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Hiking Trails Under 5 km in Switzerland

There are 2,951 hikes in Switzerland in our database that fit. They average 2.0 km, with the longest running to 5.0 km.

That is 73 percent of the 4,054 routes we map in Switzerland. They are shorter than the local average, 2.0 km against 6.8 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 13 m (43 ft) against 172 m (564 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Short routes for a spare couple of hours, an evening walk, or a day when the weather only gives you a window. The mix is broad: 295 are rated easy and 1 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Bridges over river Rhine in Eglisau, view from Förlibuck; Zurich, Switzerland.
Moderate

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
208 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Altdorf UR, Kirchenviertel
Easy

ViaGottardo

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Waymarked route
Mraky
Moderate

Murtél-Fuorcla Surlej

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
196 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Mountain
The original offices of Toggenburger Bank in Lichtensteig, Switzerland (c. 1863)
Moderate

Rundweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
224 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Bi de Sibe Brünne
Easy

Alpness trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waymarked route
Villa, ID 17701000
Easy

Fryheitsweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Pfäffikon ( Switzerland )
Easy

Fryheitsweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waymarked route
Switzerland , Canton of Fribourg Riggisalp
Moderate

Hexenweg

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
113 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
Switzerland , Canton of Fribourg Riggisalp
Moderate

Rundgang Riggisalp

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
32 min
Completed bridge of the construction side of the duty-free-street near Basel (Bridge not yet in use)
Easy

Hebel-Wanderweg

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
12 min
Easy

Moron/Sommet- fixme

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Eienwäldli - Wasserfall

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Holzkapelle - Wasserfall

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

La Côte-aux-Fées - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Les Chablotays - Crête de Seu

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Les Cugnets -Mont Dar

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • 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
Sur les pas des Huguenots et des Vaudois du PiémontVaud1.6 kmflat21 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich4.0 km229 m1 hr 11 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich4.5 km227 m1 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen4.8 km208 m1 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich1.9 km187 m40 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.3 km244 m1 hr 4 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.7 km85 m54 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.8 km53 m53 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen0.7 km106 m18 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.9 km78 m56 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Sur les pas des Huguenots et des Vaudois du Piémont, Huguenot and Waldensian Trail, Huguenot and Waldensian 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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