Hinterrhein

Hinterrhein is a river in the eastern part of Switzerland, and it is one of the two headwaters that form the Rhine. Its name means “rear Rhine” in German, contrasting with the Vorderrhein, the other headwater of the Rhine. The Hinterrhein is located in the canton of Graubünden and collects water from alpine streams in the eastern highlands.

The river runs through the Hinterrheintal, a deep Alpine valley in Graubünden, and gathers water from surrounding valleys and small tributaries as it travels northeast. Its course lies entirely within Swiss territory until it meets the Vorderrhein at the confluence near Reichenau, at which point the Rhine proper is formed. From there, the river continues its northward journey through Switzerland and into Germany and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea.

Hydrology and landscape along the Hinterrhein are shaped by alpine topography, with the river supporting local ecosystems and providing water resources for nearby communities. The basin includes agricultural land, small settlements, and areas of natural beauty that are part of Graubünden’s broader environmental and land-use planning. The Hinterrhein, together with the Vorderrhein, is a key component of the Rhine’s headwaters and contributes to the hydrological and ecological character of the Rhine basin in the region.