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Hard Hiking Trails in Aargau

20 routes in Aargau qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 71.9 km and 1,049 m (3,442 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 424 km.

That is 7 percent of the 279 routes we map in Aargau. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 71.9 km against 7.8 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,049 m (3,442 ft) on average versus 86 m (282 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

The Towers of the Ruin Dorneck
Expert

Interregio-Wanderweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
50.8 km
/ 31.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,535 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
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
Die Synagoge von Baden im Winter
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
771 m
Typical duration
6 hr 37 min
  • 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
Grenze BL SO bei der Schafmatt
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
19.8 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
672 m
Typical duration
5 hr 17 min
  • Waymarked route
Linde von Linn, Linn AG, Schweiz. Einer der ältesten Bäume der Schweiz.
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
17.1 km
/ 10.6 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
4 hr 6 min
  • Waymarked route
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 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
Switzerland , Aargau , aerial view of the nuclear power plant in Leibstadt
Hard

Flösserweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
20.6 km
/ 12.8 mi
Elevation gain
467 m
Typical duration
5 hr 9 min
  • Waymarked route
Hallwiler See in den Kantonen Aargau und Luzern, Schweiz
Hard

Rundgang Hallwilersee

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
21.2 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
4 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Borne de distance «Stundenstein» du XIXème siècle en kilomètres depuis l’Hôtel de Ville de Lucerne. 35km de Lucerne sur la route Luzern-Sursee-Zofingen (ancienne route vers Bâle).
Hard

ViaGottardo

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
25.7 km
/ 16.0 mi
Elevation gain
568 m
Typical duration
6 hr 32 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
20.6 km
/ 12.8 mi
Elevation gain
360 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
18.6 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
260 m
Typical duration
4 hr 23 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
19.2 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
200 m
Typical duration
4 hr 25 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
30.6 km
/ 19.0 mi
Elevation gain
380 m
Typical duration
7 hr 25 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Eisenweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
17.4 km
/ 10.8 mi
Elevation gain
427 m
Typical duration
4 hr 20 min
  • 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
European long distance path E4 - part SwitzerlandAargau424 km6,393 m110 hrExpertApril to October
Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, SchweizAargau233 km1,083 m56 hrExpertApril to October
Interregio-WanderwegAargau50.8 km1,535 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)Aargau101 km601 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Jura Crest TrailAargau24.8 km771 m6 hr 37 minHardApril to October
Aargauer WegAargau103 km1,627 m26 hrExpertApril to October
Jura Crest TrailAargau19.8 km672 m5 hr 17 minHardApril to October
Jura Crest TrailAargau17.1 km323 m4 hr 6 minHardApril to October
Freiämterweg TalrouteAargau62.6 km803 m15 hrExpertApril to October
Freiämterweg BergrouteAargau52.9 km1,000 m13 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with European long distance path E4 - part Switzerland, Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, Schweiz, Interregio-Wanderweg. 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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