Via Alpina, Stage 1/20

From Gaflei observation tower on a wooded descent to Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein. The River Rhine and border is crossed at Sevelen. The trail then leads along the foot of the Gonzen through woodlands and meadows, with views over the Rhine Valley.

At Gaflei, the hike begins at its highest point, at around 1,600 m. The starting point is not served by public transport; the nearest stop, Sevelen, is just over four kilometres away. Initially, a mountain path traverses open slopes before the long descent through the forest begins. On the valley floor, the terrain becomes flat, and the route follows the Werdenberger Binnenkanal for just over a kilometre. One short section is unmarked.

After Sevelen, the yellow-waymarked hiking trail begins to climb gently again. At Brochne Burg, it passes the ruins of a small medieval castle. Via Gretschins and Azmoos, open meadows and forest alternate with short counter-climbs. This keeps the long route varied, even though the descent defines its overall character.

At Vild, the Restaurant Gonzenbergwerk stands directly beside the trail. The route then approaches Sargans, passes the Splee Chapel of St Sebastian, continues into the small town and ends at the railway station. After around 28 kilometres and approximately seven and a half hours, the destination is reached.