From Gries branches off the Lüsens valley, the rear part of which belongs to the municipality of St. Sigmund im Sellrain.

In addition, the Zirmbach, which comes from St. Sigmund, flows into the Melach in the village center of Gries.

The municipality also includes numerous hamlets on the slopes (Obermarendebach, ...) and the flood-prone valley floor between Muren (Obergries) and Untermarendebach.

The name comes from griez - the Middle High German equivalent of Rhaeto-Romanic Gleirsch - and means 'rubble'.

This refers to the coarse sand deposited at the confluence of the Melach and Zirmbach rivers.