Rhein-Reuss-Rhôneweg

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Disentis → St. Maurice
• Length: 242.8 km
• Elevation gain:↗ 7,014 m / ↘ 7,757 m
• Highest point: about 2,461 m
• Duration: about 12–13 days on foot (estimated)
• Character: Alpine Way of St. James via Oberalp and Furka through the Valais

Overview

The Rhine-Reuss-Rhône Trail is part of the Alpine Way of St. James and connects the Surselva region of Graubünden to the area near Lake Geneva. It begins at the Benedictine monastery in Disentis, climbs over the Oberalp Pass to the headwaters of the Reuss River in Realp, and crosses the Furka Pass to Gletsch and into the Goms region of Valais. From there, the trail follows the young Rhône River through Münster, Ernen, and Brig/Glis, continuing via Gampel and Salgesch to Sion, then through Saillon and Martigny to St. Maurice.

The name refers to the three major rivers whose headwaters the trail passes near: the Rhine, the Reuss, and the Rhône. It is an alpine trail that runs at elevations above 1,000 meters for long stretches and crosses two high mountain passes.

Who This Route Is Ideal For—and Who It's Not

Perfect if you’re drawn to the vast Alpine landscape: two classic Alpine passes, the watershed of three rivers, and the long descent into sunny Valais. Those with stamina and mountain experience will enjoy a scenically spectacular route from the high mountains down to the vineyards.

Not the best choice if you're looking for easy, flat stages or only have time outside the summer months: The Oberalp and Furka passes are only really passable during the snow-free season.

Route & Landscape

From the monastic town of Disentis in the Surselva, the trail climbs to the Oberalp Pass and descends to Realp in the Urseren Valley. It then crosses the Furka Pass to Gletsch and into Goms, the uppermost Rhône Valley in Valais.

The route then follows the Rhône downstream: through Münster and Ernen to Brig/Glis, continuing through Gampel and Salgesch into the sunny wine-growing region around Sion. Via Saillon and Martigny, you’ll finally reach St. Maurice at the narrowest point of the Rhône Valley. The landscape changes from high-alpine passes through the Goms region to the vineyards and castles of the Lower Valais.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

At around 243 kilometers, with approximately 7,000 meters of elevation gain and a highest point of 2,460 meters, the Rhine-Reuss-Rhône Trail is a challenging alpine route. Depending on your pace, plan on roughly 12–13 days. From the start in Disentis, via Oberalp and Furka, all the way to Goms, you’ll be hiking at elevations above 1,000 meters for long stretches through the mountains.

The trail is marked as part of the Way of St. James. The mountain passes and terrain require physical fitness, sure-footedness, and mountaineering gear; in the event of deviations from the trail, the official trail markers take precedence.

Three rivers, two mountain passes—the heart of the Alpine Way of St. James

The appeal of this route lies in its geography: it passes through the headwaters of the Rhine, Reuss, and Rhône rivers and crosses two of the most famous Alpine passes, the Oberalp and the Furka. The route begins at the Benedictine monastery in Disentis, combining a spiritual start with the high Alps, before the long descent into the Valais takes you through one of Switzerland’s sunniest regions.

Highlights Along the Way

• Disentis – Benedictine monastery and the start of the tour in the Surselva.
• Oberalp Pass – Transition to the headwaters of the Reuss.
• Furka & Gletsch – a high-alpine pass and gateway to the Goms.
• Goms, including Münster and Ernen – Traditional villages in Valais.
• Sion – The capital of the canton of Valais, with its striking castle hills.
• St. Maurice – Abbey at the narrows of the Rhône Valley.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

The natural inflow is the The Way of St. James in Graubünden: It ends in Disentis—exactly where this Alpine trail begins. Together, the two trails form the great Graubünden-Valais route from Müstair to Lake Geneva.

At the end, you'll come across the Via Francigena (Switzerland)– and on Lake Geneva, the Via Jacobi Toward Geneva.

Continue the pilgrimage?

The Rhine-Reuss-Rhône Trail ends in St. Maurice—and that’s where the next major leg of the journey south begins: This is where the Via Francigena (Switzerland) which leads through the Rhône Valley, past Martigny and Orsières, up to the Great St. Bernard Pass, and on to Italy. The route can thus be seen as the alpine prelude to a pilgrimage toward Rome.

Preparation & Practical Information

Due to the high mountain passes, the Rhine-Reuss-Rhône Trail is only really suitable for hiking during the snow-free months—depending on the weather, roughly from June/July through September/October. The Oberalp and Furka passes may still have snow early and late in the season; be sure to check the conditions of the passes and the trail.

You’ll need good mountaineering gear, physical fitness, and sure-footedness. A pilgrim’s passport is useful for collecting stamps and securing lodging. A trail brochure and a list of accommodations for the Disentis–St. Maurice route are available; at higher elevations, lodging options are scarce—plan your stages and overnight stays well in advance.

What the journey will cost you

Switzerland is expensive. Roughly speaking, budget 60–100 € per day for lodging and meals; in mountain regions, the cost may be closer to the upper end of that range. Simple accommodations and self-catering can help keep costs down.

Getting There

The starting point is Disentis in the Surselva; the destination is St. Maurice in the Lower Valais.

• Getting to Disentis: by train to the Surselva River (Disentis/Mustér). Good morning– Connections and tickets.
• Return trip from St. Maurice: Directly connected to the rail network in the Rhône Valley. Good morning– Connections and tickets.

Path Carrier

The Swiss Ways of St. James are organized by the association The Way of St. James in Switzerland – Compostelle Suisse manages (known as “jakobsweg.ch” until 2026, renamed following the merger with “Les Amis”). The association marks and maintains the trails, trains pilgrim guides, and publishes trail brochures and the pilgrim passport.