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Hard Hiking Trails near Zürich

The directory currently contains 79 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Zürich. Their average mapped distance is 32.0 km and average recorded ascent is 761 m (2,497 ft); the longest route in the set is 233 km.

This subset represents 47% of the 167 quality-checked routes near Zürich. Its average distance is 32.0 km, compared with 18.5 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 761 m (2,497 ft), versus 439 m (1,440 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, 79 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 4 (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

18.7 km

Alpine Panorama Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

601 m

Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)

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

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
22.5 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
989 m
Typical duration
6 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
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

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
25.8 km
/ 16.1 mi
Elevation gain
670 m
Typical duration
6 hr 43 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
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
Expert

Hochrhein Jakobsweg (1)

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
74.5 km
/ 46.3 mi
Elevation gain
610 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Alpine Panorama Trail

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
29.0 km
/ 18.0 mi
Elevation gain
572 m
Typical duration
7 hr 19 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
621 m
Typical duration
5 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Toggenburger Höhenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
87.5 km
/ 54.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,859 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
16.1 km
/ 10.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,705 m
Typical duration
5 hr 57 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Züri Oberland-Höhenweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
74.2 km
/ 46.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,497 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
631 m
Typical duration
3 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
17.6 km
/ 11.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,597 m
Typical duration
6 hr 9 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
30.0 km
/ 18.7 mi
Elevation gain
924 m
Typical duration
8 hr 6 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
771 m
Typical duration
6 hr 37 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
27.8 km
/ 17.3 mi
Elevation gain
589 m
Typical duration
7 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Schwyz · Switzerland

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

Aargauer Weg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
103 km
/ 63.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,627 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Hochrhein-Höhenweg

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance
128 km
/ 79.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,742 m
Typical duration
32 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Pragelpass-Weg

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
48.1 km
/ 29.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,377 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schwyzer Höhenweg - Etappe 2

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
9.0 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,176 m
Typical duration
3 hr 39 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schwyzer Höhenweg - Etappe 3

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
892 m
Typical duration
4 hr 7 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
24.0 km
/ 14.9 mi
Elevation gain
811 m
Typical duration
6 hr 30 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
17.1 km
/ 10.6 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
4 hr 6 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
19.8 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
672 m
Typical duration
5 hr 17 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Nidwalden · Switzerland

Distance
20.5 km
/ 12.7 mi
Elevation gain
419 m
Typical duration
5 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Nidwalden · Switzerland

Distance
30.4 km
/ 18.9 mi
Elevation gain
732 m
Typical duration
7 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Thurgau · Switzerland

Distance
27.3 km
/ 17.0 mi
Elevation gain
229 m
Typical duration
6 hr 24 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schwyzer Höhenweg - Etappe 1

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,216 m
Typical duration
3 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaSuworow

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
18.4 km
/ 11.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,019 m
Typical duration
5 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Freiämterweg Talroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
62.6 km
/ 38.9 mi
Elevation gain
803 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Neckerweg

Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Switzerland

Distance
37.6 km
/ 23.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,330 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schwyzer Höhenweg - Etappe 5

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
22.3 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
833 m
Typical duration
6 hr 7 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Glaralpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
994 m
Typical duration
3 hr 45 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
25.1 km
/ 15.6 mi
Elevation gain
483 m
Typical duration
6 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaJacobi

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
19.0 km
/ 11.8 mi
Elevation gain
483 m
Typical duration
4 hr 48 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
21.1 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
4 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Freiämterweg Bergroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
52.9 km
/ 32.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,000 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Fricktaler Höhenweg

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
57.8 km
/ 35.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,286 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Panoramaweg Aegerital

Zug · Switzerland

Distance
30.5 km
/ 19.0 mi
Elevation gain
985 m
Typical duration
8 hr 18 min
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Freiämterweg Ostroute

Aargau · Switzerland

Distance
58.0 km
/ 36.1 mi
Elevation gain
886 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Wutach-Pilgerweg

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
61.3 km
/ 38.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,171 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Schaffhauser-Zürcher-Weg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
461 m
Typical duration
5 hr 47 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Nidwaldner Zentrumsweg

Nidwalden · Switzerland

Distance
19.8 km
/ 12.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,338 m
Typical duration
6 hr 17 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Testing Center Ochsenboden Pedestrian Bridge over the Sihl River, Studen, Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland
Hard

Ochsenboden-Diethelm

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,220 m
Typical duration
2 hr 54 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Pilatus cableway station at Kriens
Hard

Weg um Kriens

Lucerne · Switzerland

Distance
23.7 km
/ 14.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,266 m
Typical duration
7 hr 6 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Karstspur Silberen

Schwyz · Switzerland

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,018 m
Typical duration
4 hr 23 min
  • Mountain
  • 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
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz22.5 km989 m6 hr 24 minHardApril to October
Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, SchweizAargau233 km1,083 m56 hrExpertApril to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2)Aargau101 km601 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailGlarus25.8 km670 m6 hr 43 minHardApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailSchwyz18.7 km776 m5 hr 11 minHardApril to October
Hochrhein Jakobsweg (1)Schaffhausen74.5 km610 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Alpine Panorama TrailLucerne29.0 km572 m7 hr 19 minHardApril to October
ViaJacobiSchwyz19.1 km621 m5 hr 2 minHardApril to October
Toggenburger HöhenwegSt. Gallen87.5 km2,859 m24 hrExpertJune to October
Via GlaralpinaGlarus16.1 km1,705 m5 hr 57 minHardJune to October

Alpine Panorama Trail, Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, Schweiz, Hochrhein Jakobsweg (2) 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.

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