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Hard Hiking Trails near Zürich

68 routes near Zürich qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 34.4 km and 747 m (2,451 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 233 km.

That is 41 percent of the 166 routes we map near Zürich. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 34.4 km against 17.9 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 747 m (2,451 ft) on average versus 394 m (1,293 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

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
Anflug auf Piste 34L am Flugplatz Schänis (links im Hintergrund der Benkner Büchel )
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
25.8 km
/ 16.1 mi
Elevation gain
670 m
Typical duration
6 hr 43 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Bellevue; 1,148 m; Gottschalkenberg; Zug; Switzerland; View of the Lake of Zuerich.
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
18.7 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
776 m
Typical duration
5 hr 11 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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
D71_9277_DxO
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
29.0 km
/ 18.0 mi
Elevation gain
572 m
Typical duration
7 hr 19 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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
Aussicht vom Weiler Hischwil im Zürcher Oberland
Hard

ViaJacobi

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
30.0 km
/ 18.7 mi
Elevation gain
924 m
Typical duration
8 hr 6 min
  • 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
Etzelpass in Switzerland as seen from towards Etzel , Einsiedeln and Sihlsee in the background.
Hard

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
16.6 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
676 m
Typical duration
4 hr 31 min
  • Waymarked route
Richtung Zürich Obersee
Hard

ViaJacobi

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
27.8 km
/ 17.3 mi
Elevation gain
589 m
Typical duration
7 hr 3 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
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
Hembergerstrasse Road Bridge over the Necker River, St. Peterzell, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Hard

ViaJacobi

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
24.0 km
/ 14.9 mi
Elevation gain
811 m
Typical duration
6 hr 30 min
  • Waymarked route
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
View of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland near the town of Beckenried .
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Nidwalden · Switzerland

Distance
20.5 km
/ 12.7 mi
Elevation gain
419 m
Typical duration
5 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Blick auf Gersau, Kanton Schwyz.
Hard

ViaJacobi

Nidwalden · Switzerland

Distance
30.4 km
/ 18.9 mi
Elevation gain
732 m
Typical duration
7 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Blick ins Tal der Lauche mit dem Imenberg im Hintergrund. Auf der linken Vorderkante thront das Schloss Sonnenberg. Rechts die Dörfer Wetzikon TG und Zezikon. Panorama aus 7 Querformataufnahmen vom 4. Mai 2008 15 Uhr. EXIF Daten der ersten
Hard

ViaJacobi

Thurgau · Switzerland

Distance
27.3 km
/ 17.0 mi
Elevation gain
229 m
Typical duration
6 hr 24 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 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
Switzerland , Zurich , Flooding of the Thur in Altikon
Hard

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
25.1 km
/ 15.6 mi
Elevation gain
483 m
Typical duration
6 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Inschrift über dem Portal zur Wallfahrtskapelle St. Jost, Blatten (Gemeinde Malters, LU)
Hard

ViaJacobi

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
19.0 km
/ 11.8 mi
Elevation gain
483 m
Typical duration
4 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Aerial View of Diessenhofen and Gailingen
Hard

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
21.1 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
4 hr 44 min
  • 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
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
Malters von Schwarzenberg aus gesehen
Hard

Emmenuferweg - Etappe 4

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
151 m
Typical duration
4 hr 20 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

Via Gottardo

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
29.4 km
/ 18.3 mi
Elevation gain
347 m
Typical duration
7 hr 5 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Toggenburger Höhenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
87.5 km
/ 54.4 mi
Elevation gain
4,300 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Züri Oberland-Höhenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
74.2 km
/ 46.1 mi
Elevation gain
2,900 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Pragelpass-Weg

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
48.1 km
/ 29.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,600 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Panoramaweg Aegerital

Zug · Switzerland

Distance
30.5 km
/ 19.0 mi
Elevation gain
671 m
Typical duration
7 hr 50 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
380 m
Typical duration
5 hr 40 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Ämtlerwäg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
50.3 km
/ 31.2 mi
Elevation gain
832 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Lebendiger Weinweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
33.2 km
/ 20.6 mi
Elevation gain
730 m
Typical duration
8 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Klettgau-Rhein-Weg - Etappe 1

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.5 mi
Elevation gain
900 m
Typical duration
5 hr 18 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Klettgau-Rhein-Weg - Etappe 2

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
26.9 km
/ 16.7 mi
Elevation gain
950 m
Typical duration
7 hr 24 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Saumweg

Zug · Switzerland

Distance
17.5 km
/ 10.9 mi
Elevation gain
396 m
Typical duration
4 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
25.0 km
/ 15.5 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
5 hr 32 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
27.7 km
/ 17.2 mi
Elevation gain
390 m
Typical duration
6 hr 44 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
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
Alpine Panorama TrailGlarus25.8 km670 m6 hr 43 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz18.7 km776 m5 hr 11 minHardApril to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (1)Schaffhausen74.5 km610 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailLucerne29.0 km572 m7 hr 19 minHardApril to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz19.1 km621 m5 hr 2 minHardApril to October
ViaJacobiSt. Gallen30.0 km924 m8 hr 6 minHardApril to October
Jura Crest TrailAargau24.8 km771 m6 hr 37 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Alpine Panorama Trail, Alpine Panorama Trail, Alpine Panorama Trail. 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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