From Gamsalp in the Thur Valley to Lake Voralp in Eastern Switzerland

Sunday June 14, 2026 -- A long time ago, in fact almost to the day in 2018, we did a trip to a lake called Voralpsee in eastern Switzerland, in a side valley off the city of Grabs, which lies in the wide, flat Rhine Basin near the border of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. At that time we walked around the lake before heading out of the valley, and at the back of the lake, looking higher up the valley to the peaks of the Churfirsten Mountains (the nearest being Gamserrugg and Chäserrugg), we determined to one day walk down this valley. (See photos HERE)

Now, as a new heat wave is upon us, we were looking for some mountain excursions where it would be somewhat cooler, and as the Gamsalp chair lift had its opening run of the season this weekend, it looked like a good choice to head there, as it is a popular hiking region, and perhaps not too many people were going up there yet. As we had started an hour "late" the day before (photos HERE), we left early, but once again forgot to check the weather forecast. (Only the day before it was showing superb weather for eastern Switzerland, but as we got closer, and for most of the day, there were dark clouds hanging over the peaks).

What we had absolutely not expected was the strong and icy-cold winds which were blowing for most of the hike, which we ended up shortening from a 3-hour hike to a 2¼-hour hike because it was just too uncomfortable. In between there were bursts of sunshine for a few seconds, and that's when I tried to get my photos, especially of the beautiful karst landscape. 

This time we left home early to start earlier than yesterday, because it was supposed to be another hot day! We left home at 6:40 for the 2½-hour trip to Wildhaus, where we are going to take the chair lifts, which have just opened for the summer season. Here we are at 9 a.m. on the way toward the Churfirsten Range (north side) along the Thur Valley. 

From the bus stop called "Wildhaus Lisighaus", we walk down the road to the Oberalp chair lift with a view of the Churfirsten peaks (there are seven of them). 

This is the base station of the Wildhaus-Oberdorf chair lift, which just started summer operations this weekend. As we thought, there were very few people here (later in the season it is a very popular chair lift), and so we did not have to wait at all. 

A look behind us as the chair lift heads up to the Oberdorf summit station, where we have to walk to a second chair lift. We were not expecting all the dark clouds, as the day before, the forecast was for sunshine!

Down below us we can watch as the farmers are busy cutting the meadow grass. The upcoming warm weather is perfect for drying the grass. 

It is a lot of work to mow on these steep hillsides, but all of the land is used!

A four- or five-minute ride to the Oberdorf summit station. From here we have to walk a short distance to the next station. 

I love the daisies in the meadows!

A short walk to the second chairlift, the one to Gamsalp where we are going to start our hike. 

We rode the second chair-lift for almost 15 minutes!

Summit station at the Gamsalp. When we got here at 9:53, and it was very cold and no sunshine.  

First I walked around the Gamsalp restaurant for a look into the Rhine Valley to the east. But there was an icy wind blowing, so we went into the restaurant for about 25 minutes to have coffee and to wait until hopefully the clouds would be blown away! (No such luck, though). 

At about 10:20 we left the restaurant and headed out on our hike anyway, braving the icy winds. Back in September 2024 we hiked up to the summit of Gamserrugg (one of the seven Churfirsten peaks) and continued on to Sattel and Chäserrugg from there. This time we are walking an easier trail directly to Sattel, 45 minutes from here. 

Starting at Gamsalp at 10:20, we arrived at the Voralp Hotel at 13:22, with just a few minutes to spare for the 13:30 bus to Grabs. Our original plan was to hike up to Gamperfin and from there down to the hotel, which would have been 30 minutes longer, but the bus only runs every two hours, and the weather just wasn't good enough to wait around that long. 

Heading up the hill now, with a view to the south flanks of the Alpstein range. Normally you can see Mt. Säntis in the center, but it is hidden in low clouds. 

It was mostly cloudy, but because the wind was strong and blowing the clouds past, there were often short windows (less than a minute!) of sunshine, when I took most of my photos! This photo is the "tail" of the highest of the seven Churfirsten peaks, i.e. the Chäserrugg

Another look behind us into the Thur Valley. The whole hill is full of Alpine Roses, but only just a few have bloomed yet. 

Except for the icy wind, this was a very nice trail along this valley, not strenuous at all. 

Next to daisies, the globe flowers are my favourite alpine flowers. 

There were still a few snowy patches, but the trail was clear. 

On the September 2024 hike we did, also starting at Gamsalp but going over the mountain on our left, we had later climbed up to the summit of Chäserrugg on the right, where the trails are still covered in snow. 

The trail we are following is called the "Geological Loop Trail" (all around the Gamserrugg Peak), and there are placards along the way explaining how the mountains were formed and what flora flourishes here. 

At 11:15 (55 minutes after starting from the restaurant) we reached the Saddle. From here you can hike up to the summit of Mt. Chäserrugg (which we did on the September 2024 hike) in about an hour, or down to Voralp, which is what we ended up doing, with our lunch break at "Alti Hütte". 

A short sunny break at the highest point of our hike at "Sattel". From here we head down this valley to the lake called Voralpsee. 

Above us we can see the summit of Mt. Gamserrugg, from where we had descended on the September 2024 hike. 

Heading down the valley now. 

Admiring the countryside.... and up there is the saddle we crossed. 

This landscape was covered in these karst rocks. A special sight. 

The trail heads down the hill toward the left, and then back past those mountain huts. 

I love to see the gentians on our mountain hikes. 

The trail passes between the huts we saw from higher up on the trail. 

Very interesting landscape. 

A few flowering alpine roses. 

These are the small Gentians. 

Even though this was not really a long hike, it took longer because we had to navigate all the rocks "built in" to the trail. 

More of these beautiful karst rocks! This landscape has to be fenced off if the animals are up here in summer, as they could break their legs if they walk here. 

Far below now we get the first glimpse of Lake Voralpsee, and beyond that the opening up of the wide Rhine River valley near Lake Constance and the borders with Austria and Liechtenstein. (In fact, those mountains at the back are in Austria). 

Zoomed view of the lake, and one single tree in the middle of some ruins. That's where we are going to have our lunch break! Side note: There is a cow standing alone on an elevated boulder in the center of the photo.... we passed by her just a while later....

Finally past all the karst rocks and on to a easier, softer trail

We often come across trees growing on boulders

Here's that lone cow on the boulder, still standing here doing look-out!

The cows in the mountains are just so funny!

Still up there! And there is another one observing us from behind the elevation. 

Here's our lunch spot at 12:30! A bit rough (had to watch for stinging nettles), but the cows came to visit us and the view was lovely!

After a 15-minute lunch break at "Alti Hütte" (well, the little ruins nearby) we continued on our hike at 12:44. The next bus leaves at 13:30 and after that only two hours later! If it had been a sunny and warmer day, we would have lengthened the hike and maybe spent some time at the lake. But instead we chose to walk quickly, to get the 50 minutes done in 45!

A look down at the lake as we make our way along the wider road toward the Voralp Hotel. 

There were quite a few hikers who had passed us going up toward Gamsalp. (There is a lot of parking available at or near the hotel, so perhaps they are walking up and then back again). 

Oh, oh, another one is surprised that we are walking on "their" road!

They love to watch us walk past, but they usually keep out of our way... or rather, we keep out of their way!

Looking behind us at the long stretch of road we are walking down. This was the road for the full 45 minutes down to the hotel. 

On our June 2018 hike where we started at the Voralp Hotel (having come up with the same bus we are now going to use to head out of the valley), we started that hike with a walk around Lake Voralpsee, on the trail we can see below. 

More pretty alpine flowers along the way. 

We reached the hotel at 13:22, still eight minutes before the arrival of the bus! That means we completed the "50 minutes" from "Alti Hütte" in just under 40 minutes!

View up the valley from in front of the Voralp Hotel. (There is a restaurant here as well)

And here's the 13:30 bus, arriving at 13:25. (Side note: All the way back out of the valley, it was along this narrow road, and in my opinion, the driver drove much too quickly). 

The bus turn-around at the Voralp Mountain Hotel. We started a hike here almost exactly to the day eight years ago. (June 16, 2018). 

We started at Gamsalp after taking two chair lifts from Wildhaus, then walked via a saddle down the valley to the hotel at Voralpsee. Originally we were planning to join the "pink trail" (which we did as a winter hike in January 2024) before heading down to the hotel, but the overcast skies were a bit depressing, so we cut the hike short. 

In many places along these narrow roads it is difficult to pass, but the bus always has right-of-way, and the other cars must always find a place to move out of the way, or back up until they do. 

As the bus heads out of the valley and down along the winding road toward Grabs, we can see the Alpstein Massif from its eastern side. In particular, the V-shaped gap is called the Saxer Lücke, a popular hiking destination when starting on the crest from the Hoher Kasten or Stauberen cable-car stations.

Down below us is the wide open Rhine River basin where the river forms the border with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. (Those mountains to the east are in Liechtenstein AND Austria). The city below is called Grabs, where we have to change to a bus to the train station in Buchs. 

Close-up view of the city of Grabs, where we change to a bus to Buchs. 

View to the north: The Rhine River continues from here for another 40 kilometers to empty into Lake Constance in Austria (this valley is the border between Switzerland and Austria + Liechtenstein). 

Getting to Grabs at 13:52, our bus driver announces, with a little sign on his window, that he is off now for a coffee break!

Because our bus driver drove so quickly down the mountain road and did not have to stop to pick anyone up, we were three minutes early in Grabs. Normally, we would have missed this connection and would have had to wait 30 minutes for the next bus, so we were lucky and got home earlier than expected. From here in Grabs, it is a 2¼-hour trip home. 

The bus passes this very interesting-looking church building in Grabs. 

On the train between Buchs and Sargans, we pass parallel to the Rhine River. The railway line is in Switzerland. The mountain at the back, called Fläscherberg, is also in Switzerland. But the area between here and that mountain is actually in Liechtenstein. 

Location of Gamsalp and Voralp within Switzerland. 

SIDE NOTE:

This is the photo that made me want to walk down this valley toward Lake Voralpsee, from the eastern edge of the Churfirsten peaks. This was taken on the June 16, 2018 hike, starting here at Lake Voralpsee, which we first walked around and then out of the valley. 

This is the photo that made me want to walk down this valley toward Lake Voralpsee, from the eastern edge of the Churfirsten peaks. This was taken on the June 16, 2018 hike, starting here at Lake Voralpsee, which we first walked around and then out of the valley.