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Best Summer Hikes in Vaud

We track 27 routes that match this search in Vaud. They average 21.9 km and 702 m (2,303 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 91.5 km.

That is 36 percent of the 74 routes we map in Vaud. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 21.9 km against 9.3 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 702 m (2,303 ft) on average versus 256 m (840 ft) across the wider area.

High-season routes, most of which only come into condition once the snow has cleared from the upper sections. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

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
Le village de Vinzel , vu de la route du Vignoble.
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
29.8 km
/ 18.5 mi
Elevation gain
382 m
Typical duration
7 hr 13 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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 , Vaud , hike along Lake Geneva from St. Saphorin to Lutry
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.9 km
/ 11.7 mi
Elevation gain
357 m
Typical duration
4 hr 35 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
L'église réformée Notre-Dame de Saint-Prex.
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.2 km
/ 11.3 mi
Elevation gain
259 m
Typical duration
4 hr 16 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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
Old 11th century Roman style church of Saint Sulpy
Moderate

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
2 hr 43 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Refuge près de Métabief
Moderate

Via Cluny Etape 8

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
114 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Borne frontière Neuchâtel-Vaud VD029
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
697 m
Typical duration
4 hr 58 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Vue sur le Jura Vaudois
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
21.3 km
/ 13.3 mi
Elevation gain
848 m
Typical duration
5 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Chalet d'alpage "Le Crot" sur la commune de Bassins, en Suisse
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
16.7 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
329 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Waymarked route
Hut in the Bois Faucan of the Jorat.
Hard

ViaJacobi

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
29.8 km
/ 18.5 mi
Elevation gain
533 m
Typical duration
7 hr 27 min
  • Waymarked route
Panoramic view near Les Trembleys
Hard

Via Alpina

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
559 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
  • Waymarked route
Mural by Cosey decorating a hangar near Morges railway station, in Switzerland.
Hard

ViaJacobi

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
30.7 km
/ 19.1 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
7 hr
  • Waymarked route
Building of the railway station of Fey.
Hard

Chemin des Blés

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
429 m
Typical duration
5 hr 33 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chemin des Gorges de Covatannaz

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
181 m
Typical duration
1 hr 59 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • 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
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

Ballaigues-Vallorbe

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
112 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Chalet de la Maya - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Chalet de la Maya - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Chasseron-Les Illars

Vaud · Switzerland

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

Dézaley - Les Abbayes

Vaud · Switzerland

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

fixme - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

fixme - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

fixme - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

fixme - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

fixme - fixme

Vaud · Switzerland

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

Grange Neuve-La Poyette

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

La Besonne-Ballaigues

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

La Combaz-Les Rochats

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • 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
Via Francigena - part France - 04 Besançon - frontièreVaud91.5 km1,817 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Via Francigena - Historical variantVaud33.8 km503 m8 hr 21 minHardApril to October
Via AlpinaVaud13.6 km1,758 m5 hr 28 minHardJune to October
Jura Crest TrailVaud35.9 km1,520 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailVaud29.8 km382 m7 hr 13 minHardApril to October
Jura Crest TrailVaud24.8 km637 m6 hr 25 minHardJune to October
Alpine Panorama TrailVaud18.9 km357 m4 hr 35 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailVaud18.2 km259 m4 hr 16 minHardApril to October
Via AlpinaVaud18.7 km1,637 m6 hr 28 minHardJune to October
Alpine Panorama TrailVaud12.9 km14 m2 hr 43 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Via Francigena - part France - 04 Besançon - frontière, Via Francigena - Historical variant, 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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