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Hard Hiking Trails in Bern

We track 70 routes that match this search in Bern. They average 25.0 km and 1,095 m (3,593 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 115 km.

That is 12 percent of the 600 routes we map in Bern. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 25.0 km against 5.2 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,095 m (3,593 ft) on average versus 145 m (476 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

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
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
Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, view from Schilthorn . Mountains Schwazmönch and Rotbrätthoren in foreground above of valley Lauterbrunnental.
Expert

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.4 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,901 m
Typical duration
7 hr 45 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Oeschinen Lake above Kandersteg, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland.
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
17.1 km
/ 10.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,699 m
Typical duration
6 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Die Rossgrabenbrücke von Robert Maillart in Hinterfultigen, Gemeinde Rüeggisberg, Schweiz erbaut 1932
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
17.3 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
713 m
Typical duration
4 hr 44 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Wegweiser zur Ruine Wartenstein (Aufstieg)
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.8 mi
Elevation gain
665 m
Typical duration
4 hr 18 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
BLS RBDe 566 I EMU on a RegioExpress service from Solothurn to Thun. Picture taken near Biglen, Switzerland.
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
18.8 km
/ 11.7 mi
Elevation gain
756 m
Typical duration
5 hr 9 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
BE 63687 (CH) With funny rims and striping
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
887 m
Typical duration
5 hr 31 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Plaffeien Townhall
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
16.1 km
/ 10.0 mi
Elevation gain
629 m
Typical duration
4 hr 19 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Grosse Scheidegg
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.7 km
/ 14.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,371 m
Typical duration
7 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Between Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,150 m
Typical duration
5 hr 54 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Lohner cabin, north wall of Lohner at 2171 m (near Adelboden, Switzerland)
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,302 m
Typical duration
5 hr 24 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
Waterfall of the Oldenbach
Hard

Via Alpina Red R104

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
20.2 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,238 m
Typical duration
6 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
360° Winterpanorama, Betelberg, Lenk im Simmental, Schweiz
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.0 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,032 m
Typical duration
6 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Grenchenberg - Margriet
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
24.0 km
/ 14.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,288 m
Typical duration
7 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Roof with wooden shingles, Alp Farni near Adelboden, Switzerland
Hard

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
923 m
Typical duration
4 hr 16 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
Naturpark Thal - near Matzendorf
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
20.4 km
/ 12.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,228 m
Typical duration
6 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Gipfelpyramide des Hockenhorn, gesehen von Westen aus. Rechts das kleine Hockernhorn
Hard

03-Lötschberg Panoramaweg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
11.1 km
/ 6.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,208 m
Typical duration
4 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
borNE.DOMB-LEPA.o
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
19.8 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
922 m
Typical duration
5 hr 39 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Lake Brienz , Brienz , Switzerland
Expert

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
29.6 km
/ 18.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,136 m
Typical duration
8 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
500px provided description: Today's yield was three like that, and one bucket of raspberries. Two poplar trees here far off the horizon stay at the entrance to the farm. [#Switzerland ,#Bern ,#K?niz ,#Raspberries ,#Blackberries ,#Liebewil ,
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
21.7 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
348 m
Typical duration
5 hr 14 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
Derborence, Valais
Expert

Sanetsch-Muveran-Weg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
39.9 km
/ 24.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,521 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Schrattenfluh, Entlebuch region, Switzerland
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
467 m
Typical duration
4 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Englisberg - aerial view, northwestern direction - city of Bern in the background
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
21.9 km
/ 13.6 mi
Elevation gain
393 m
Typical duration
5 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Landscape in southern part of lake Sarnen in Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,025 m
Typical duration
6 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
All the red lights are on top of windturbines, but one, that looks a bit different is the antenne on Chasseral.
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
633 m
Typical duration
5 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Ruettihubelbad near Worb, Eurythmy hall; Berne, Switzerland.
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
17.8 km
/ 11.1 mi
Elevation gain
567 m
Typical duration
4 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
Borne frontière Neuchâtel-Bern BE058
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
15.2 km
/ 9.5 mi
Elevation gain
596 m
Typical duration
4 hr 4 min
  • Waymarked route
Schwandbach bridge by Robert Maillart near Schwarzenburg, 1933; Berne, Switzerland
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
569 m
Typical duration
5 hr 25 min
  • Waymarked route
View from Bantiger, standing on the TV tower.
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
29.5 km
/ 18.3 mi
Elevation gain
921 m
Typical duration
7 hr 58 min
  • Waymarked route
Bahnhof Affoltern-Weier, Kanton Bern
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
23.4 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
548 m
Typical duration
5 hr 57 min
  • Waymarked route
Maggenberg, Tafers, Kanton Freiburg, Schweiz
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
387 m
Typical duration
5 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Entrance to St. Beatus caves near Interlaken, Switzerland
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
17.2 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
589 m
Typical duration
4 hr 32 min
  • Waymarked route
Hüswil railway station at the Lucerne - Huttwil line
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
16.1 km
/ 10.0 mi
Elevation gain
296 m
Typical duration
3 hr 51 min
  • Waymarked route
The Amsoldingen castle seen from the back of the church
Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.7 km
/ 14.1 mi
Elevation gain
389 m
Typical duration
5 hr 33 min
  • Waymarked route
Felsenburg (Kandergrund), Switzerland
Hard

01-Lötschberg Panoramaweg

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,167 m
Typical duration
5 hr 55 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Sorbach Road Bridge over the Emme River, Eggiwil, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
744 m
Typical duration
3 hr 50 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Panorama Rundweg Thunersee

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
60.1 km
/ 37.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,200 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Sbrinz

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
111 km
/ 69.2 mi
Elevation gain
6,300 m
Typical duration
35 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

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 AlpinaBern22.1 km531 m5 hr 38 minHardJune to October
Via AlpinaBern22.4 km1,901 m7 hr 45 minExpertJuly to September
Via AlpinaBern17.1 km1,699 m6 hr 10 minHardJuly to September
Alpine Panorama TrailBern17.3 km713 m4 hr 44 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailBern15.7 km665 m4 hr 18 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailBern18.8 km756 m5 hr 9 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailBern19.4 km887 m5 hr 31 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailBern16.1 km629 m4 hr 19 minHardApril to October
Via AlpinaBern22.7 km1,371 m7 hr 1 minHardJune to October

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