Schaffhausen Nature Park

6 Highlights in the Schaffhausen Nature Park

• The view in the Schaffhausen Nature Park stretches over vast green hills, extensive vineyards, and the Upper Rhine.
• Learn the proper way to prune fruit trees in February or join other annual courses on crafts, art, and agriculture.
• You can explore the region through hikes, horseback rides, and cycling tours on the Randen, by the water, or in the woods.
• Organized experiences in the nature park include nature excursions, carriage rides, picnics with donkeys, treasure paths, or wine tastings.
• The Schaffhausen Nature Park is a cross-border nature park in Switzerland.

You can find an overview of Swiss nature parks in our article about the 20 most beautiful Swiss nature parks.

What awaits you in the Schaffhausen Nature Park

Schaffhausen Nature Park covers an area of 213 km² on the territory of 15 municipalities with about 28,600 inhabitants. Since two of the municipalities are located across the German-Swiss border, the nature park is cross-border.

The area of the nature park Schaffhausen includes the regions Randen and Südranden, Klettgau, Reiat as well as Hochrhein. The Randen is a plateau-like mountain range that belongs to the Tabular Jura. The Südranden east of Neuhausen am Rheinfall is still marked by the former iron ore mining, which you can recognize by the numerous bean ore pits. In the other regions you will find wide hills with vineyards and agriculture.

Whether it's a walk along the banks of the Rhine or a ride by bike or horse-drawn carriage through the flat hilly landscape. The Regional Nature Park Schaffhausen offers something for every visitor. Regional weekly markets, wine tastings and handicraft courses provide interesting variety. Every year at Whitsun, 70 regional artists open their studios to visitors for three days.

How to Explore the Schaffhausen Nature Park

The highest point of the regional Schaffhausen Nature Park is only 900 meters above sea level, making it perfect for long walks and leisurely bike rides.

Some Nice Walking Paths Perfect for Families

• WWF Beaver Trail: The Beaver Trail runs alongside the Rhine between Rüdlingen and Teufen. 10 information boards, along with fun quiz questions, enhance this 4 km path. It’s especially great for families and can be easily accessed between the boat docks at Tössegg and Rüdlingen.
• Osterfingen Garden Path: 30 particularly beautiful gardens await you in Osterfingen. Each year, a different plant gets special attention in these lovingly designed gardens. Some of these farmhouse gardens have even been included in the national inventory "Historical Gardens and Sites of Switzerland."
• Beringer Randenturm: This 26 m high tower was built above Beringen using steel framework construction, reaching 650 m above sea level. From here, you’ve got a stunning view of the Klettgau and the Alps. Just a few steps away, you’ll find a lovely garden restaurant right in the woods.

On Horseback through the Schaffhausen Nature Park

• Panorama Tour: From Gächlingen via Oberhallau - Hasental - Lussenhof - Schleitheimer Randenturm - Siblinger Höhe, 35 km, 8 hours duration, 720 meters of elevation
• Over the Rossberg in Klettgau: Hallau - Stalackerbuch - Haldenhof - Wasenhütte - Rossbärg - Osterfingen, 22 km, 5 hours duration, 400 meters of elevation

Exploring the Schaffhausen Nature Park by Bike or on Foot

• The Randentour is a 48 km long cycling route that starts and ends in Schaffhausen. It takes you over the Reiat, up into the forests of the Randens, to the Schleitheimer Randenturm, covering Altdorf and Kesslerjoch. Steep ascents alternate with rapid descents.
• The Route Verte, a cycling tour that leads from Schaffhausen to Geneva through six Swiss nature parks, includes its first stage in the Schaffhausen nature park.
• The Reiatweg is a 19 km circular hike that starts and ends in Thayngen. This approximately 5-hour hike takes you along smuggler paths and through vineyards. Depending on the weather, the path may be temporarily closed, so check in advance.
• The cozy Rhine Vineyard Route runs for 13.5 km from Jestetten (D) along the Rhine to Buchberg (CH).

You can also enjoy the park along the Rhine. Whether on an inflatable rubber boat you brought yourself or on a boat from the Untersee and Rhine Navigation Company.

A delightful experience is also the culinary treasure hunt. You follow hints packed in riddles. You wander through the hilly landscape and sample products from local providers right at their farms. The starting point is the Reiatstube restaurant in Opfertshofen (Unterer Reiat).

Getting to the Schaffhausen Nature Park

All the municipalities located in the Schaffhausen nature park are accessible by public transportation. Whether by bus, train, or boat. If you're driving, it's best to go via Schaffhausen and then make your way to your destination.

Unfortunately, the Rhine Falls do not belong to the Schaffhausen nature park. Nevertheless, a visit is a wonderful way to cap off your trip to the park.