystal-clear, turquoise water and invite visitors to swim during the summer months. Access to Alp Mora is closed to private vehicles. In July and August, a bus runs from Trin to Purcs—take this seasonal service into account when planning your trip.

At Lake Cresta, you can rent rowing boats and go stand-up paddleboarding. The lake is a protected natural monument of regional importance in the canton of Graubünden and can only be reached on foot. At Lake Cauma, visitors can enjoy pedal boats, stand-up paddleboarding, a volleyball court, a sandpit and a playground. Lag Bonaduz becomes a swimming lake in the summer months, with a wooden walkway leading into the water. These different facilities give water lovers specific destinations for their holiday, each with its own activities and access conditions.

Hiking and active adventures

In Flims, the summer visitor offerings include an extensive network of bike and hiking trails. The original Segnes–Flims section of the Trutg dil Flem is 8.6 kilometres long. In spring 2014, the trail won the main prize in the Prix Rando awards of the Swiss Hiking Federation. Another option is the 3.2-kilometre Connbächli route to Conn, which takes about an hour. The six-kilometre Connbächli has been used since the early Middle Ages to water livestock in Conn and is still considered a cultural asset of the municipality of Flims.

For a longer hike, the details of the Emser Tuma and Rhine Heights Tour are useful: it is classed as moderate, is 17.6 kilometres long and is listed as taking five hours. There are also five interconnected Nordic walking trails in Bonaduz, Domat/Ems, Felsberg, Rhäzüns and Tamins, which are also suitable for jogging and running.

From Flims, the UNESCO Sardona Tectonic Arena World Heritage Site is directly accessible by cable car; from Segnesboden, it can be explored along a hiking trail. With a little luck, ibex and chamois can be spotted in the wild in the area of the Felsberger Älpli–Kunkelspass route. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can use your planned outings to shape each day and take the relevant access conditions and seasonal services into account.

Churches, history and village scenes

The church of Sogn Gieri, between Bonaduz and Rhäzüns, dates back to the 6th or 7th century. A new choir was added in the second quarter of the 14th century, followed by a painted church interior. Sogn Paul is a medieval church; fragments of frescoes by the Waltensburg Master and a workshop in the International Gothic style have been preserved inside. Rhäzüns Castle was first mentioned in 1288 and is not open to the public. The historic village centre of Felsberg is characterised by narrow lanes and traditional houses from Graubünden.

The Rhine Gorge and regional connections

The Rhine Gorge can be explored by train and bus: the Rhaetian Railway runs through the Ruinaulta close to the water, while the PostBus serves villages above the gorge as well as destinations within it. On the Rhine Gorge suspension bridge–Wackenau Ruins route, you cross the Rhine via the 100-metre-long Punt Ruinaulta suspension bridge. You can also take a rafting trip through the Ruinaulta, from Ilanz to Reichenau. The Rhäzüns–Feldis aerial cableway connects Feldis with Rhäzüns above the Hinterrhein floodplains and provides access from Feldis to hiking and mountain biking routes. Timetables may change; check them before you travel.

Discover places and destinations

The region includes Bonaduz, Domat/Ems, Rhäzüns, Felsberg, Flims, Tamins and Trin. Discover more places: Tamins, Trin, Rhäzüns, Flims, Bonaduz, Domat/Ems.

Discover more destinations: Hinterrhein, Landquart.

Back to the main travel overview: Graubünden.