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Hiking Trails Over 20 km in Switzerland

The directory currently contains 257 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Switzerland. Their average mapped distance is 49.3 km and average recorded ascent is 1,445 m (4,741 ft); the longest route in the set is 1146 km.

This subset represents 3% of the 8,033 quality-checked routes in Switzerland. Its average distance is 49.3 km, compared with 5.0 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,445 m (4,741 ft), versus 234 m (768 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is at least 20 km long. Whether it is normally completed in one day or in stages is not inferred from distance alone. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 257 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 16 (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

60.7 km

[E4/E5] Europäischer Fernwanderweg Rhein bis Grenze D

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

1,656 m

[E4/E5] Europäischer Fernwanderweg Rhein bis Grenze D

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

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
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

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

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

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
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

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

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.8 mi
Elevation gain
531 m
Typical duration
5 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Alpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
24.7 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,846 m
Typical duration
8 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Alpina

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
29.5 km
/ 18.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,304 m
Typical duration
8 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.4 km
/ 13.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,901 m
Typical duration
7 hr 45 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Westweg (Östliche Variante)

Basel-City · Switzerland

Distance
92.7 km
/ 57.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,285 m
Typical duration
25 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
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
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

Monte Rosa tour stage 6

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
24.5 km
/ 15.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,232 m
Typical duration
7 hr 14 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Alpina

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
27.0 km
/ 16.8 mi
Elevation gain
787 m
Typical duration
7 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • 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

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

Via Alpina

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.7 km
/ 14.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,371 m
Typical duration
7 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • 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

Via Alpina

Glarus · Switzerland

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,309 m
Typical duration
6 hr 47 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Via Alpina Red R104

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
20.2 km
/ 12.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,238 m
Typical duration
6 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
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

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
22.0 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,032 m
Typical duration
6 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Via Alpina Blue D5

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
25.3 km
/ 15.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,913 m
Typical duration
8 hr 27 min
  • Mountain
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
24.0 km
/ 14.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,288 m
Typical duration
7 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Jura Crest Trail

Bern · Switzerland

Distance
20.4 km
/ 12.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,228 m
Typical duration
6 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Monte Rosa tour stage 7

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
20.8 km
/ 12.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,465 m
Typical duration
6 hr 42 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,203 m
Typical duration
6 hr 58 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
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
E5, Ballon d'Alsace - Réchésy via BelfortJura73.8 km576 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Via Francigena - Historical variantVaud33.8 km503 m8 hr 21 minHardApril to October
Via Lugdunum, Geneva to LyonGeneva173 km2,861 m45 hrExpertApril to October

Via Francigena - 03 part Switzerland, Via Francigena - part France - 04 Besançon - frontière, [E4/E5] Europäischer Fernwanderweg Rhein bis Grenze D 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.

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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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