Rheinschlucht: From Ilanz to Versam into the heart of the Rheinschlucht

The hike along the Vorderrhein passes through a floodplain landscape of national significance. The "Swiss Grand Canyon", wild and pristine, provides habitat for a variety of plants and animals. These include the highly endangered bird species the little ringed plover and the common sandpiper, which are native to the Rheinschlucht. Only 80 to 120 pairs of each species still breed in Switzerland, half of them in the canton of Graubünden. In springtime, the laying of eggs, incubation, and feeding of the young take place. However, be careful, human disturbance during this time endangers the brood. Therefore, there is a prohibition of access between April 1 and July 15 in the designated protected areas.

On the slopes of the Rheinschlucht, ecologically valuable juniper pine forests thrive. This forest community is especially attractive due to its great wealth of orchids. The orchids are protected and must not be picked. The best-known species is the lady's slipper orchid, which blooms in early summer.

At the destination Versam Safien station, sandstone walls up to 300 meters high rise up; the monumental highlight of the canyon.