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Best Mountain Hikes near Luzern

We track 11 routes that match this search near Luzern. They average 39.6 km and 1,528 m (5,013 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 115 km.

That is 7 percent of the 155 routes we map near Luzern. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 39.6 km against 11.3 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,528 m (5,013 ft) on average versus 353 m (1,158 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. The mix is broad: 1 are rated easy and 9 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Vista de los alrededores de la comuna de Romoos, en el Cantón de Lucerna (Suiza).
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
256 m
Typical duration
3 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
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
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
Glaubenbielenpass at Giswil OW, Switzerland, with summit sign "Glaubenbielen Passhöhe 1611 m"
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
648 m
Typical duration
4 hr 54 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Trüebsee
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,371 m
Typical duration
4 hr 37 min
  • Mountain
  • 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
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
Eisee unterhalb des Brienzer Rothorns
Moderate

Emmenuferweg - Etappe 1

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
9.9 km
/ 6.1 mi
Elevation gain
102 m
Typical duration
2 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • 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
Expert

Ämtlerwäg

Zurich · Switzerland

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

Ängelberg - Berg

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Berg - Chätzigerhöchi

Lucerne · Switzerland

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

Hämikon Berg - Müswangen

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
9 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
Alpine Panorama TrailBern16.9 km256 m3 hr 58 minHardApril to October
Via AlpinaObwalden29.5 km1,304 m8 hr 32 minExpertJune to October
Via AlpinaBern22.1 km531 m5 hr 38 minHardJune to October
Trans Swiss TrailLucerne18.4 km648 m4 hr 54 minHardJune to October
Via AlpinaBern12.3 km1,371 m4 hr 37 minHardJune to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz19.1 km621 m5 hr 2 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
Emmenuferweg - Etappe 1Bern9.9 km102 m2 hr 13 minModerateJune to October

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