This stage focuses on the fascination of the Flims rock slide. Gain an impression of its dimension from the new vantage platform at Conn. Gold was mined at Calanda, between Tamins and Felsberg, in the 19th century.

Book Package «Senda Sursilvana»  and benefit from the free luggage transport from hotel to hotel.

• Further Information in German

The Surselva is more than a mere mountain valley. The Surselva - meaning «above the forest» – is a world apart, with its own language (Sursilvan), its own history shaped by the Disentis Monastery and the mountain passes, its own breed of men and a natural character shaped by one particular element, one which is continually gaining in value: water. It’s for a good reason that the official source of the Rhine rises at Tomasee near the Oberalppass. The water, collected in dozens of reservoirs is an energy provider. It has also eaten its way through the world’s largest mapped rockslide at Flims. It has created the imposing Ruinaulta Gorge, which can hardly be beaten for ruggedness – particularly when seen from the vantage platform at Conn.

The hike through the Surselva leads through an intact landscape but also arouses culturally historic curiosity, whether with the paintings in the Waltensburg Protestant Church or in the light of the mystifying menhir at Falera.The finale of four very varied hiking days is a tour around the old town quarter of Chur, Switzerland’s oldest town.

Book Package «Senda Sursilvana»  and benefit from the free luggage transport from hotel to hotel.

Further Information in German

Stages:

85.1 Andermatt–Sedrun
85.2 Sedrun–Sumvitg
85.3 Sumvitg–Breil/Brigels
85.4 Breil/Brigels–Laax
85.5 Laax–Chur

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.

Guidelines

• Duration: approx. 6 hours
• Distance: 12.5km
• Altitude difference: +850m/-800m

From the Chur railway station, follow the national cycling route no. 2 (Rhine route) and cycle at the riverbank to Landquart. In Landquart, cross the Rhine river and later at Sarelli go left and follow the road up to Pfäfers and carry on to Vättis through a rugged basin with almost vertical mountain slopes.

The final ascent to the pass takes you away from the traffic through unspoilt, splendid countryside. Shortly past the Eggwald mountain restaurant, you leave the Canton of St. Gallen and enter Grisons again before reaching the pass summit.

When crossing from the Tamina Valley into the Rhine Valley, the great differences at either side of the water divide are amazing. The final descent to Tamins is a special treat, offering views of the confluence of the Vorder and Hinter Rhine. From Tamins take the national cycle route No. 2 (Rhine route) back to Chur (or return by rail from Reichenau station).

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).

Along the right bank of the Rhine via Felsberg and Tamins, this tour first leads to Reichenau, where the confluence of the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein is located, which can be seen impressively from the bridge. The tour continues picturesquely over the plateau of Bonaduz and Rhäzüns until you finally reach the Domleschg at Rothenbrunnen. Now follows a magnificent round tour through the southern-looking valley, which is characterized by rolling hills, orchards and numerous castles. A landscape that invites you to explore it on an e-bike. Again and again, the view sweeps over impressive castles, palaces and castle ruins - from Juvalt Castle near Rothenbrunnen to Hohen Rätien Castle near Sils, they characterize the Domleschg landscape. Lake Canova near Paspels invites you to take a refreshing dip in the water (bathing season from May to mid-October). The trail continues along the Polenweg with a view of the Rhäzünser Rheinauen, which are among the most intact floodplain landscapes in Switzerland and are of national importance. Behind the golf course of Domat/Ems with a view of the "Tumas" (the striking hills that originate from landslides and are under nature protection) then follows the last stretch back to the Alpine City of Chur.