Easy Walk from Flims to Trin via Lake Cresta in the Surselva

Saturday December 27, 2025 -- Unusually warm weather in the areas where there should be a lot of snow, to the great disappointment of winter fans during these holidays... For us, though, a good opportunity once again for snow-free walking and mostly avoiding the non-stop fog in the low areas. 

So this Saturday we traveled three hours to Flims in Canton Graubünden and walked 10.5 km along trails which at this time of year are officially considered winter trails, prepared for walking along wide roads. We had never been to Lake Cresta before, so we wanted to visit this beautiful lake. From there we passed the wide open plain which usually consists of cross-country skiing trails. Passing through the town of Trin, we visited both the village church, and then climbed up to the ruined fortress tower called Canaschal. From there we unfortunately ended up walking along the very busy main road to our planned bus stop, for the 15:40 bus back to Chur. 

This was an easy stroll, mostly with lots of sunshine but a few sections in the cold shade of the mountains. We traveled altogether almost six hours to spend four hours out of the fog!

Once again our trip takes us via the city of Chur, where we will change to a bus and head out toward the snow-covered mountain on the right, i.e. up the Rhine Valley. This is at 10:45 a.m. 

On the Autobahn toward Flims, we pass the church at Domat-Ems, one we haven't visited as there aren't really good hiking trails past here. 

Here is where we started our hike, one bus stop before the town of Flims. A look back shows us a bit of snow in the town, and enough on the ski hill but not ideal. 

This was a fairly easy 11-km hike for us, barely any "uphill". Starting on the east side of the town of Flims at 11:25, we caught the 15:40 bus on the busy road east of Trin. Back to Chur for the total 2½-hour trip home.  

On the shadier side of the various hills, there is still some snow. 

Heading eastward now along the trail we had chosen to walk this day (one we had not walked before). 

It seems to happen a lot that there is no snow around the end of December. 

Here we cross the Flem River, the main river that passes through Flims. The littel collection of houses just below the cliffs is called Fidaz, and we walked through there in January of this year when we did a winter hike in the high plateau called Bargis, on the far right of this massif (Flimsertein).  (Photos HERE). 

In the shady parts of the forest, the trails were snowy. But there was also sunshine. There were several other people headed down to Cresta Lake. 

There were a few cabins in a couple of clearings on the way to the lake. At one of these buildings (not this one) we found a bench and stopped for our picnic lunch, just a few minutes short of the lake.

We then reached the restaurant at Lake Cresta, and headed down to the lakeshore. 

Once we got to the lake (Crestasee) at 12:30, we saw that there were several benches here, and we could have had our picnic lunch here instead of in the forest! The lake lies in a depression in the forest. 

We didn't stay long at the lake as suddenly lots of people showed up! So we headed south along the west side of the lake. 

Beautiful reflections on the very still water. 

This lake is similar to the other beautiful Lake Cauma nearby, which we visited on a hike from Flims to Trin (and then to Tamins) back in October of 2015. 

There is a narrow trail all around the lake, but we only followed it a short way, and then returned to the forest trail. 

Lake Cresta (Crestasee).

After a long stretch on a forest road, we reached the large plain which is actually a popular cross-country skiing arena! The sign tells us to beware of the cross-country skiers, which isn't a problem on this day!

A look back toward the Flimserstein Massif. The upper plateau of Bargis is on the right, and on that January 2025 hike we walked from there below the cliffs via the houses in that clearing, and then down to Flims. 

These girls are enjoying the late December sunshine as well!

These pink signs indicate all the prepared winter hiking trails one can walk along in. So we were following winter hiking trails, and what a shame that there was not snow for this!

Crossing the Flem River again into a small village on the way to Trin. This village is called "Trin-Mulin". 

Following the main road through Trin-Mulin as we continue on our walk. 

Now the trail heads back up to the main road, with a great view over the cross-country ski arena. The mountains (the first, I think) is Piz Mundaun, where we hiked this year in October (Photos HERE). 

It's always nice to see the paragliders... a couple of them landed here on the cross-country field. 

Great view near the main road. 

After a short 5-minute stretch in the dark shadow along the main road (and past a military museum), we got the first views of the town of Trin. Later, after a walk through the village, we visited the church and then climbed up the hill to have a look at the tower. 

We love the cats!

View to the tower (ruins of the fortress Canaschal). 

Walking through the village above the main road with a view of the church, which we first had a look at before going up to the tower. 

Lovely typical houses of the region. There is even a little vineyard in the village!

More nice houses with lots of wood. 

Back down at the main road and on the way to the village church, we passed this cute figure!

The church in Trin is a late-gothic build from 1491, used as an Evangelical church since the Reformation in the 1530's. 

Details of the inside of the town's Evangelical church, including a nativity scene. 

Heading up the main road in Trin to the trail up to the tower on the hill. 

A gorgeous old house on the main road with an arched entrance, and a tunneled passage below it. 

We walked through the arched tunnelway under the house and found a series of steps up the hill behind the house, although, in retrospect, this was probably someone's backyard!

A short uphill hike and we got to the ruins, with a view over the town of Trin. 

We took a 10-minute break on a nearby bench. There were no steps up into the tower: It was just an empty four walls!

Continuing on our walk, we could see to the south into the Domleschg valley, which is where the Glacier Express train line travels from Chur to St.Moritz via the Albula Valley. There really should be more snow here! (We did a hike there quite recently in November, photos HERE). 

We are being watched very carefully!

Here we joined the trail we had walked in October 2015 when we visited the other lake (Lake Cauma) and passed below the village of Trin at the time. 

Unfortunately, the bus stop wasn't marked correctly on our hiking map, and we had to walk about 500 meters along this busy road to find it... and later realized we could have continued on the walking trail below the road and reached the bus stop without ever having to be on the road! Our 15:40 bus was late, but we arrived about five minutes early anyway, just as the sun was setting. 

Passing the Domat-Ems church again on the way back to Chur by bus. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps

These are all the hikes we have done around the region of the Rhine Canyon and Flims. 

Location of Flims within Switzerland. 

Sunny Side of the Thur River Valley from Wildhaus to Alt St.Johann

Sunday December 21, 2025 -- On this, the shortest day of the year, we were very lucky once again to find a place above the fog to do another 10-km walk in the sunshine.... in fact, we had more sunshine than we had expected!

With this unending fog in the lowlands, you have to go up high to get above the fog, either very high where there is snow (but lots of skiers), or half-way up where the landscape is half-snow, so not really great for hiking.

But right now the temperatures in the eastern part of Switzerland are relatively high due to Föhn wind effects, but also with lots of fog in the valley bottoms... except in the Toggenburg and Thur Valley near Mount Säntis (similar to where I had been just a couple of days earlier, photos HERE). Checking webcams before we left, we knew it would be fog-free, so headed out on the 2¾-hour trip via Buchs in the Rhine Valley (through the fog!) to the town of Wildhaus near the source of the Thur River, and did a three-hour walk on the sunny side of the valley. Considering that the sun is in its lowest position of the year, we were glad that the Churfirsten mountains to our south weren't throwing shadow onto our chosen trail, which was mostly along paved mountain roads, but with practically no vehicle traffic.

Highlights were the very many pretty houses to admire, and the fabulous backdrop of Mt.Säntis. 

After a two-hour trip to eastern Switzerland via Sargans and Buchs all the way in the thick fog (we left home at 8:45), we changed to a bus from Buchs toward the Thur Valley. As the bus climbed, we eventually got out of the fog and could see the mountains of Liechenstein. 

Getting out of the fog now! It's now 11:13. 

Heading eastward along the main road on the southern flank of the Alpstein Massif toward Wildhaus, with views of farmhouses.

This is the view of the north side of the Churfirsten mountains after our bus arrived in Wildhaus at 11:25. (We had not felt the need to start any earlier on this day!). Just below here is one of the two sources of the Thur River: The "Wildhauser Thur". 

Two churches to check out first. This one, closest to the main road, is the Evangelical Church. 

Inside the Evangelical church in Wildhaus. It was originally the first church in the community, used by the Catholics until the reformation in 1524, but then shared once again with the Catholics from 1595 until the construction of the Catholic church building in 1777. 

Only a few meters away from the Evangelical Church is the Catholic Parish Church, consecrated in 1777. 

Typical Baroque church interior in this 1777-built church.

Detail of the altars (main and two side altars) and the small organ. 

As it is now nearing Christmas, there are nativity scenes set up in the various churches. This one is particularly pretty. 

A look behind us as we leave the Catholic Church and head through the cemetery of the Evangelical church, as we now start on our hike at 11:40.

Starting in Wildhaus at 11:40, we walked about 11 km (about 3 hours) on a mostly paved road (almost no traffic) on the sunny side of the valley. We only had shadow once we got down to Alt St.Johann, for the final 30 minutes of our walk along the regional themed trail no.24: "Thurweg", or "Thur River Trail".. 

Interesting painted front of this house. 

Looking down the valley and across to the Churfirsten Mountains. We did a hike on the other side of this valley on January 1, 2016 (photos HERE). 

This was a really pleasant level trail along the sunny mountainside, even though it was paved. There were very many benches along the way, and we stopped many times. 

There are very many vacation apartments here, as the other side of the valley is a popular skiing area, when there is snow! A "ski bus" even runs up this way in winter, so that people staying in these apartments have access to the ski hills, to get there without requiring a car. 

These bushes with all the red berries looked quite pretty!

Looking behind us, we can see into the snow-covered mountains of Austria and Liechtenstein. 

More vacation apartments which can be rented. Not much action right now because of the lack of snow! We did pass quite a few people walking along the same path we were on.

It looks like this used to be a barn, and they filled up the valley... or did they lift the roof, remove the bottom part, and put the roof back down again?

Some ski equipment waiting for action. These people are probably very frustrated because they took vacation time for skiing, and there is no snow!

Our goal is the valley bottom at the arrow on the left, but first we head into a side valley to the right, and then descend from just past the little village (Halden) on the right. 

This is the beautiful landscape which we are going to cross.... The Säntiser Thur River (i.e. source of the Thur River) flows down here and drops over some very nice waterfalls, so we've heard! (plan for later some time). 

Many pretty houses to admire along the way. 

This was probably my favourite house. There is text on the house which reads "Unser Paradies auf Erden", i.e. "Our Paradise on Earth" 

And now, at the back of the side valley, Mount Säntis is coming into view. This is where the other Thur River (the "Säntiser Thur") has its source. From here heading down to the valley are some impressive waterfalls which we haven't seen yet. (We want to wait till summer). 

Mt. Säntis in the background!

There is a llama farm here

Close-up look at the weather station on the summit of Mt.Säntis. 

It is warm enough that we could take off our jackets!

By now it's just after 1 p.m. and even though there are clouds to the south, the sun just always managed to avoid them, so that we had more sunshine than expected.

Another convenient bench for a break with a view. Mt. Säntis is the one in the center at the back, but the mountain I found more impressive is the one on the right: the Schafberg .

Some pretty impressive folds in the rock composition of Mt. Schafberg. 

Another look back over the mountainside where we had walked, with an even better view of the Austrian and Liechtenstein Alps.  

Mt. Schafberg keeps looking more impressive as it is illuminated by the late afternoon sunshine. 

This was a cute little corner to take a break (Gubel), with a self-serve shop where you could make coffee and tea, or buy beverages and snacks, and enjoy the view on lamb-skin covered "benches". If this hadn't been the shortest day of the year, we might have stopped here for a bit. 

Now on our way down to valley bottom to the town of Alt St.Johann we can see how much snow is still on the valley bottom because there is more shadow there at this time of year. For now it looks like we still might have some sunshine, though, before reaching the end of our hike at Starkenbach (which ended up not being the case).  

Down below us is the site of the former Benedictine Monastery of Alt St.Johann (Old St.Johann), established mid 12th Century. Our trail heads right down there, so we will have a look into all of those buildings. A very sad scene is the tiny strip of snow at Alt St.Johann chair lift, as that is supposed to be a ski area! At this point there was just a small slope at the bottom for the kids. 

A chapel and a church at the site of the former Benedictine Monastery (known as "St.Johann in Thurtal"), which was founded earlier than 1150, and served as such until 1626 when due to severe fire damage to the original buildings, the religious order was moved 10 km down-valley and renamed "Neu St.Johann".  By 1806 this became the parish church here. 

This is the interior of the little side chapel next to the large church building. Of particular interest was the magnificent wooden "winged" organ. We got here at 2:20 p.m. 

This is the south side of the site... after 1806, the church became parish church, and the rest of the facilities were first used for the army, and since 1906 a home for metally challenged people. 

The interior of the St.Johann parish church looks very modern, except for the organ, which seems so out of place!

This is the Evangelical-Reformed church in the town, right next to the Monastery church. Here was originally a chapel belonging to the Monastery (St.Anna) which was donated to the Evangelical community in 1526, but after the 1528 fire in the Monastery, it was rebuilt in 1586. There was a second fire in 1628, which it survived, but this building is pretty new, from 1861 (INFO). 

Details of the Evangelical Church in Alt St.Johann. Also here was a very cute little Nativity Scene. Note: Usually church buildings face the other direction, and it is not known why this one faces to the West. 

Finished looking around the site here, it is now 2:40 p.m. and we have to head out along the Thur River now to catch the 15:18 bus. (We have to hurry now, as it's still 35 minutes to walk there, and also, we have lost the sunshine). 

The Gasthaus Schäfli advertises they are closed for Christmas Holidays 

More nice houses along the way. From here on we have joined the Regional Themed Trail "Thurweg" (i.e. "Thur River Trail") of which we have done several sections in this part of the country. 

This is an interesting tradition I did not know about. Many villages select 24 houses to display decorated windows, and each house has a number, like an Advent Calendar. Every day the town folk go to visit the "window of the day" and sometimes the owners offer refreshments. This was the window from December 18! (We missed the one for this day, the 21st, and didn't have time to go back and look for it!) 

And this is probably the prettiest door I had ever seen!

So now we are following the Thur River down valley. This is a look back upriver toward Alt St.Johann. 

The former mill, now a museum called "Klangwelt", which demonstrates lots of "noises" from different cultures. 

Two working waterwheels next to the former mill building. 

Another look back at Mt. Schafberg, which still has sunshine! It was up on that hillside where we were walking and from where we descended. 

This final 35-minutes stretch was a fairly straight 2½ kilometers. We passed this lovely stone bridge.  

And another look behind us to the stone bridge and Mt. Schafberg. 

Farmhouse near Starkenbach

Another farmhouse near the bus stop.  

We made it to the bus stop with about three minutes to spare for the 15:18 bus. From here it's a 2-hour 25-minute trip back home. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps, about 11 km from Wildhaus to Starkenbach. 

All the hikes we have done in the region around the Churfirsten mountains and the Alpstein Massif. The reason we decided to walk all the way to Starkenbach (we could have caught the bus in Alt St.Johann) wasvso that I could join onto the start of another hike we did from there in September 2022. 

The bus passes via the town of Stein, SG, where we have ended several hikes. 

Shortly before arriving at the train station in Wattwil, we hit the fog again.... 

Location of the eastern part of the Thur Valley 

This is the hillside on the north side of the Thur Valley, as seen from the hike we did in January 2016.