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Loop Trails in Zurich

The directory currently contains 41 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Zurich. Their average mapped distance is 6.0 km and average recorded ascent is 146 m (479 ft); the longest route in the set is 50.3 km.

This subset represents 6% of the 631 quality-checked routes in Zurich. Its average distance is 6.0 km, compared with 3.0 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 146 m (479 ft), versus 74 m (243 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is classified as a loop and returns to its starting area. A loop can still reuse part of the same path. Within this set, 18 routes (44%) are rated easy, 1 (2%) are rated hard or expert, and 41 (100%) 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

2.9 km

Forest Nature Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

50 m

Rund-Wanderweg Kloster Kappel

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

6 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

Easy

Naturlehrpfad

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Ämtlerwäg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
50.3 km
/ 31.2 mi
Elevation gain
728 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Rundweg Burgholz

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
1 hr 29 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Blick auf das Kloster Kappel, Kappel am Albis
Easy

Rund-Wanderweg Kloster Kappel

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
50 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Forest Nature Trail

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
lake of Pfäffikon ( Pfäffikersee ), canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Picture taken from the top of the mountain Bachtel.
Moderate

Bachtel-Kulm

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
8.4 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
376 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
lake of Pfäffikon ( Pfäffikersee ), canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Picture taken from the top of the mountain Bachtel.
Moderate

Bachtel-Spalt

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
260 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bachtelweiher

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
6.6 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
312 m
Typical duration
1 hr 50 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rundweg 3-Wachten

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
331 m
Typical duration
2 hr 57 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rundweg 4-Quellen

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
517 m
Typical duration
2 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Erlebnisweg Freddy Fratzel

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hasenstrick

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
259 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Waymarked route
lake of Pfäffikon ( Pfäffikersee ), canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Picture taken from the top of the mountain Bachtel.
Moderate

Um den Bachtel

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
252 m
Typical duration
1 hr 22 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Johann Jakob Keller Weg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
114 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Hof Rossau, Wohnhaus mit Nebenbauten , Baarerstrasse 17 in Mettmenstetten ( Switzerland )
Moderate

Mättmiwäg 2 Rossau Badi

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
94 m
Typical duration
1 hr 42 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Naturerlebnispfad

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
148 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Rundweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
70 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Waymarked route
Bahnhof Ettenhausen-Emmetschloo, Aufnahmegebäude mit Güterschuppen, ID 12100134
Moderate

Rundweg Emmetschloo

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
131 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Weinwanderweg Route 3

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
194 m
Typical duration
2 hr 51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Wirtli-Rundweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

fitnessrundgang

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

geschichtspfad baltenswil

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
56 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

grosser dorfrundgang

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
59 m
Typical duration
1 hr 30 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Aberen - Frohberg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
7 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Erlebnisweg Thurauen

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
21 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Grüne Grenze

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
140 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • Waymarked route
Menzihaus , Lützelsee 3 in Hombrechtikon ( Switzerland )
Easy

Lützelsee Rundweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
55 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mättmiwäg 1 Dorf

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
34 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Naturweg Au

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Niederholzweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Rheinuferweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
11 min
  • Waymarked route
Switzerland , Canton of Zürich , Rheinau, seen from the church
Moderate

Rund um Rheinau

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
82 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Seerundweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Türlerseerundweg

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
53 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

kleiner dorfrundgang

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
16 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

VVH Rundwanderweg (lang)

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
220 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mättmiwäg Dachlissen

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
5.9 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
65 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

VVH Rundwanderweg (kurz)

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
138 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Allmen - Täuferhöhle

Zurich · Switzerland

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
26 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
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
NaturlehrpfadZurich2.9 km78 m43 minEasyApril to October
ÄmtlerwägZurich50.3 km728 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Rundweg BurgholzZurich5.7 km193 m1 hr 29 minEasyApril to October
Rund-Wanderweg Kloster KappelZurich3.1 km50 m44 minEasyApril to October
Forest Nature TrailZurich2.9 km103 m45 minModerateApril to October
Bachtel-KulmZurich8.4 km376 m2 hr 19 minModerateApril to October
Bachtel-SpaltZurich4.9 km260 m1 hr 24 minModerateApril to October
BachtelweiherZurich6.6 km312 m1 hr 50 minModerateApril to October
Rundweg 3-WachtenZurich11.8 km331 m2 hr 57 minModerateApril to October
Rundweg 4-QuellenZurich9.4 km517 m2 hr 44 minModerateApril to October

Naturlehrpfad, Ämtlerwäg, Rundweg Burgholz 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

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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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