Schaffhausen Nature Park

6 Highlights in the Schaffhausen Nature Park

• The view in the Schaffhausen Nature Park goes over wide green hills, extensive vineyards or the High Rhine.
• Learn proper fruit tree pruning in February or take part in other annual courses on crafts, art and agriculture.
• Nearly 70 fire pits and grills are available within the nature park for a bratwurst or juicy steak with family or friends.
• Hikes, horseback rides and bike rides through the region can be enjoyed on the Randen, along the water or in the forest.
• Organized experiences in the nature park include nature park excursions, carriage rides, picnics with donkeys, robbers' trails or wine tastings.
• The Schaffhausen Nature Park is a cross-border nature park in Switzerland.

You can find an overview of the nature parks in Switzerland 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 you can best explore the Schaffhausen Nature Park

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

Some leisurely walks that are also ideal for families

• WWF Beaver Trail: The beaver trail leads between Rüdlingen and Teufen along the Rhine. 10 information boards loosen up the 4 km long path with additional quiz questions. It is especially very suitable for families and can be easily reached between the jetties Tössegg and Rüdlingen.
• Garden Path Osterfingen: 30 particularly beautiful gardens await you in the village of Osterfingen. Every year a different plant receives special attention in the lovingly designed gardens. Some of these farm gardens have even been included in the national inventory "Historic Gardens and Grounds of Switzerland".
• Beringer Randenturm: The 26 m high tower was built above Beringen in steel lattice construction and thus reaches 650 m above sea level. From here you have a wide view of the Klettgau and the Alps. Only a few steps away you will find a nice garden restaurant in the middle of the forest.

High on horseback through the Schaffhausen Nature Park

• Panoramic tour: From Gächlingen via Oberhallau - Hasental - Lussenhof - Schleitheimer Randenturm - Siblinger Höhe, 35 km, 8 hours duration, 720 m altitude difference
• Over the Rossberg in Klettgau: Hallau - Stalackerbuch - Haldenhof - Wasenhütte - Rossbärg - Osterfingen, 22 km, 5 hours duration, 400 meters altitude difference

On the way by bike or on foot in the Schaffhausen Nature Park

• The Randentour is a 48 km bike tour that starts and ends in Schaffhausen. It leads across Reiat, up into the forests of Randen, to the Schleitheim Randenturm, over Altdorf and Kesslerjoch. Steep climbs alternate with rapid descents.
• The Route Verte, a bike tour that leads from Schaffhausen to Geneva through six Swiss nature parks, has its first stage in the regional nature park of Schaffhausen.
• The Reiatweg is a 19 km circular hike starting and ending in Thayngen. The approximately 5-hour hike leads along smuggler's paths and through vineyards. Depending on the weather, the trail may be closed at times, please inquire in advance.
• The leisurely Rhine-Vine Route leads on 13.5 km from Jestetten (D) along the Rhine to Buchberg (CH).

You can also enjoy the park on the Rhine. Be it on board of an inflatable, bring your own rubber boat or on a ship of the Untersee- und Rhein Schifffahrtsgesellschaft.

The culinary treasure hunt is also a great experience. You follow clues wrapped in riddles. You hike through the hilly landscape and taste the products of local vendors directly at the farm. Starting point is the restaurant Reiatstube in Opfertshofen (Unterer Reiat).

How to get to the Schaffhausen Nature Park

All communities located in the Schaffhausen Nature Park can be reached by public transport. Be it by bus, train or boat. By car, it is best to drive via Schaffhausen and then make your way to your destination.

Unfortunately, the Rhine Falls are not part of the Schaffhausen Nature Park. Nevertheless, a visit is a crowning conclusion for your trip to the nature park.