The
Vorderrhein (German: [ˈfɔʁdɐˌʁaɪn] ; Sursilvan: ; Sutsilvan:
Ragn Anteriur; Rumantsch Grischun, Vallader, and Puter:
Rain Anteriur; Surmiran:
Ragn anteriour), or
Anterior Rhine, is the left of the two initial tributaries of the Rhine (the other being the
Hinterrhein). It is longer than the
Hinterrhein, but has a lower discharge than the latter at their confluence, which marks the beginning of the
Alpine Rhine 
section.
The
Vorderrhein and nearly all of its tributaries are located in the Swiss canton of
Grisons 
(
Graubünden), with the largest communities along the river being
Disentis 
and
Ilanz 
. One of its upper tributaries, the Rein da Medel, rises in the canton of Ticino.
Vorderrhein was also the name of a judicial district that was created in 1851 with the reorganization of the judiciary of Graubünden. In 2001, it was annexed by the District Surselva.