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Family-Friendly Hikes in Switzerland

We track 2,722 routes that match this search in Switzerland. They average 1.8 km, with the longest running to 6.8 km.

That is 32 percent of the 8,422 routes we map in Switzerland. They are shorter than the local average, 1.8 km against 4.8 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 29 m (95 ft) against 224 m (735 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Family routes here are short, gently graded and interesting enough to keep younger legs moving. Every one is under seven kilometres with limited climbing. Most of these are on the gentler end, which makes the list a good starting point if you are new to the area.

Trails

Altdorf UR, Kirchenviertel
Easy

ViaGottardo

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Waymarked route
Engelberger Aa and the Spannort Mountain Range, Switzerland
Easy

Eienwäldli - Wasserfall

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
View from the alpe Zieblen onto Engelberg
Easy

Holzkapelle - Wasserfall

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
borNE.BUTT-LCAF.b
Easy

La Côte-aux-Fées - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
57 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hochspannungsleitungen westlich der Breite bei Nürensdorf (Schweiz). Von links: Vorableitung , 380-kV-Leitung Bonaduz-Breite , 220-kV-Leitung
Easy

Naturlehrpfad

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Field of flowers in Switzerland
Easy

Mont Dar - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
The Kempt in Illnau
Easy

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
26 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
Pfäffikon ( Switzerland )
Easy

Fryheitsweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
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
Blick über Gleise des Bahnhof Frauenfeld auf Geschäftsgebäud der Caspar Tanner Söhne AG.
Easy

Thurgauer Rundwanderweg

Thurgau · Switzerland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Waymarked route
Schloss Salenstein, Switzerland
Easy

Thurgauer Rundwanderweg

Thurgau · Switzerland

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Waymarked route
River Glatt in Hochfelden, Switzerland
Easy

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
82 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Waymarked route
Pfäffikon ( Switzerland )
Easy

Via Natura

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Typical duration
19 min
  • Waymarked route
Tschu Tschu Bahn, Brambrüesch, Grison, Switzerland
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
Im Wauwilermoos, März 2023
Easy

Berg - Chätzigerhöchi

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Railroad Bridge over the Langeten River, Lotzwil, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Easy

Lotzwil-Berg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
La Vue des Alpes
Easy

Mont d'Amin - Vue des Alpes

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
130 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
borNE.CERN-CSTM.h
Easy

Mont d'Amin - fixme

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Strudelloch, Gletschertopf in der Viamala .
Easy

Rongellen-Viamala-Schlucht

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • 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
Nationalpark Wanderroute 14 (Punt la Drossa - Il Fuorn)Swiss National Park2.2 km81 m35 minEasyJune to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.8 km53 m53 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailAargau4.9 km37 m1 hr 5 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailAargau3.4 km16 m44 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailAargau0.8 kmflat10 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen5.3 km42 m1 hr 10 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen0.8 km6 m11 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen1.1 km8 m14 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen1.3 km47 m20 minEasyApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen2.6 km24 m35 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Nationalpark Wanderroute 14 (Punt la Drossa - Il Fuorn), 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

Related guides

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