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Hard Hiking Trails in Schwyz

10 routes in Schwyz qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 47.5 km and 1,234 m (4,049 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 312 km.

That is 5 percent of the 213 routes we map in Schwyz. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 47.5 km against 4.3 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,234 m (4,049 ft) on average versus 71 m (233 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

St. Meinrad chapel, Etzel ( Switzerland )
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
989 m
Typical duration
6 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Bellevue; 1,148 m; Gottschalkenberg; Zug; Switzerland; View of the Lake of Zuerich.
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
18.7 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
776 m
Typical duration
5 hr 11 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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
Etzelpass in Switzerland as seen from towards Etzel , Einsiedeln and Sihlsee in the background.
Hard

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
16.6 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
676 m
Typical duration
4 hr 31 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaSuworow

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
14.6 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
500 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Weg der Schweiz

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,500 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Panoramaweg March Höfe

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
19.9 km
/ 12.4 mi
Elevation gain
438 m
Typical duration
4 hr 57 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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
European Long distance path E1 - part SwitzerlandSchwyz312 km5,582 m82 hrExpertJune to October
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz22.5 km989 m6 hr 24 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz18.7 km776 m5 hr 11 minHardApril to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz19.1 km621 m5 hr 2 minHardApril to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz16.6 km676 m4 hr 31 minHardApril to October
Schwyzer Höhenweg - Etappe 5Schwyz22.3 km491 m5 hr 37 minHardApril to October
ViaSuworowSchwyz14.6 km500 m3 hr 48 minHardApril to October
Weg der SchweizSchwyz9.4 km1,500 m4 hr 12 minHardApril to October
Zürichsee Rundweg - Etappe 4Schwyz16.3 km780 m4 hr 37 minHardApril to October
Zürichsee Rundweg - Etappe 5Schwyz22.6 km420 m5 hr 34 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with European Long distance path E1 - part Switzerland, Alpine Panorama Trail, Alpine Panorama 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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