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Hard Hiking Trails near Lausanne

The directory currently contains 50 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Lausanne. Their average mapped distance is 28.8 km and average recorded ascent is 1,100 m (3,609 ft); the longest route in the set is 207 km.

This subset represents 41% of the 122 quality-checked routes near Lausanne. Its average distance is 28.8 km, compared with 14.1 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,100 m (3,609 ft), versus 530 m (1,739 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, 50 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 3 (6%) 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

13.9 km

43-Alpine Passes Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

503 m

Via Francigena - Historical variant

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

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
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

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
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
Hard

Via Alpina

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,758 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
35.9 km
/ 22.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,520 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Neuchâtel · Switzerland

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Elevation gain
888 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
382 m
Typical duration
5 hr 23 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
29.8 km
/ 18.5 mi
Elevation gain
382 m
Typical duration
7 hr 13 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
637 m
Typical duration
6 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.9 km
/ 11.7 mi
Elevation gain
357 m
Typical duration
4 hr 35 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.2 km
/ 11.3 mi
Elevation gain
259 m
Typical duration
4 hr 16 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Geneva · Switzerland

Distance
27.6 km
/ 17.1 mi
Elevation gain
249 m
Typical duration
6 hr 30 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Alpina

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.7 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,637 m
Typical duration
6 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
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
Hard

42-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
9.5 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,010 m
Typical duration
3 hr 30 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Freiburger Voralpenweg

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
71.9 km
/ 44.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,730 m
Typical duration
20 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
697 m
Typical duration
4 hr 58 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
15.9 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
582 m
Typical duration
4 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Dents du Midi seen from the Haute Cime
Expert

Tour des Dents du Midi

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
47.1 km
/ 29.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,604 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Tour des Muverans

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
54.5 km
/ 33.9 mi
Elevation gain
3,545 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Abbey Altenryf in Hauterive; Fribourg, Switzerland.
Expert

Fribourg en diagonale

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
68.0 km
/ 42.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,574 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
21.3 km
/ 13.3 mi
Elevation gain
848 m
Typical duration
5 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Le Grand Tour des Vanils

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
30.9 km
/ 19.2 mi
Elevation gain
2,233 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Dents Blanches Occidentales : Voie normale depuis les Allamands
Expert

Tour des Dents Blanches

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
44.6 km
/ 27.7 mi
Elevation gain
3,917 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
16.7 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
329 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
29.8 km
/ 18.5 mi
Elevation gain
533 m
Typical duration
7 hr 27 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Alpina

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
559 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Chemin des Trois-Lacs

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
62.4 km
/ 38.8 mi
Elevation gain
564 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

41-Alpine Passes Trail

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
14.9 km
/ 9.3 mi
Elevation gain
704 m
Typical duration
4 hr 10 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
27.5 km
/ 17.1 mi
Elevation gain
354 m
Typical duration
6 hr 38 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
30.7 km
/ 19.1 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
7 hr
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Geneva · Switzerland

Distance
27.6 km
/ 17.1 mi
Elevation gain
192 m
Typical duration
6 hr 24 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Chemin des Blés

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
429 m
Typical duration
5 hr 33 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

The Toblerones Trail

Vaud · Switzerland

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
4 hr 57 min
  • Mountain

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
Via Francigena - 03 part SwitzerlandValais/Wallis207 km3,717 m54 hrExpertJuly to September
Alpine Panorama TrailFribourg19.4 km536 m4 hr 59 minHardApril to October
Via Francigena - Historical variantVaud33.8 km503 m8 hr 21 minHardApril to October
43-Alpine Passes TrailValais/Wallis13.9 km608 m3 hr 49 minHardJune to October
39-Alpine Passes TrailValais/Wallis14.7 km1,487 m5 hr 18 minHardJuly to September
40-Alpine Passes TrailValais/Wallis21.0 km1,027 m6 hr 5 minHardJune to October
Via AlpinaVaud13.6 km1,758 m5 hr 28 minHardJune to October
Jura Crest TrailVaud35.9 km1,520 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Jura Crest TrailNeuchâtel13.0 km888 m4 hr 2 minHardApril to October
Via Alpina Stage 77: Anzeinde - Col du DemècreValais/Wallis23.9 km2,032 m8 hr 18 minExpertJuly to September

Via Francigena - 03 part Switzerland, Alpine Panorama Trail, Via Francigena - Historical variant 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.

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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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