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Best Mountain Hikes near Zürich

5 routes near Zürich qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 16.3 km and 599 m (1,965 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 37.6 km.

That is 3 percent of the 166 routes we map near Zürich. The climbing is steeper too: 599 m (1,965 ft) on average versus 394 m (1,293 ft) across the wider area.

Mountain routes trade effort for scale. Expect sustained climbing, quick weather changes and views that make the numbers worth it. The mix is broad: 2 are rated easy and 3 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

St. Meinrad chapel, Etzel ( Switzerland )
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
989 m
Typical duration
6 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Harpolingen Rathaus
Expert

Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
101 km
/ 62.6 mi
Elevation gain
601 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Switzerland , Thurgau , Etzwilen
Expert

Hochrhein Jakobsweg (1)

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
74.5 km
/ 46.3 mi
Elevation gain
610 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Foto taken at Nüsellstock, North East view: Nüsellstock (1,479 m), Sihlsee (lake, 872 m), Säntis (2,502 m)
Hard

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
621 m
Typical duration
5 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Steinbruch in Holderbank
Expert

Aargauer Weg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
103 km
/ 63.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,627 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Landscape near Schachen Waldshut (50536293337)
Expert

Hochrhein-Höhenweg

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance
128 km
/ 79.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,742 m
Typical duration
32 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Bünzer Moos: Blick vom Forenmoos Richtung Murimoos mit Lindenberg (Schweiz) im Hintergrund
Expert

Freiämterweg Talroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
62.6 km
/ 38.9 mi
Elevation gain
803 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Aerial View of Hemberg
Expert

Neckerweg

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
37.6 km
/ 23.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,330 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Aerial view of Buttwil Airfield taken from a Helicopter
Expert

Freiämterweg Bergroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
52.9 km
/ 32.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,000 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Schönauer Schlössli
Expert

Fricktaler Höhenweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
57.8 km
/ 35.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,286 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn train type Be 4/8 at the Bibenlos-Sonnenhof stop
Expert

Freiämterweg Ostroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
58.0 km
/ 36.1 mi
Elevation gain
886 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Kommunikationszentrum der Firma Sto AG
Expert

Wutach-Pilgerweg

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
61.3 km
/ 38.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,171 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Baby Barn Cats
Expert

Toggenburger Höhenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
87.5 km
/ 54.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,859 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Vorderanſicht der Dampflocomotive Ec 4/5 Nr. 11 des Vereins Dampfbahn Bern, gebaut 1911 inn der Schweizeriſchen Locomotiv- und Machinen-Fabrique zů Winterthur für die Solothurn—Münſter-Bahn, bey der Einfahrt von Oſten in Bahnhof von Bauma.
Expert

Züri Oberland-Höhenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
74.2 km
/ 46.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,497 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
From Klöntal to Schwyz via Muotathal
Expert

Pragelpass-Weg

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
48.1 km
/ 29.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,377 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Iflue, Iberig AG, Schweiz
Easy

Alpenzeiger - Ufem Berg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hochwasserrückhaltebecken Jonenbach : Einlaufbauwerk für den Grundablass mit Rechen und Einlassdrosselung.
Expert

Ämtlerwäg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
50.3 km
/ 31.2 mi
Elevation gain
728 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Im Wauwilermoos, März 2023
Easy

Ängelberg - Berg

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Im Wauwilermoos, März 2023
Easy

Berg - Chätzigerhöchi

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Switzerland , Zurich , Berg am Irchel
Easy

Hebelstein - Berg am Irchel

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
This is an image of a cultural property of regional significance in Switzerland with KGS number
Expert

Lebendiger Weinweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
33.2 km
/ 20.6 mi
Elevation gain
626 m
Typical duration
8 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Wohnhaus unterhalb der reformirten Kirch zů Remigen.
Easy

Remigen - Ufem Berg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
5.9 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
99 m
Typical duration
1 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz22.5 km989 m6 hr 24 minHardApril to October
Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, SchweizAargau233 km1,083 m56 hrExpertApril to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)Aargau101 km601 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (1)Schaffhausen74.5 km610 m18 hrExpertApril to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz19.1 km621 m5 hr 2 minHardApril to October
Aargauer WegAargau103 km1,627 m26 hrExpertApril to October
Hochrhein-HöhenwegBasel-City128 km1,742 m32 hrExpertApril to October
Freiämterweg TalrouteAargau62.6 km803 m15 hrExpertApril to October
NeckerwegAppenzell Ausserrhoden37.6 km1,330 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Freiämterweg BergrouteAargau52.9 km1,000 m13 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Alpine Panorama Trail, ViaJacobi, Neckerweg. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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