Hiking in the Switzerland is very possible, the country owns over 60,000 kilometers well signposted hiking trails. These are looked after on a voluntary basis by the municipalities, cantonal associations and the Swiss working group for hiking trails. In Switzerland, hiking trails are integrated into the transport network by law. Municipalities and cantons are obliged to maintain hiking trails.
According to the national association Swiss hiking trails 55% of all hiking trails are above 1000 m above sea level, 8% above 2000 m. 91% of the hiking trails are laid out in such a way that they are not affected by road traffic. 76% of the hiking trails have a natural surface (meadow, earth, rock, gravel), the rest is tarred.
For safe hiking, see the article Hiking safety valuable advice.
Signage and levels of difficulty
Time information: The hiking time is indicated on signposts without breaks. This hiking time is calculated for all hiking trails using a uniform formula and does not take into account the fitness of the hiker or the difficulty of the path.
The difficulty levels were from Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) developed.
| Level of difficulty | WV symbol | description | mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 |  | Trail. Highlighted in yellow. Easy routes, mostly flat. Can also be walked without hiking boots and without special prior knowledge. Mostly accessible all year round. There is no risk of falling. Can also be done in bad weather. |  |
| T2 |  | Mountain hiking trail. Marked in white-red-white. These paths are almost only available in the Alps. The path is steep and orientation is often easy. In good weather it can also be walked on with sneakers. Places where there is a risk of falling are rare. |  |
| T3 |  | Mountain hiking trail. Marked in white-red-white. Walking shoes are necessary, and places where there is a risk of falling are often secured with ladders, chains or ropes. Problematic in bad weather. Requires good physical condition and a basic ability to orientate yourself, although the path is often easy to see. Delicate places require surefootedness and a head for heights. | |
| T4 |  | Alpine hiking trail. Marked in white-blue-white. Shoes with a stiff sole are recommended, longer passages with the risk of falling. Typical for T4 are steep meadows, scree, rocky terrain, short climbs and easy glacier passages. Experience in assessing the terrain and the weather is required. Higher demands on the ability to orientate, because the path is often not easy to see. When the weather worsens, it is often difficult to retreat. Aids such as rope, crampons or ice ax may be necessary depending on the route. | |
| T5 resp. T6 |   | Difficult or very difficult alpine hiking trail. Not marked. Pathless terrain. Very high requirements for orientation, surefootedness and a head for heights. When the weather changes, it is very difficult or even impossible to retreat. Very good experience in assessing the terrain and the weather. Paths of difficulty T5 and T6 are often more difficult than mountain climbing routes. Aids such as rope safety devices must be mastered. |
It should be noted that the degrees of difficulty do not increase linearly: a T2 is about twice as difficult as a T1, a T3 about twice as difficult as a T2, a T4 about twice as difficult as a T3.
64% of all hiking trails in Switzerland are marked in grade T1, i.e. yellow. 35% are mountain hiking trails (T2 and T3), and 1% are alpine hiking trails (T4). However, there are a large number of unmarked T5 and T6 trails that are rarely described in hiking guides due to their difficulty.
Special hiking trails
Pink - winter hiking trails
Special hiking trails in winter. Same requirements as yellow marked hiking trails (T1). There is a risk of slipping on snow and ice. Therefore, walking sticks and strap-on spikes are recommended for the shoes.
The paths can sometimes be laid out on ski slopes. It is advisable to go to the edge of the piste and avoid blind spots (collision with skiers!).
Jurahöhenweg
The Jurahöhenweg is partly still equipped with red and yellow signposts (new: yellow), but it has the same requirements as a mountain hiking trail.
Routes
Long-distance hiking trails
- Way of St. James
- Via Alpina, 3 routes
- Jurahöhenweg – Jura high trail
- Cultural routes in Switzerland , 12 routes
- Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix (France) to Zermatt (Switzerland). Overnight stays mostly in mountain huts, 14 days duration.
Multi-day route
- Gommer Höhenweg - hiking trail in Goms, Canton Valais
- Rottenweg
- Oeschinensee (above Kandersteg) - Gspaltenhorn Hut - Murren
- Schanfigger Höhenweg - around Schanfigg in six days Chur above Arosa to the Strela pass above Davos and back on the other side of the valley.
Daily routes
- Lötschberg south ramp
- Brienzer Rothorn - Brünig Pass (T3)
- St. Gallen Bridge Path - For 7.5 km you come across on the way along the Sitter St. Gallen 18 bridges
Themed trails
- Anabaptist Path in Schaffhausen, on the Schaffhauser Randen met in the 16th century. Anabaptists at their secret meetings, in memory of the persecution of Anabaptists, the Anabaptist Path was expanded in 2017.
Aiming high: Highest mountains with hiking trails
- Mountain hiking trails (T2 or T3, marked white-red-white)
- Barrhorn (3610 m) in the Turtmanntal (Wallis), mountain hiking trail T3. Ascent from the west with an overnight stay in the Turtmannhütte.
- Alpine hiking trails (T4, marked white-blue-white)
- Barrhorn, as above, but ascent from the east, from the Topali Hut out.
- unmarked alpine hiking trails
- Wildstrubel (3244 m), from the Flueseehütte
- Gobba di Rollin (3899 m) above Zermatt (Valais). It is located in the year-round ski area "Klein Matterhorn". Pretty easy to get to via ski slopes.
- Gross Bigerhorn (3636 m) above Grächen (Valais). Unmarked, rather difficult alpine hike (T5). Overnight in the Bordierhütte.
