How many hard hikes are listed near Aarau?

40 routes currently meet both this guide’s filter and the directory quality gate. Each submitted route has a traceable source, mapped geometry and sampled elevation data.

What is the average distance and ascent?

The average mapped distance is 45.2 km with 866 m (2,841 ft) of recorded ascent. The longest route in this set is 424 km.

How are the routes ordered?

European long distance path E4 - part Switzerland currently ranks first. Ordering uses the directory score and route-data completeness; it is not a claim that editors have field-tested every route.

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

No route in this set is currently rated easy. In every category, verify surface, exposure, access and current conditions independently.

Hard Hiking Trails near Aarau

The directory currently contains 40 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Aarau. Their average mapped distance is 45.2 km and average recorded ascent is 866 m (2,841 ft); the longest route in the set is 424 km.

This subset represents 25% of the 160 quality-checked routes near Aarau. Its average distance is 45.2 km, compared with 14.2 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 866 m (2,841 ft), versus 316 m (1,037 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, 40 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (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

16.9 km

Alpine Panorama Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

256 m

Alpine Panorama Trail

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.

Expert

European long distance path E4 - part Switzerland

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 424 km
Elevation gain: 6,393 m
Typical duration: 110 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance: 16.9 km
Elevation gain: 256 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 58 min

Mountain
Alpine meadow
Panoramic viewpoint

Expert

Interregio-Wanderweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 50.8 km
Elevation gain: 1,535 m
Typical duration: 13 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route

Expert

Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 101 km
Elevation gain: 601 m
Typical duration: 24 hr

Mountain
Pilgrimage route
Waymarked route

Expert

Westweg (Östliche Variante)

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance: 92.7 km
Elevation gain: 2,285 m
Typical duration: 25 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance: 20.4 km
Elevation gain: 1,228 m
Typical duration: 6 hr 15 min

Mountain
Waymarked route

Basel BLT Tram 11 (SWP/Siemens Be 4/6 208) Aesch am 30. Juni 1987. - Scan eines Farbnegativs. Film: Kodak GB 200. Kamera: Minolta XG-1.

Hard

Chemin de Compostelle, Basel -Laufen

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance: 25.3 km
Elevation gain: 401 m
Typical duration: 6 hr 11 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 21.0 km
Elevation gain: 816 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 47 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 24.8 km
Elevation gain: 771 m
Typical duration: 6 hr 37 min

Waymarked route

Expert

Aargauer Weg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 103 km
Elevation gain: 1,627 m
Typical duration: 26 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Expert

Hochrhein-Höhenweg

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance: 128 km
Elevation gain: 1,742 m
Typical duration: 32 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Expert

Jubiläumsweg

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance: 70.6 km
Elevation gain: 1,041 m
Typical duration: 17 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 17.1 km
Elevation gain: 323 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 6 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 19.8 km
Elevation gain: 672 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 17 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaGottardo

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 20.3 km
Elevation gain: 563 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 13 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaGottardo

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance: 20.4 km
Elevation gain: 460 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 6 min

Waymarked route

Expert

Freiämterweg Talroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 62.6 km
Elevation gain: 803 m
Typical duration: 15 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Hard

ViaJacobi

Bern · Switzerland

Distance: 16.1 km
Elevation gain: 296 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 51 min

Waymarked route

Expert

Freiämterweg Bergroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 52.9 km
Elevation gain: 1,000 m
Typical duration: 13 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route

Expert

Fricktaler Höhenweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 57.8 km
Elevation gain: 1,286 m
Typical duration: 15 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route

Expert

Freiämterweg Ostroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 58.0 km
Elevation gain: 886 m
Typical duration: 14 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route

Expert

Weissenstein – Passwang Weg

Solothurn · Switzerland

Distance: 32.0 km
Elevation gain: 993 m
Typical duration: 8 hr 40 min

Mountain
Waymarked route

Hard

2. Solothurner Waldwanderung

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 17.9 km
Elevation gain: 978 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 17 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaSurprise - Etappe 3

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 17.3 km
Elevation gain: 718 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 45 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaSurprise - Etappe 4

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 16.8 km
Elevation gain: 689 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 35 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaSurprise - Etappe 6

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 16.1 km
Elevation gain: 627 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 20 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaSurprise - Etappe 1

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 13.9 km
Elevation gain: 571 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 45 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaSurprise - Etappe 2

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 12.4 km
Elevation gain: 721 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 40 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Flösserweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 20.6 km
Elevation gain: 467 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 9 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Dreiland-Wanderweg - Etappe 2

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance: 18.7 km
Elevation gain: 486 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 44 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaJura - Etappe 2

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 16.6 km
Elevation gain: 405 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 7 min

Waymarked route

Expert

Ämtlerwäg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance: 50.3 km
Elevation gain: 728 m
Typical duration: 12 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route

Hard

Emmenuferweg - Etappe 4

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance: 19.1 km
Elevation gain: 151 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 20 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 20.6 km
Elevation gain: 154 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 41 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 30.6 km
Elevation gain: 288 m
Typical duration: 7 hr 17 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Rundgang Hallwilersee

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 21.2 km
Elevation gain: 93 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 44 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 19.2 km
Elevation gain: 88 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 15 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaRhenana

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 18.6 km
Elevation gain: 108 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 9 min

Waymarked route

Hard

ViaGottardo

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance: 25.7 km
Elevation gain: 568 m
Typical duration: 6 hr 32 min

Waymarked route

Hard

Tüfelschlucht-Belchen-Weg

Basel-Landschaft · Switzerland

Distance: 16.6 km
Elevation gain: 806 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 42 min

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
Route	Distance	Ascent	Time	Difficulty	Best season
European long distance path E4 - part SwitzerlandAargau	424 km	6,393 m	110 hr	Expert	April to October
Alpine Panorama TrailBern	16.9 km	256 m	3 hr 58 min	Hard	April to October
Interregio-WanderwegAargau	50.8 km	1,535 m	13 hr	Expert	April to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)Aargau	101 km	601 m	24 hr	Expert	April to October
Westweg (Östliche Variante)Basel-City	92.7 km	2,285 m	25 hr	Expert	April to October
Jura Crest TrailBern	20.4 km	1,228 m	6 hr 15 min	Hard	April to October
Chemin de Compostelle, Basel -LaufenBasel-City	25.3 km	401 m	6 hr 11 min	Hard	April to October
Jura Crest TrailBasel-Landschaft	21.0 km	816 m	5 hr 47 min	Hard	April to October
Jura Crest TrailAargau	24.8 km	771 m	6 hr 37 min	Hard	April to October
Aargauer WegAargau	103 km	1,627 m	26 hr	Expert	April to October

European long distance path E4 - part Switzerland, Alpine Panorama Trail, Interregio-Wanderweg 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

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

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.

Read article →

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.

Read article →

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.

Read article →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

How do these routes differ?

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

Return logistics

Trails

The shortlist, side by side

Frequently asked questions

How many hard hikes are listed near Aarau?

What is the average distance and ascent?

How are the routes ordered?

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

Plan with more confidence

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Related guides

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