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Hiking Trails Under 5 km in Switzerland

The directory currently contains 6,355 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Switzerland. Their average mapped distance is 2.0 km and average recorded ascent is 110 m (361 ft); the longest route in the set is 5.0 km.

This subset represents 79% of the 8,033 quality-checked routes in Switzerland. Its average distance is 2.0 km, compared with 5.0 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 110 m (361 ft), versus 234 m (768 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 2317 routes (36%) are rated easy, 22 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 173 (3%) 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

1.3 km

Sommet des Vignes > Closuit - Laboureau

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Sur les pas des Huguenots et des Vaudois du Piémont

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

Walserweg Gottardo - Etappe 5

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
940 m
Typical duration
2 hr 17 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Huguenot and Waldensian Trail

Schaffhausen · Switzerland

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
208 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

ViaGottardo

Uri · Switzerland

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Waymarked route
Mountain tour from S-charl a place in the Swiss canton Graubünden to Alp Sesvenna. View of the mountains from Alp Sesvenna.
Moderate

Alp Sesvenna - Rims

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
896 m
Typical duration
2 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Vogorno
Moderate

Alpe Bardughè - Pizzo di Vogorno

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
777 m
Typical duration
1 hr 41 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Ranunculus glacialis , Ranunculaceae, Glacier Crowfoot, Glacier Buttercup, habitus; Diavolezza, Engadin , Switzerland, altidude ca. 3.000 m. The plant is used in homeopathy as remedy: Ranunculus glacialis (Ran-g.)
Moderate

Glacier Experience Trail

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
211 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Mountain
  • Glacier
  • Waymarked route
Mattmarksee and glacier. View from Klein Allalin.
Moderate

Glacier Trail Mattmark

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
64 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Mountain
  • Glacier
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gir dals Lais

Swiss National Park · Grisons

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Panoramic view on the trail up to Bella Tola
Moderate

Lac de la Bella Tola-Bella Tola

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
397 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Panoramaweg

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
238 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sommet des Vignes > Planojan

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
238 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Eienwäldli - Wasserfall

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Holzkapelle - Wasserfall

Obwalden · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Leidbach - Obere Schwarze Wald

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Panorama from Col Torrent
Moderate

Col de Torrent-Alpage de Torrent

Valais/Wallis · Switzerland

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Photo prise depuis la terrasse des Marindes, dans la réserve naturelle du Vanil Noir, faisant partie du Parc naturel régional Gruyère-Pays-d’Enhaut, dans le canton de Fribourg, en Suisse
Moderate

Les Marindes-Motélon

Fribourg · Switzerland

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
282 m
Typical duration
1 hr 22 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • 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 Wanderroute 14 (Punt la Drossa - Il Fuorn)Swiss National Park2.2 km81 m35 minEasyJune to October
Sur les pas des Huguenots et des Vaudois du PiémontVaud1.6 km0 m21 minModerateApril to October
Sommet des Vignes > Closuit - LaboureauValais/Wallis1.3 km28 m18 minModerateApril to October
Lac du Petit Mont-Fort - Col de la ChauxValais/Wallis1.6 km168 m35 minModerateJuly to September
Walserweg Gottardo - Etappe 5Ticino4.2 km940 m2 hr 17 minHardJuly to September
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich4.5 km227 m1 hr 17 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailSchaffhausen4.8 km208 m1 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich3.3 km244 m1 hr 4 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich4.0 km229 m1 hr 11 minModerateApril to October
Huguenot and Waldensian TrailZurich1.9 km187 m40 minModerateApril to October

Nationalpark Wanderroute 14 (Punt la Drossa - Il Fuorn), Sur les pas des Huguenots et des Vaudois du Piémont, Sommet des Vignes > Closuit - Laboureau 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.

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 →

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