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Best Lake Hikes in Switzerland

The directory currently contains 92 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Switzerland. Their average mapped distance is 18.7 km and average recorded ascent is 564 m (1,850 ft); the longest route in the set is 1146 km.

This subset represents 1% of the 8,033 quality-checked routes in Switzerland. Its average distance is 18.7 km, compared with 5.0 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 564 m (1,850 ft), versus 234 m (768 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set carries a lake tag in the directory. Whether the mapped line reaches the shore and whether swimming is allowed must be checked locally. Within this set, 20 routes (22%) are rated easy, 26 (28%) are rated hard or expert, and 5 (5%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

14.8 km

Via Alpina Stage 80: Trient - Champex-Lac

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

513 m

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

Zentralalpenweg 02

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
1146 km
/ 712 mi
Elevation gain
19,112 m
Typical duration
301 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
33.0 km
/ 20.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,580 m
Typical duration
9 hr 46 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
22.6 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
827 m
Typical duration
6 hr 10 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
15.2 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
513 m
Typical duration
3 hr 56 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Ad ogni incrocio di sentiero ed ogni cambiamento importante di direzione, la marcatura permanente impedisce al corridore di potersi smarrire. Sul percorso di 54Km sono presenti circa 80 cartelli indicatori con il logo di Scenic Trail.
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,185 m
Typical duration
3 hr 57 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
887 m
Typical duration
3 hr 41 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Dove non è stato possibile mettere dei pali segnaletici ufficiali, sono stati posti dei paletti in alluminio anodizzato con marcatura bianco-rosso-bianco per permettere ai corridori di seguire senza difficoltà il percorso di Scenic Trail.
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,140 m
Typical duration
5 hr 10 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

9 Seen-Weg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
17.5 km
/ 10.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,701 m
Typical duration
6 hr 16 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Laghi Scouri Hospitz

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,052 m
Typical duration
3 hr 19 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Lake Lugano from Monte Boglia
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,026 m
Typical duration
3 hr 47 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Carona, Lugano, Switzerland
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
939 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Vista sul lago Maggiore dall'alpetto Caviano
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,111 m
Typical duration
6 hr 51 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Vernate, Blick Richtung Monte Brè bei Lugano
Moderate

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
799 m
Typical duration
3 hr 27 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
19.6 km
/ 12.2 mi
Elevation gain
989 m
Typical duration
5 hr 42 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Panoramic view on the trail up to Bella Tola
Moderate

Lac de la Bella Tola-Bella Tola

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
397 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
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
47 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
461 m
Typical duration
5 hr 47 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
24.4 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
5 hr 39 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Panoramic view on the trail up to Bella Tola
Moderate

Meidpass-Lac de Bella Tola

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Casscata del Salto - Valle Maggia (Maggiatal) - Maggia (TI) Höhe: 61 m
Hard

Giro della Valle del Salto

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
905 m
Typical duration
2 hr 59 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
View from Giübin toward Lago della Sella
Hard

Lago della Sella - Sunnsbühl

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
9.5 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,281 m
Typical duration
3 hr 54 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Naturlehrpfad

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Nidelbad - Wildpark Höfli

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
111 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Lake
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
fr:Lac des Toules sur le fr:Tour des Combins
Hard

Tour du Lac des Toules

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
14.6 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
769 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Derborence, Valais
Moderate

Tour du lac de Derborence

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

5-Seen-Wanderung

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
9.9 km
/ 6.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,004 m
Typical duration
3 hr 34 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Quinten Seeweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
10.7 km
/ 6.6 mi
Elevation gain
886 m
Typical duration
3 hr 33 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Vier-Seen-Wanderung

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
14.8 km
/ 9.2 mi
Elevation gain
689 m
Typical duration
4 hr 6 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Bernina Express from Bernina Train Window
Moderate

Cascada da Bernina

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
84 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Easy

Spundisköpf See - Malixer Alp

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Lake
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Lago della Sella
Moderate

Lago della Sella - fixme

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
262 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Weiler Sitzberg bei Turbenthal, Schweiz
Moderate

Sitzberg – Neubrunn

Thurgau · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tracouet (lac) - fixme

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
270 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bennau - Chatzenstrick

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Heimhusen - Hinterwiden

Zug · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tour du Lac / See-Rundweg

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
461 m
Typical duration
2 hr 23 min
  • Lake
  • 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
Zentralalpenweg 02Grisons1146 km19,112 m301 hrExpertJuly to September
Via Alpina Stage 80: Trient - Champex-LacValais/Wallis14.8 km1,247 m4 hr 58 minHardJuly to September
Via Alpina Stage 81: Champex-Lac - Bourg St. PierreValais/Wallis16.4 km738 m4 hr 34 minHardJune to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino33.0 km1,580 m9 hr 46 minExpertJune to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino22.6 km827 m6 hr 10 minHardJune to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino15.2 km513 m3 hr 56 minHardJune to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino10.4 km1,185 m3 hr 57 minHardJune to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino11.3 km887 m3 hr 41 minHardApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino16.4 km1,140 m5 hr 10 minHardJune to October
9 Seen-WegBern17.5 km1,701 m6 hr 16 minHardJuly to September

Zentralalpenweg 02, Via Alpina Stage 80: Trient - Champex-Lac, Via Alpina Stage 81: Champex-Lac - Bourg St. Pierre currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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