The town of Buchs in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley is at the centre of the Werdenberg region. It is located in the border triangle of Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Vorarlberg; Buchs is an important border station. This is also where the Riau skate route starts, which is characterised by the view across the mountains in the border triangle. Besides the town of Buchs and a few villages and hamlets, it is mainly a rural environment along the way.

The route first takes you through residential districts to the Werdenberger inland canal, which runs through the forest. Always by the river, it continues on the Rhine dam. The view opens up here onto the Principality of Liechtenstein and Vaduz Castle. The long, straight sections are tempting for speed skating. If you wish, you can make a detour to Liechtenstein via the old wooden bridge over the Rhine.

After the journey through rural landscapes is the village of Sevelen. Ceramic finds prove that the region was settled by famers as early as the Neolithic period. You cross the village around the Herrenberg castle ruins on the Storchenbüel, which is known today as the “thought mountain” (walk-in art installation). Räfis, a district of Buchs, is reached through the next hamlet of Rans. Passing the bird of prey park there, which is unique in Switzerland with around 70 different species of birds of prey and owls, the route ends back in Buchs. There is a connection here to national Skating in Switzerland route no. 1, “Rhein Skate”.