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Hard Hiking Trails in Switzerland

The directory currently contains 790 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Switzerland. Their average mapped distance is 24.8 km and average recorded ascent is 1,156 m (3,793 ft); the longest route in the set is 1146 km.

This subset represents 10% of the 8,033 quality-checked routes in Switzerland. Its average distance is 24.8 km, compared with 5.0 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,156 m (3,793 ft), versus 234 m (768 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

This set contains routes rated hard or expert from their available distance and elevation measurements. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 790 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 42 (5%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

13.4 km

Nationalpark Panoramaweg

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

1,155 m

Nationalpark Panoramaweg

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Parc Naziunal Svizzer - Quelle am Weg vom Luzzone-Stausee zur Ofenpass-Strasse
Hard

Nationalpark Panoramaweg

Swiss National Park · Grisons

Distance
14.4 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,155 m
Typical duration
4 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Nationalpark Panoramaweg

Swiss National Park · Grisons

Distance
13.4 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,380 m
Typical duration
4 hr 51 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Zentralalpenweg 02

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
1146 km
/ 712 mi
Elevation gain
19,112 m
Typical duration
301 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
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
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
536 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Landscape panorama at Hergiswil near Willisau, canton Lucerne, Switzerland.
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
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
15.5 km
/ 9.6 mi
Elevation gain
432 m
Typical duration
3 hr 53 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
17.4 km
/ 10.8 mi
Elevation gain
468 m
Typical duration
4 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Expert

Via Lugdunum, Geneva to Lyon

Geneva · Switzerland

Distance
173 km
/ 108 mi
Elevation gain
2,861 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

07-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
28.1 km
/ 17.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,772 m
Typical duration
8 hr 55 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Expert

21-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
21.7 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,894 m
Typical duration
7 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

43-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
13.9 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
608 m
Typical duration
3 hr 49 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

04-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
21.6 km
/ 13.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,281 m
Typical duration
6 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Expert

14a-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
41.4 km
/ 25.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,249 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

03-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
19.9 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,577 m
Typical duration
6 hr 39 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

13-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
26.6 km
/ 16.5 mi
Elevation gain
543 m
Typical duration
6 hr 42 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

15-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
20.2 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,417 m
Typical duration
6 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

34-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
15.0 km
/ 9.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,514 m
Typical duration
5 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

08-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
21.4 km
/ 13.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,301 m
Typical duration
6 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

06-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
862 m
Typical duration
4 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Terrihut of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), after enlargement 2008.
Hard

09-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,339 m
Typical duration
5 hr 51 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

10-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
14.4 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
722 m
Typical duration
4 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

26-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
14.7 km
/ 9.2 mi
Elevation gain
762 m
Typical duration
4 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

31-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
13.7 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,231 m
Typical duration
4 hr 42 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

32-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
19.4 km
/ 12.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,323 m
Typical duration
6 hr 9 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

37-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
15.1 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
972 m
Typical duration
4 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

39-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
14.7 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,487 m
Typical duration
5 hr 18 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Interregio-Wanderweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
50.8 km
/ 31.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,535 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

14-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.3 km
/ 10.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,248 m
Typical duration
5 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

20-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
19.6 km
/ 12.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,485 m
Typical duration
6 hr 26 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

05-Alpine Passes Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
12.1 km
/ 7.5 mi
Elevation gain
857 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

19-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
17.2 km
/ 10.7 mi
Elevation gain
937 m
Typical duration
5 hr 3 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

36-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
15.9 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,021 m
Typical duration
4 hr 53 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

40-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,027 m
Typical duration
6 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
101 km
/ 62.6 mi
Elevation gain
601 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
977 m
Typical duration
4 hr 3 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • 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
Nationalpark PanoramawegSwiss National Park14.4 km1,155 m4 hr 44 minHardJuly to September
Nationalpark PanoramawegSwiss National Park13.4 km1,380 m4 hr 51 minHardJuly to September
Via Francigena - 03 part SwitzerlandValais/Wallis207 km3,717 m54 hrExpertJuly to September
European Long distance path E1 - part SwitzerlandSchwyz312 km5,582 m82 hrExpertJune to October
Via Francigena - part France - 04 Besançon - frontièreVaud91.5 km1,817 m24 hrExpertApril to October
[E4/E5] Europäischer Fernwanderweg Rhein bis Grenze DSt. Gallen60.7 km1,656 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Zentralalpenweg 02Grisons1146 km19,112 m301 hrExpertJuly to September
European long distance path E4 - part SwitzerlandAargau424 km6,393 m110 hrExpertApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz22.5 km989 m6 hr 24 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailFribourg19.4 km536 m4 hr 59 minHardApril to October

Nationalpark Panoramaweg, Nationalpark Panoramaweg, Via Francigena - 03 part Switzerland currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

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Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

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Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

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Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

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