Top 9 Gorges around Chur

The region around Chur is known for impressive gorges and river landscapes. The most prominent are the Rhine Gorge, often called the 'Swiss Grand Canyon,' and the Tamina Gorge, famous for its thermal spring. You can also find unique geological formations like the Glacial Mills Alp Mora.

The Rhine Gorge, or Ruinaulta, is a spectacular ravine carved by the Rhine River over 10,000 years ago after the Flims landslide. It features bizarre stone formations, impressive limestone walls, and vast floodplain forests. It's also an important ecological site, home to rare plants and animals, and is a nationally protected landscape.

The Rhine Gorge offers diverse activities. You can explore it by train via the Rhaetian Railway, hike or mountain bike along numerous trails, or enjoy views from various platforms. Rafting, canoeing, packrafting, and hydrospeeding are popular ways to experience the gorge from the water, especially between Ilanz and Reichenau.

The Tamina Gorge is a narrow, mystical rock crevice carved by the Tamina River, reaching up to 200 meters deep in some sections. It is home to Europe's most abundant thermal spring, discovered in 1242, which supplies the thermal spa in Bad Ragaz with 36.5°C water. Visitors can walk along a path to see the spring and explore the gorge's unique geology.

Yes, for those seeking active canyoning experiences, areas near Thusis and Ilanz provide suitable conditions. These locations are popular for guided tours that involve navigating through canyons using techniques like walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and swimming through natural water slides and sculpted rock formations.

The Rhine Gorge can be visited throughout the warmer months for hiking, biking, and water sports. For specific seasonal considerations, especially for activities like rafting, it's best to check local tour operator schedules, as river conditions can vary.

The Tamina Gorge offers a family-friendly walk into the mystical gorge to see the thermal spring. The path to the Tamina Thermal Spring itself is even suitable for prams and wheelchairs, making it accessible for many families.

Beyond the major gorges, you can visit the Glacial Mills Alp Mora. Here, the Maliensbach stream has carved unique depressions, known as whirlpools or glacier potholes, into the rock. Some are large enough for bathing during summer months, offering a unique natural spectacle at 2,100 meters.

The region around Chur offers a variety of outdoor activities. You can find numerous MTB Trails, Road Cycling Routes, and Running Trails. Many of these routes offer views of the stunning landscapes, including parts of the Rhine Gorge.

Visitors can walk along a path into the Tamina Gorge to witness the thermal spring. There's also the option to hike over a natural bridge and along wooden steps, like the Steep Wooden Staircase in the Tamina Gorge, or to combine the visit with a trip to the old Bad Pfäfers.

The most significant geological event shaping the region's gorges was the Flims landslide about 10,000 years ago. This massive event created the conditions for the Rhine River to carve out the spectacular Rhine Gorge, cutting through billions of cubic meters of rock to form the dramatic landscape seen today.

Access to the Tamina Gorge is convenient. A hiking bus operates from July to September, and a post bus (or horse-drawn carriages on request) runs to Alt Bad Pfäfers. The path to the Tamina Thermal Spring is suitable for prams and wheelchairs, though you may need to ask for a large gate to be opened for access.