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Hiking Trails Over 20 km near Luzern

We track 22 routes that match this search near Luzern. They average 40.2 km and 1,131 m (3,711 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 115 km.

That is 14 percent of the 155 routes we map near Luzern. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 40.2 km against 11.3 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,131 m (3,711 ft) on average versus 353 m (1,158 ft) across the wider area.

Full-day and multi-day routes for walkers who want the distance to be the point. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Der Triftgletscher beim Susten vom Balmeregghorn gesehen
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.8 mi
Elevation gain
531 m
Typical duration
5 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
View from Surenen Pass in the Urner Alps, looking eastwards
Expert

Via Alpina

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
29.5 km
/ 18.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,304 m
Typical duration
8 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
  • 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
Gnomes and Homes
Expert

Grenzpfad Napfbergland

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
115 km
/ 71.5 mi
Elevation gain
3,219 m
Typical duration
31 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Tunnel portall of the Zentralbahn in the lower Aa gorge. On the right handside the old, snow-covered trail.
Expert

Nidwaldner Höhenweg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
93.3 km
/ 57.9 mi
Elevation gain
4,646 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Giswil railway station , view to southwest.
Expert

Obwaldner Höhenweg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
98.3 km
/ 61.1 mi
Elevation gain
4,088 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Landscape in southern part of lake Sarnen in Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,025 m
Typical duration
6 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
Bauen UR
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
23.2 km
/ 14.4 mi
Elevation gain
618 m
Typical duration
6 hr
  • Waymarked route
View from Arni to Chli Windgällen (2986m, in front) and the Groß Windgällen (3188m, behind) in the Canton of Uri/Switzerland
Hard

ViaGottardo

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
27.8 km
/ 17.3 mi
Elevation gain
875 m
Typical duration
7 hr 30 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
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
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
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
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
Expert

Ämtlerwäg

Zurich · Switzerland

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

ViaSuworow

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
27.7 km
/ 17.2 mi
Elevation gain
610 m
Typical duration
7 hr 4 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Waldstätterweg - Etappe 4

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
21.1 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,000 m
Typical duration
6 hr 5 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
Via AlpinaBern22.1 km531 m5 hr 38 minHardJune to October
Via AlpinaObwalden29.5 km1,304 m8 hr 32 minExpertJune to October
Alpine Panorama TrailLucerne29.0 km572 m7 hr 19 minHardApril to October
Grenzpfad NapfberglandBern115 km3,219 m31 hrExpertJune to October
Nidwaldner HöhenwegBern93.3 km4,646 m28 hrExpertJune to October
Obwaldner HöhenwegBern98.3 km4,088 m29 hrExpertJune to October
ViaJacobiBern23.3 km1,025 m6 hr 39 minHardApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailUri23.2 km618 m6 hrHardApril to October
ViaGottardoUri27.8 km875 m7 hr 30 minHardApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailNidwalden20.5 km419 m5 hr 3 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Via Alpina, Via Alpina, 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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