Dachsen walks

The Rhine Falls are waterfalls located between Neuhausen (right bank) and Flurlingen (left bank) in Switzerland, downstream from Schaffhausen. With a height of 23 metres and a width of 150 metres, they are among the largest in Europe. When the Rhine has its average flow, 750m3/s of water rushes over the rocks.

Seventeenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. Through the landscapes of northern Zurich, this stage takes you from Embrach to Uesslingen-Buch, following the rivers and villages that line the Huguenot Trail. From hamlet to hamlet, you will walk along well-marked footpaths, between discreet forests, peaceful farms and typical bell towers. Gradually, the scenery opens up onto the vast agricultural expanses of the Thur Valley, signalling the proximity of the German border. This route, rich in heritage and contrasts, ends gently by the river, in the peaceful countryside of Uesslingen.

The Schluchtensteig trail runs in 6 stages over 119 km from Stühlingen to Wehr, right across the southern Black Forest.“Exposed paths along steep rocky gorges, some offering spectacular views down into the depths. The Wutachflühen, the Wutach Gorge, the Schleifenbach Falls, the Haslach Gorge, the Windberg Waterfall, the Hohwehras Gorge and the Wehras Gorge are destinations for all those who enjoy hiking through wild gorges, marvelling at thundering waterfalls, savouring the natural silence and wanting to switch off from everyday life for a week,” as stated on the Schluchtensteig website – and the trail certainly lives up to its promise.We’ve tweaked the third stage slightly, so you’ll avoid the hill between Lenzkirch and Fischbach. Instead, we’ll hike up to the Riesenbühlturm in Schluchsee, which offers a panoramic view in all directions.

The Schluchtensteig trail leads in 6 stages over 119 km from Stühlingen to Wehr across the southern Black Forest. The first stage takes us from Stühlingen to Blumberg along the Wutachflühen. High above the Wutach, we hike on narrow paths and exposed trails. We pass the Sauschwänzlebahn railway line several times and, with a bit of luck, we will see the museum train steam past. The Buchberg with its long ascent challenges us in the last third of the tour before we descend to Blumberg.

Stage 18 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This stage, starting from Uesslingen, first takes you through peaceful agricultural pastures before skirting the vineyards of an old monastery. You then reach Warth, home to the Ittingen Charterhouse, which bears witness to more than 850 years of history and spirituality. Passing through Frauenfeld, the capital of the canton of Thurgau, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and return to the tranquillity of the banks of the Thur. The route takes you to Pfyn, then offers a beautiful immersion along the river, punctuated by the passage of the superb Eschikofen customs bridge. A stage combining heritage, nature and the gentle flow of the river.

Four-day tour through the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen. This route offers views of Lake Zurich and the peaks of the Bernese Alps, the Glärnisch massif and the Alpstein, including the Säntis Winterthur, the starting point, and Rapperswil, the finish, both have remarkable historic centres.

For this first stage, starting from Winterthur station, after exploring the old town, you will very quickly find yourself in the countryside. You will cross an animal park. The route is quite varied, following the Töss river and passing through the peaceful village of Kollbrunn. Then, a ridge path will lead you to Gyrenbad, a place of tranquillity and rest.

The Schluchtensteig trail runs for 119 km in 6 stages from Stühlingen to Wehr, right across the southern Black Forest.The second stage leads from Blumberg past the Schleifenbach waterfall to the River Wutach, through the magnificent Wutach Gorge, past the former spa town of Bad Ball and several waterfalls, and ends at Gasthof Schattenmühle.

Sixteenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This transitional stage marks the departure from the Jura ridges and their mountainous panoramas to begin the descent towards Lake Constance. You leave the Jura Höhenweg to cross a more urban landscape, bypassing the metropolis of Zurich while skirting the runways of its imposing international airport. This contrast between nature and infrastructure gives the route a unique character. The stage ends gently on the banks of the peaceful Töss Valley, where the river meanders between woods and meadows, offering a relaxing setting after a varied day's walking.

One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the entire region is the Wutach Gorge (Wutachschlucht), nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Black Forest". These are wild gorges, followed by footbridges, steps and paths carved into the rock, with a stream that is sometimes calm, sometimes cascading, and lush vegetation. PLEASE NOTE: the road is currently closed for the return journey to Schattenmühle. Continue along the Lotenbach gorge for about 1.5 km until you reach the B315 road, where you will find the bus stop.

This second stage will take you from Gyrenbad to the Hulftegg Pass. The Schauenberg offers a magnificent view of the Alps. The route to Sitzberg offers more interesting views, particularly of the Bichelsee. From Sitzberg (on the border between the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen) to Allenwinden, the route follows a small road, which fortunately is not very busy. When you arrive at the Hulftegg Pass, you will enjoy a superb view of the Toggenburg and the Appenzell region.

Sublime and magnificent gorges: the climb up the gorges is very cool.

The Schluchtensteig trail runs for 119 km in 6 stages from Stühlingen to Wehr, right across the southern Black Forest. Our third stage starts at the upper entrance to the Lotenbach Gorge and ends in Lenzkirch, where there are plenty of places to stay and a bus service to the start of stage 4. Alternatively, you could stay overnight in Schluchsee and climb the Riesenbühl Tower – see the relevant tour.Anyone wishing to hike all the stages of the Schluchtensteig can stay overnight at the Schattenmühle between stages 2 and 3. From there, you can tackle the Lotenbach Gorge and hike uphill to the starting point of this walk.

Departure from Zurich Hauptbahnhof station. Walk along the Letten, first through Platzspitz park and then along KlosterFahrWeg. Then take the Lettensteg bridge and walk along Sihlquai to return to Platzspitz park via a footbridge. Return to the station via another bank of the Letten.

If you’re just passing through Zurich for a few hours, here’s an itinerary that takes in the historic old town and down to the lake. At Lindenhof, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the historic city and Lake Zurich. You’ll walk along both banks of the Limmat, ranked as Europe’s cleanest urban river. You’ll stroll through bustling streets such as Augustinergasse, Niederdorfstrasse and the large Münsterhof square,