Rohrbachgraben: Nature, Trails and History

Rohrbachgraben in the Oberaargau

Rohrbachgraben is a political municipality in the administrative district of Oberaargau in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It lies in the Swiss Plateau in a small valley. The Rohrbachgraben stream flows through the valley; in its lower course it is called Bodebächli and flows into the Langete. The hilly landscape and the history of settlement therefore both shape the way the place is seen when choosing a destination.

Hilly landscape and scattered farmsteads

More than two thirds of Rohrbachgraben’s hilly landscape, namely 4.7 km², is still used for agriculture. Rohrbachgraben also has an old scattered-farmstead settlement pattern. The area figure describes ongoing agricultural use, while the scattered-farmstead settlement describes a form of settlement: both aspects help define the rural character from different perspectives.

Nature trail and hiking trails

The Hans Zaugg nature trail is located at Liemberg 6, 4938 Rohrbachgraben. It features more than 1,000 different shrubs, herbaceous plants and trees. The plants are labelled in German and Latin, allowing visitors to view their names in both languages. Those interested in plants will find a tangible connection with nature here to help plan their trip.

The forest hut in Kalteneggwald is child-friendly and has a barbecue area. As of December 2023, the hiking trail network in Rohrbachgraben comprised a total of 10.63 km, of which 2.76 km were surfaced trails. These figures refer to the situation at that time; network length and surfaces may change. If they are important for your specific plans, we recommend checking the current trail information.

A hiking guide to Rohrbachgraben features both easy walks and more challenging hikes, with route information to help with planning. A specific circular hike is listed in nearby Rohrbach: the easy Hirsrüti route is 6.5 km long and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to walk. Its features include gentle climbs and panoramic views. The figures refer to two different scales: 10.63 km was the length of the entire Rohrbachgraben hiking trail network in December 2023; 6.5 km and about 1 hour 50 minutes describe the individual route in Rohrbach.

The local recreation area also offers opportunities for cycling and mountain biking. Alongside hiking, cycling activities are another distinct option to consider when planning a trip.

Farms and local history

The historic farms of Ganzenberg and Glasbach are first mentioned in 1328. In the Middle Ages, they belonged to noble estates. Dietrich von Rüti donated them to St. Urban Abbey; in 1458, they were sold to the city of Bern. This chronology connects the names of the two farms with milestones in regional history.

Cheese and events

As of 2026, cave-aged Emmentaler AOP was part of the Ganzenberg cheese dairy’s range; the selection may change. If this cheese is important to your travel plans, check the current selection in advance.

HG Rohrbachgraben hosts home Hornussen matches in Rohrbachgraben. Individual match dates depend on the season; if you want to plan your trip around a particular match, check the schedule. The Chrache-Cup is a recurring event. Check when the next edition is taking place before planning if you want to time your stay around it.

Discover more destinations: Lotzwil, Gondiswil, Langenthal, Bannwil, Madiswil, Auswil, Leimiswil, Melchnau

Return to the overview of the wider area: Aarwangen.