 It sits at the eastern entrance into the Toggenburg as well as the footpath over the "Saxerlücke" to Appenzell and St. Gallen.Additionally, it was on the most important trade route between Chur-Sargans-Lake Constance and was the starting point of the pilgrimage routes to Einsiedeln and Rankweil.It consists of the village of Gams with its surrounding settlements and the village of Gasenzen.