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| Clouds rolling in over the Brienzergrat in the Bernese Highlands. The view looks to the west over the ridge, showing the Highlands to the left and Entlebuch to the right. (Image: Christoph Ruckstuhl / NZZ) |
The 15 most beautiful hikes in Switzerland
Discover Switzerland on foot: We’ve featured the fifteen most beautiful hikes with route information and tips and why we think each one is worthwhile. Ranging from short to long distance treks and varying in difficulty, there’s something here for everyone.
by Alexandra Kohler, adapted into English by Courtney Tenz
Neue Zürcher Zeitung August 8, 2018
1. From Grindelwald-First to the Faulhorn
9.3 km | Ascent: 544 m | Descent: 789 m | Length: 4 hours | Difficulty: intermediate
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| Extend this hike to a two-day tour and experience the sunrise over the mountain range. (Image: Swiss-Image) |
The route: Use the gondola to travel from Grindelwald to First. From there, a path leads to Bachalpsee, where you can swim if the weather is nice. Continue towards Burgihütte and Gassenboden and finally to the summit of Faulhorn. Return to Bussalp, where you can take a postbus down into the valley. To blaze this trail, you’ll need to be steady on your feet. Option: Stay overnight on the Faulhorn and continue the following day on a slightly more challenging trail with spectacular views over the Brienzersee lake to the Schynige Platte (15 kilometers in total, 871 meters ascent, 660 meters descent).
2. From Wildhaus to Säntis
8.6 km | Ascent: 1500 m | Descent: 0 m | Length: 5 hour | intermediate to difficult
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| The view down from Säntis to the Seealpsee. (Image: Imago/Blickwinkel) |
The route: From Wildhaus, take the gondola to Gamplüt. Walk past Gersellen, Thurwis, Langenbüel and the mountain hotel Schafboden along the Rotsteinpass. From there, ascend to Altmannsattel and continue over the Lisengrat to Chalbersäntis and you’ll finally come to Säntis via an easy climbing trail with secured steel ropes. Lisengrat is only recommended for hikers who do not get vertigo. To return to the valley use the gondola from the top of Säntis. Since snow can remain in the area until early summer, make sure to check the conditions beforehand. Surefootedness and good physical fitness are required.
3. Hiking around Oeschinensee Lake from Kandersteg
10 km | Ascent: 522 m | Descent: 1013 m | Length: 3.5 hours | intermediate
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| The view of the deep-blue Oeschinensee lake from the trail just above Kandersteg. (Image: Imago) |
The route: Take the cable car from Kandersteg up to Oeschinen. From there, follow the trail to the Heuberg circular hiking trail, which will take you on a path above the lake. Hike down to the lake and enjoy a comfortable walk back to Kandersteg at the end. It’s a moderately difficult hike along a well-developed path, but a head for heights (due to steep views!) and sturdy shoes are a must. The hike along the Oeschinensee lake is a tour for the athletic and anyone who loves lakes.
4. Along the «Sentierone» in the Verzasca Valley
20.3 km | Ascent: 772 m | Descent: 582 m | Length: 7 hours | easy to intermediate
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| The cool waters of the Verzasca in the summertime. (Image: Imago/Blickwinkel) |
The route: Either begin in Mergoscia west of the river (as shown on the map) or at the Verzasca dam, then head on to Corippo, the smallest village in Switzerland. From there, hike to Lavertezzo, where there is a double-arched Roman bridge; from Brione onwards, the valley widens. After crossing through the picturesque villages of Gerra and Frasco, you’ll arrive at Sonogno. Even though the route is technically simple, the stage can make for a long day. To allow yourself a little more time, the route can also be broken up into a hike of two days. It’s ideal for those who are spending several days in the Verzasca Valley in Ticino.
5. Hike to the five lakes at Pizol
10.7 km | Ascent: 618 m | Descent: 973 m | Length: 4.5 hours | intermediate
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| Lake Schottensee: one of the highlights of the hike to the five lakes at Pizol. (Image: Imagebroker / Imago) |
The route: To reach the starting point in Wangs – between the Walensee lake and Landquart –, take the Pizol cable car to the Pizolhütte. Tucked behind the mountain restaurant, the first lake, the Wangsersee, will be the first thing you see. The trail starts here and leads west. Beyond the Wildseelücke, you’ll reach Wildsee lake before descending to the deep blue Schottensee lake. With the Pizol glacier and the Piz Sardona behind you, you’ll arrive at the darker Schwarzsee lake. Traverse the eastern flank of the Gamidaur to the fifth and last mountain lake, the green Baschalvasee. At the end of this leg, you’ll come to the cable car’s halfway station. From here, the Pizolbahn will take you back to Wangs. With partly demanding ascents, this trail is for lovers of small mountain lakes.
6. Aletsch Glacier Trail
13.9 km | Ascent: 101 m | Descent: 824 m | Length: 4.5 hours | intermediate
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| The Great Aletsch Glacier is the longest glacier in the alps and in this
hike, you can admire it in all of its glory. Above, you can see Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger in the background. (Bild: Swiss-Image) |
The route: This hike in the canton of Valais begins at the Bettmerhorn cable car mountain station. From here, head north along the well-marked path, with the Great Aletsch Glacier always in front of you. Stone steps in the rock will lead you in the direction of Märjelensee lake. Traverse through Unners Tälli or Obers Tälli (or take the shortcut through the 1-kilometer-long Tälligrattunnel) in the direction of Salzgäb. Walk downhill towards Fiescheralp and Bettmeralp, where you can take the gondola into the valley. This trail is for all hikers who want to enjoy the view of the longest glacier in the Alps and prefer to hike downhill rather than uphill.
7. In the Jura region to Creux du Van
13.2 km | Ascent: 725 m | Descent: 725 m | Length: 5 hours | easy to intermediate
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| The highlight of this hike in the canton of Jura is the 150-meter-high horseshoe-shaped rocky cirque. (Image: Alessandro Della Bella / Keystone) |
The route: The hike begins in the sleepy village of Noiraigue near Neuchâtel lake in the canton of Jura with the 14 hairpin turns. After a climb of 725 meters, you'll arrive at the horseshoe-shaped rock cauldron Creux du Van, which repeatedly offers spectacular views into the canyon below. The hike is a beautiful round tour and technically easy but long. You should be vertigo-free if you want to look down.
8. «Via Engiadina» from Maloja to Silvaplana
13.1 km | Ascent: 551 m | Descent: 560 m | Length: 4 hours | easy to intermediate
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| A view from the south over Silvaplanersee lake (foreground) and Silsersee lake (background). (Image: Swiss-Image) |
The route: Pick up the trail from the northern end of the village of Maloja. Walk past small streams and through pine and larch forests, with views of Silsersee lake and the surrounding mountain peaks. You’ll soon reach the village of Grevasalvas. In the next village of Sils the trail nearly reaches the bottom of the valley, before rising again and ending in Silvaplana. Hint: It is also possible to do this hike in the other direction.
9. Sentiero Cristallina
25 km | Ascent: 1250 m | Descent: 1200 m | Length: 11 hours (two-day hike) | intermediate to difficult
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| On the second day of the hike to the Cristallina Hut you’ll reach the
idyllic Val Bavona in the Maggia Valley with its stone houses. (Image: Swiss-Image) |
The route: From Ossasco (or alternatively from Ronco or All’Acqua), walk across the Alp Cristallina to the Cristallina hut – with a great view of the Basodino. Stay overnight in the Cristallina hut (be sure to reserve in advance!) or pitch a tent in the flat meadow just before the last ascent to the pass. On the second day, continue further south along the trail away from the hut, passing several mountain lakes to the Lago di Robiei. From here you can walk or take the cable car down to San Carlo in the farthest part of the Val Bavona in the upper Maggia Valley. Continue along the Maggia past waterfalls and quiet, pretty villages to Cevio. As there may still be snow here in midsummer, be sure to check the weather conditions.
10. Along the Brienzergrat
10.3 km | Ascent: 725 m | Descent: 980 m | Length: 4.5 hours | intermediate to difficult
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| A large colony of ibexes can regularly be seen along the ridge. (Image: Christoph Ruckstuhl / NZZ) |
The route: A spectacular hiking classic in the Bernese Highlands. To get there, travel from Interlaken to Alp Lombach either on foot or by taxi. A steep path zigzags up to the Brienzergrat, over the Augstmatthorn summit and further along the ridge to the Suggiture summit, where the views are no less impressive. The hike ends at the Harder Kulm restaurant. The funicular takes hikers back to the valley. This route is only suitable for the surefooted and those absolutely vertigo-free. One possibility for the hardcore hiker: Commit to covering the entire Brienzergrat from Interlaken to the Brünigpass or vice versa (38 kilometers with an ascent of around 3,500 meters).
11. Around the Gastlosen
11 km | Ascent: 760 m | Descent: 760 m | Length: 4 hours | intermediate
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| View of the Gastlosen mountain range, also known as the «Saanenland Dolomites». (Image: Martin Maegli / Swiss-Image) |
The route: From the small village of Jaun, take the Gastlosen express lift up to the Berghaus Gastlosen/Musersbergli. Walk through soft alpine pastures and forests as you head to the Soldatenhaus restaurant. Here you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Gruyère region and the steep limestone walls of the Gastlosen while eating. Then it’s on through Stillwasserwald with its extremely rich flora. It gets a bit rockier at Wolfsort, the hike’s highest point, before you descend along the Alp Grat into the dense, equally diverse Mattenwald. Tip: The circular hiking path allows you to do the walk easily in either direction.
12. High Route Saas Fee–Grächen
16.1 km | Ascent: 644 m | Descent: 963 m | Length: 6 hours | intermediate to difficult
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| The varied terrain and nature of the high route from Saas Fee to
Grächen, as seen here near Senggboden. (Image: Benediktv / Flickr / CC BY 2.0) |
The route: The seventh stage of the Tour Monte Rosa, this famous mountain trail was referred to as the «path to silence» by pioneering mountaineers. Starting in Grächen, take the gondola to Hannigalp, from where you can see the massif of the famous Weisshorn. After 45 minutes, you’ll reach the beautiful Furggen overlook, where you can often see chamois and ibexes. The path leads over rocky ledges, sloping shoulders and sections of forest as well as through a boulder field. Towards the end of the hike, you will reach the Senggboden before descending to Saas Fee. Note: The trail may be partially exposed, but it is well-secured.
13. From Fuorn Pass to Lü
9 km | Ascent: 200 m | Descent: 417 m | Length: 3 hours | easy to intermediate
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| View over the mountain meadows from Lü to Fuorn Pass. (Image: NZZ / Christoph Ruckstuhl) |
The route: This hike in the beautiful and remote Graubündner Münstertal begins at Fuorn Pass, also known as Ofenpass. The path leads through a pine forest to Alp da Munt. Soon you’ll reach the mountain lake Lai da Juata, the highest point of the hike at 2,260 meters. The path carries on, with beautiful views of the valley and of the impressive mountain peaks of Piz Dora and Piz Daint and the snow-capped peak of the Ortler massif. Via the cultivated Alp Champatsch you’ll come to the small village of Lü, considered the darkest place in Switzerland.
14. Along the Planet Trail from Saint-Luc to Zinal
15 km | Ascent: 361 m | Descent: 866 m | Length: 4.5 hours | intermediate
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| This hike in the Valais offers spectacular glacier and mountain views,
such as this one overlooking Arbenhorn, Dent Blanche and Grand Cornier. (Image: Keystone / Arno Balzarini) |
The route: The hike starts in the Valais resort of Saint-Luc, where you have a wonderful view of the Val d’Anniviers and its 4,000 meter peaks. From Saint-Luc take the cable car to Tignousa. Along the planetary path, which represents our solar system, you’ll come to the Hotel Weisshorn. The trail will lead you to Barneuza-Alp, where you’ll arrive at 2,211 meters after about one hour of hiking. From there, it’s a steep descent with breathtaking views of the valley to Zinal. The impressive 4,000-meter mountains – Bishorn, Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn and the famous Matterhorn – are always in view, right on the horizon.
15. From the Gotthard to Bedretto Valley
21 km | Ascent: 759 m | Descent: 864 m | Length: 8.5 hours over two days | intermediate to difficult
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| The Gotthard massif stores around seven percent of Europe’s European
water resources. Pictured: the Lucendro Reservoir. (Image: Alexandra Kohler) |
The route: The one- or two-day hike starts at the Gotthard hospice. First, the path leads in an arc along the Lucendro dam to the reservoir of the same name. It then goes over big stone blocks and turns steeply upward through scree. Soon you’ll reach a small clear lake, the source of the Reuss, before finally coming to the pass, where the view over the Bedretto valley opens up. Although it’s still a long way to the hut, where you can take a break or spend the night, the hike follows the beautiful mountain trail above the Bedretto Valley downhill. In the Piansecco hut, you will be rewarded with a cool drink and dinner on the beautiful terrace. The next day, the only thing left is the valley and the tranquil All’Aqua before taking the postbus back to the Gotthard hospice.
Tip: The Four Headwaters Sources Trail is a signposted hiking trail of about 85 kilometers that leads to the sources of the four rivers Rhine, Reuss, Ticino and Rhone. You can break it up into individual stages or hike it in its entirety.
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| Swiss map with hike locations indicated |
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