Eastern Switzerland
Tamina Valley route
An insider tip for anyone who wants to experience wild and romantic nature, Walser settlements and turquoise lakes. The steep trail takes you from Bad Ragaz to Valens or over Pfäfers-Vättis to the Tamina and Calfeisen valleys that hardly anyone knows.
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The road winds high above the rocky Tamina Gorge and past the Mapragg reservoir. Vättis is the starting point for the rugged and romantic Calfeisen Valley and the flora-rich Kunkels Pass, which the Romans crossed.
In this wild and romantic area between turquoise blue reservoirs, mighty mountain backdrops with ringing cowbells and whistling marmots, you can linger for a while, hike and forget the hectic pace of everyday life.
Winter in the Tamina Valley
In Vättis, at the foot of the 2,808 m high Calanda mountain range, cross-country skiers can find a unique natural landscape and professionally prepared cross-country trails away from the crowds. The perfect environment to forget the stress of everyday life and unwind in the great outdoors while doing some sport.
There are two trails to choose from, departing from Vättis in the Tamina valley:
- Gaspus trail, 7 km, classic and skating
- Kunkels trail, 10 km, classic and skating
For those who like to hike in the evening, the cross-country skiing area near Vättis also has a 2 km long night trail.
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On this route, you will also enjoy the three-tone horn, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
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Other winter activities
The Tamina Valley is an ideal starting point for winter hikes, snowshoe and ski tours. In winter, the trail on the Kunkelsstrasse is car-free and snow-ploughed up to Restaurant Eggwald.
Snowshoe tours
- 7 km to the Kunkels Pass, 350 m ascent
- 12 km to the SAC Ringelspitz hut, 1,000 m ascent, approx. 5 hours from Vättis
The Ringelspitzhütte is the starting point for high-altitude skiing tours to the Ringelspitz (3,247 m above sea level).
Walser village of St. Martin (Canton of St. Gallen)
At the far end of the Calfeisen Valley, nestled in a picturesque landscape, is the former Walser settlement of St. Martin. It’s as if time has stood still, and you feel like you’re in an open-air museum: little wooden houses, a water mill, gravel paths, flowerpots, the chapel and a restaurant with fresh bread from the wood-fired oven – the charm and romantic atmosphere of the little village alone make the visit worthwhile.
From Bad Ragaz, the PostBus journey first passes through the Tamina Valley and Calfeisen Valley until it reaches the Gigerwaldsee reservoir (final stop). Passing the large Gigerwaldsee reservoir, which is reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord depending on the light, you reach the small Walser settlement in just over 45 minutes.
