This varied loop tour begins in the middle of the Graubünden capital. But the busy city life is soon left far behind, because the route takes you on a tranquil neighbourhood road into nature. You cross the Fürstenwald, a popular local recreation area with views of the city and the Calanda. The historic Trimmiser Mittelweg then takes you through open pastures to the village of Trimmis. The route follows the "Bündner Rheintal Wine Trail" on several sections. Accordingly, it provides an insight into the local winegrowing culture. This has a long tradition as first mentions go back to the year 765. The Graubünden Rhine valley winegrowing region stretches from Bonaduz to Fläsch and covers around 420 hectares. Thanks to the mild climate and the foehn, the grapes thrive magnificently in the calcareous soils - especially the typical Blauburgunder variety.

Past the imposing, former moated castle of Marschlins, the route follows the Landquart river to the village of the same name. The Landquart has its source above Klosters, flows through the Prättigau valley and finally into the Rhine at Landquart. Here you return on the popular cycling route no. 2, the Rhine route. From Zizers, the path repeatedly follows the young Alpine Rhine. This has its source at the Oberalp pass as the Vorderrhein and at Rheinwald as the Hinterrhein. At Reichenau-Tamins, the two main arms join to form the Rhine. Switzerland’s largest river flows for a total of 1230 kilometres via Lake Constance through Germany, on to Holland, and into the North Sea.

At Haldenstein, you cross to the other river bank. At the level of the town of Chur, the cycle path crosses the Rhine again on the Pardisla bridge which was built especially for cyclists and pedestrians. Shortly afterwards you reach another regional river: the Plessur has its source in the mountainous area between Arosa and Lenzerheide, flows past Arosa through the Schanfigg valley and into the Rhine at Chur. The route follows the river, and over the arched bicycle and pedestrian bridge, built in 2020, you finally dive right into the centre of Chur with its picturesque, car-free old town. Before returning to the station, you can stop at one of the numerous restaurants with sun terraces. The tour comes to a leisurely end in the unique ambience of Switzerland's oldest city.

The Bündner Herrschaft, Graubunden’s fertile garden and winery lies on a mound of slate detritus. Also the home of Heidi, Peter and Alpöhi (Heidi’s grandfather).

Surselva - «above the forest» - Graubunden’s largest Romansch-speaking region. The wild gorge of the Vorderrhein is awe-inspiring - Switzerland’s Grand Canyon. Chur, the oldest town north of the Alps boasts the highest density of restaurants.

You have to do this tour once. For many cyclists it is one of the annual highlights. You experience the mighty Calanda massif from all sides. And who would have thought that it looks so rugged and jagged from the back. The route is extremely varied with the enjoyable start along the Rhine route. Via a side road with little traffic, you reach Pfäfers, where you cross the impressive Tamina bridge that spans the gorge. A long path through the Tamina valley follows via Valens, past the Mapragg reservoir and via Vättis finally to the Kunkelspass. The Überruf mountain inn stands at the top of the pass and offers the ideal opportunity for refreshments before the descent via the Forstrasse, at the beginning through tunnels hewn into the rock, leads down towards Tamins. The way back from there again follows the Rhine back to the Alpine City of Chur.

The Kunkelspass connects the Tamina valley (SG) with the municipality of Tamins (GR). It lies between the steep walls of the Calanda in the east and the mountain group around the Ringelspitz in the west. The narrow road and the tunnel on the Tamins side with the panoramic openings in the tunnel wall were built during the First World War. The Kunkelspass also forms the eastern entrance to the geological wonderland of the Tectonic Arena Sardona. At the pass near the Überruf mountain restaurant there is a seminar room with information about the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A telescope offers the opportunity to have a close look at the Ringelspitz and the Glarus thrust or the demolition niche of the Tamins mountain fall.

The Calanda massif consists of the four peaks Haldensteiner Calanda (at 2,805m the highest), Felsberger Calanda, Taminser Calanda and Berger Calanda (above Untervaz).

The start of this geologically highly interesting round trip is in Bad Ragaz. After the village centre, you turn onto the old, picturesque road towards Valens, where you have to climb 300 metres in altitude for the first 4.5 kilometres. A panoramic stop on the Tamina Bridge, which opened in 2017, is a must. With a span of 260 metres, it is the largest arch bridge in Switzerland. From Pfäfers, follow the gently ascending main road into the Tamina Valley. The next stop is worth a stop at the Windegg viewpoint in front of Vadura. Here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Glarus main thrust and the Wildseehörner. World Heritage information boards, viewing judges and cool loungers invite you to linger... but you probably want to go further.

At kilometre 16 you reach Vättis, where the exhibition 'BergeQuake!' shows the connection between earthquakes and mountain building in the Sardona tectonic arena... very impressive thanks to the live transmission of seismic recordings! Over the next few kilometres at the bottom of the bubbling Görbsbach, you can enjoy the view of the rugged limestone formations of the Haldensteiner (2,805 m) and Felsberger Calanda (2,697 m). The Eggwald mountain restaurant in Ober Kunkels (1148 m a.s.l.) invites you to stop for a bite to eat. A last short ascent, you have reached Graubünden soil and soon also the Kunkelspasshöhe (1,357 m a.s.l.). The garden terrace of the mountain inn Überuf is irresistible. The lovely pass plateau presents itself like an arena, surrounded by the Calanda (2805 m above sea level), the Crap Mats (2947 m above sea level) and the Ringelspitz (3247 m above sea level), the highest mountain in St.Gallen, located in the Tectonic Arena. Inside the inn, an educational information room is  dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sardona Tectonic Arena.

The descent to Tamins (660 m a.s.l.) leads over a steep and bumpy natural road built during the First World War. The view from the tunnel blasted into the rock is spectacular. You can overlook the Domleschg and even see the Bernina massif in the distance. From Tamins, follow the national Veloland route no. 2 to Felsberg, where you continue along the right bank of the Rhine to Chur. Once again, you can educate yourself in geology: In the Chur Natural History Museum, a comprehensive geology exhibition focuses on the topic of Alpine formation. Then you can easily roll down the Rhine to Landquart and Bad Ragaz... or you can swing to the train station, look up again to the Calanda... and end the round on the railway.

"RheinWelten" is a unique two-wheeler offer from the source of the Rhine to Basel for enjoyable explorers. 45 local tours in 15 adventure worlds can be discovered in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on an e-bike.  The tours combine visits to producers and farm shops, visits to museums or wineries, as well as local restaurants and overnight accommodations with the most beautiful cycling routes or hikes in the regions. The adventure worlds can be visited individually as a day trip or as a multi-day bike tour. 

Selected information on the new digital platform www.rheinwelten.com encourage people to discover new things. RheinWelten takes you through 12 tourist destinations in six cantons as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. Experience unique cultural landscapes and the culinary diversity along the Rhine by e-bike.

Not the way is the goal, but the worlds of experience of the RheinWelten.

Rhine Route 2: Andermatt - Oberalppass - Disentis - Trun - Ilanz - Versam - Reichenau - Chur - Landquart - Jenins - Maienfeld - Sargans - Buchs - Oberriet - Altstätten - St.Margrethen - Fussach (D) - Gaissau (D) - Rohrschach - Arbon - Romanshorn - Kreuzlingen - Steckborn - Stein am Rhein - Gailingen (D) - Schaffhausen - Dachsen - Ellikon - Eglisau - Zurzach - Felsenau - Laufenburg - Stein - Rheinfelden - Pratteln - Muttenz - Basel

The Bündner Herrschaft, Graubunden's fertile garden and winery lies on a mound of slate detritus. Also the home of Heidi, Peter and Alpöhi (Heidi's grandfather).

Note(s)
Beware: in good weather, a strong wind blows up the Rhine Valley in the afternoon however down valley if the Föhn wind is blowing.

See also
Ostschweiz Tourismus
Fürstenlandstrasse 53
9000 St.Gallen
Tel:+41 (0)71 274 99 00
Fax: +41 (0)71 274 99 01
Email: info@ostschweiz.ch
Internet: www.ostschweiz.ch

From Chur, this tour begins with a leisurely roll-in to Domat/Ems. Directly in front of the golf course, the ascent then follows on the alpine road to the beautifully situated Graubünden mountain village of Feldis, which is known for its exceptionally rich alpine flora. By the way, there is also a gondola lift from Rhäzüns to Feldis - so if you want to save some battery and energy, you can alternatively ride to Rhäzüns and then take the gondola lift with your bike to Feldis. Through the picturesque village and past the chairlift, the beautiful climb over the Feldis Alps towards Alp dil Plaun follows shortly afterwards. Up to the settlement of Culm Ault you can continue without any problems, there is a good point to park the e-bike and continue on foot. At Windegga you can see the top station of the ski lift from Pradaschier. After Tgom'Aulta the path becomes steeper towards Fulbergegg (2'448m). From there it is not far to the summit, still up the ridge and you are already standing on top of the Fulhorn (2'528m), where a magnificent all-round panorama opens up.

The descent follows the same route. For technically experienced mountain bikers who still have reserves, there are also various trail options back to Chur.

A worthwhile short tour out of the city of Chur. It leads through the beautiful Fuerstenwald forest recreation area to the rural village of Trimmis and along the Rhine back to the Alpine City. On the way back, you cross the Rhine on the Pardislabrücke bridge, which is well worth seeing, the Plessur on the Italian bridge and finally you return through the picturesque old town to the starting point at Chur railway station.