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Best Mountain Hikes near Lausanne

There are 15 hikes near Lausanne in our database that fit. They average 38.5 km and 1,449 m (4,754 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 207 km.

That is 25 percent of the 59 routes we map near Lausanne. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 38.5 km against 25.2 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,449 m (4,754 ft) on average versus 785 m (2,575 ft) across the wider area.

Mountain routes trade effort for scale. Expect sustained climbing, quick weather changes and views that make the numbers worth it. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Les Pléiades , sommet des préalpes suisses au-dessus de Vevey, (1 360 mètres d'altitude), dans le canton de Vaud.
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
536 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Le Lac de Lovenex, le Rocher de la Croix et le Léman (au fond), vus depuis le Pas de Lovenex. Juin 2008.
Hard

43-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
13.9 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
608 m
Typical duration
3 hr 49 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Bivouac, Susanfe Pass
Hard

39-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
14.7 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,487 m
Typical duration
5 hr 18 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Blick auf Buckelpiste Chavanette
Hard

40-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,027 m
Typical duration
6 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Rochers de Naye, and Hotel de Caux, Lake Geneva, Switzerland. 1 photomechanical print : photochrom, color.
Hard

Via Alpina

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,758 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Dans les gorges de l'Orbe.
Expert

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
35.9 km
/ 22.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,520 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Borne frontière Neuchâtel-Vaud VD070
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
888 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Canton de Genève vu de La Barillette .
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
637 m
Typical duration
6 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Switzerland , Canton of Fribourg , impressions from the drivers cabin on the Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland bernois. For exact location see geodata. Vue de la halte Les Cases
Hard

Via Alpina

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.7 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,637 m
Typical duration
6 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Traunsteinera globosa at La Videmanette, Vaud, Switzerland.
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
16.0 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
999 m
Typical duration
4 hr 51 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Primeval forest
Expert

Freiburger Voralpenweg

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
71.9 km
/ 44.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,730 m
Typical duration
20 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Runners reaching the Bonnefontaine plateau at the mountain run Neirivue-Moléson 2019
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
15.9 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
582 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Abbey Altenryf in Hauterive; Fribourg, Switzerland.
Expert

Fribourg en diagonale

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
68.0 km
/ 42.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,574 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Château de Grandcour
Expert

Chemin des Trois-Lacs

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
62.4 km
/ 38.8 mi
Elevation gain
564 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Tour des Dents Blanches

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
44.6 km
/ 27.7 mi
Elevation gain
3,830 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour des Dents du Midi

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
47.1 km
/ 29.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,036 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour des Muverans

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
54.5 km
/ 33.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,199 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Gros-Mont-Flendruz

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
50 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Gros-Mont-Oussanne

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mont d'Orzeires - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
14 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mont d'Orzeires - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Mountain
  • 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 Francigena - 03 part SwitzerlandValais/Wallis207 km3,717 m54 hrExpertJuly to September
Alpine Panorama TrailFribourg19.4 km536 m4 hr 59 minHardApril to October
43-Alpine Passes TrailValais/Wallis13.9 km608 m3 hr 49 minHardJune to October
39-Alpine Passes TrailValais/Wallis14.7 km1,487 m5 hr 18 minHardJuly to September
40-Alpine Passes TrailValais/Wallis21.0 km1,027 m6 hr 5 minHardJune to October
Via AlpinaVaud13.6 km1,758 m5 hr 28 minHardJune to October
Jura Crest TrailVaud35.9 km1,520 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Jura Crest TrailNeuchâtel13.0 km888 m4 hr 2 minHardApril to October
Via Alpina Stage 77: Anzeinde - Col du DemècreValais/Wallis23.9 km2,032 m8 hr 18 minExpertJuly to September
Jura Crest TrailVaud24.8 km637 m6 hr 25 minHardJune to October

If you only have time for one, start with Via Francigena - 03 part Switzerland, Alpine Panorama Trail, 43-Alpine Passes 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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