Zurich: 15 Best Hikes for Kids

Switzerland is a great place to hike with kids, with lots of activity trails that help distract and motivate kids to keep walking. Below are our favorite fun theme trails near Zürich, all close enough for an easy day trip by car or train. Enjoy!

See also Easy nature walks near Zurich and Most spectacular hikes near Zurich

Mountain trails

The following trails in the mountains, meaning you will need to ride a gondola or other lift to reach the trail. 

1. Pizol Heidi Trail

The Heidi trail is a fun way to introduce your kids to hiking in the Swiss alps. Along the trail, you’ll find Heidi-themed activities and play areas to help motivate your child to keep walking. The kids get a little trail passport that they stamp along the way as they complete the stations.

The trail is easy, relatively short, and suitable for strollers. Plus the views are fantastic! 

Distance from Zürich: 1 hr by car, 1hr10 by train/bus

Heidi trail: 4 km loop • about 2 hrs with kids • 120m up & down • strollers ok

Cost 2024: Adult CHF 41, Child CHF 24, under 6 free. Swiss Travel Pass, GA, Half-fare. Junior cards accepted.

See details for Pizol Heidi Trail

2. Toggenburg Tone Trail

The Toggenburg Klangweg is a bit further from Zurich than the others, but it’s the gold standard when it comes to theme trails for children. Every few minutes along the trail, you’ll find a different interactive musical activity where kids can make of noise. 

Although the trail is only 6 km (and can be shorter), we usually spend all day there, playing at every station and grilling our lunch. The trail is pretty easy, but could be tiring for small children. There is a stroller version of the trail but it skips some of the activities. 

Distance from Zürich: 1h30 by car, 1hr50 by train/bus

Tone trail: 6 km one way (return with bus) • about 3 hrs with kids • 120m up & down • stroller ok

See details for Toggenburg Tone Trail

3. Elm Giant Forest Trail

This fun themed hiking trail includes more than a dozen activities, including a giant xylophone, an obstacle course, and suspension bridge. Plenty of shade in the forest and lots of picnic areas. There’s also a playground with trampolines and 4 km scooter run down the mountain.

Distance from Zürich: 1h20 by car, 1hr50 by train

Giants trail: 2.5 km loop • 1h30 with kids • 50m up/ 60m down • strollers ok

See details for Elm “Giants Forest” Theme Trail

4. Braunwald Fairytale Trail

After riding a funicular, gondola and chair lift up, follow the Bartli dwarf trail back down the mountain, visiting eight magical places along the way.

Kids can explore a rock “castle” with a throne hidden in a cave with glowing gems, search for dwarf statues hidden in the forest, and other fun activities. There’s also a big playground with trampolines and a water play area, fed by a big waterfall, with streams to divert and rocks to rearrange. 

Distance from Zürich: 1h15 by car, 1hr30 by train

Trail: 7.6 km one way • 3h with kids • 660m down • no strollers

See details for Braunwald Magic Forest Trail

5. Illgau Ladybug Trail

Ride a small cable car up the mountain to a fun playground with a witch’s house. Then follow ladybugs painted on the ground through alpine fields and forests back down to the quiet alpine village. Two playgrounds and picnic areas with grills and lots of mountain views.

Distance from Zürich: 1h15 by car, 1hr40 by train

Ladybug trail: 2.7 km one way • 1h30 with kids • 350m down • no strollers

See details for Illgau Ladybug Trail

6. Sattel Hochstuckli “Goat Adventure” Trail

Sattel Hochstuckli is a mountain close to Zurich with lots of amusements for families. At the top of the gondola, you’ll find bouncy castles, trampolines, inner tube slide, 600m summer toboggan and 374m long suspension bridge to walk across.

They have a few family-friendly trails, including the Goat Adventure Trail with fun goat-related activities scattered along the way. Plus a real goat farm where you can eat cheese and ice cream made from goat’s milk. 

Distance from Zürich: 45 mins by car, 1hr10 by train/bus

Goat trail: 5 km round trip • about 2 hrs with kids • 110m up & down • strollers ok

See details for Sattel Hochstuckli

7. Amden “Munggeweg” Marmot Trail

Ride a chair lift to reach this cute theme trail hosted by the cartoon marmot Amdo Mungg. It’s a loop trail visiting twelve stations, including a marble run, barefoot path, small suspension bridge, mystery touch boxes, observation tower, and bunny enclosure. Lovely views across the valley to many mountains and large lake below.

Distance from Zürich: 50 mins by car, 1h10 by train/bus

Trail: 3.61 km loop • 2h with kids • 140m up, 120m down • possible with off-road stroller

Learn more about the Amden “Munggeweg” Marmot Trail

8. Walensee treasure hunt

Instead of a gondola, you ride a boat to reach this trail with gorgeous mountain views. The trail leads from the water through alpine meadows to tall waterfalls cascading down the cliffs.

Along the way, children can search for eight treasure chests with little activities. There’s a restaurant with a view, a small swimming area and beautiful picnic areas where you can grill over a fire.

Distance from Zürich: 45 mins by car, 1h by train/bus

Trail: 3.5 km round trip to waterfall • 1h30 with kids • 110m up & down • mostly ok for strollers

See details for Walensee Waterfall Trail

9. Flumserberg Wild Man Trail

Note: In 2023, this trail has a new theme: Rohan Red Deer Adventure Trail. Learn more here. I’ll update this post asap.

This mountain trail has several fun and educational activities for children along the way. Story boards tell a story of a little wild man that lived in a cave at Flumserberg, who was unkind to animals and nature. After a change of heart, the wild man is allowed to return to Flumserberg every year for three days to make amends.

Using the story and information gathered along the trail, children can solve a word puzzle and enter a contest to win a prize. At the end of the trail, there is a big play area, restaurant and even a ropes courses for both big and small.

Distance from Zürich: 1h15 by car, 1hr40 by train

Trail: 3.2 km one way • 1h30 with kids • 350m down • no strollers

See details for Flumserberg Wild Man Trail

Forest trails

Since, these trails are mostly in the forest, you don’t get the big scenic views like the trail above. But they are still charming and fun for kids. Plus some are free because you don’t have to you don’t have to pay for a gondola. They are also nice for hot summer days, when you want to hide in the shade. 

10. Sihlwald Forest Discovery Trail

This fun activity trail is in the Sihlwald forest, very close to Zurich city. It’s a short 2km loop trail starting at the river and hiking up into the forest, a bit steep at times.

The 12 interactive stations include a wood log xylophone, a barefoot path, an animal long jump, and raised path through a mysterious bog. The trail ends at a nice playground and forest visitor center, where you can also visit some beavers.

Distance from Zürich: 20 mins by car / 37 mins by train

Discovery trail: 2 km loop • 2h with kids • 80m up & down • no strollers

Cost: free

See details for Sihlwald Forest Trail

11. Comic Trail Uetliberg

This puzzle trail is on the small mountain overlooking Zürich city. Although most of the trail is in the forest, you’ll visit a few lovely viewpoints along the way of the city, lake and mountains. There are eleven puzzles to help you find your way along the trail and learn about this area. 

Distance from Zürich: 20 mins by train from Zürich HB (cannot access by car)

Comic trail: 4 km loop • 2h with kids • 125m up & down • stroller version

Cost 2023: Comic trail booklet CHF 9/person. Train from Zurich to Uetliberg Adult CHF 17.60, Child CHF 8.80, under 6 free. SBB GA, Half-fare & Junior cards discounts apply. 

See details for Uetliberg Comic Trail

12. Zugerberg “Zugiblubbi” Trail

Children help cave dwarfs living on Zugerberg search for their stolen gems along this interactive theme trail. The big playground, picnic areas and lovely Swiss countryside make this a fun, easy day out for families.

Distance from Zürich: 35 mins by car, 45 mins by train

Zugiblubbi trail: 5.4 km loop • 2h with kids • 125m up & down • stroller version

Cost 2023: funicular Adult CHF 11.60, Child CHF 7, under 6 free. SBB GA, Half-fare & Junior cards accepted.

See details for Zugiblubbi Trail

13. Frick Sensory Trail

Theme trail for children with eight activity stations focused on the five senses. It’s a short and easy loop through a lush valley, cutting through farm fields and forests. 

Distance from Zürich: 45 mins by car, 1h by train/bus

Trail: 3.5 km loop • 1h30 with kids • 125m up & down • stroller version

Cost 2023: funicular Adult CHF 11.60, Child CHF 7, under 6 free. SBB GA, Half-fare & Junior cards accepted.

See details for Frick Sensory Trail

14. Zugerland Sensory Trail

This fun theme trail near Einsiedeln has eight play stations related to the senses. The kids will enjoy guessing the nature smells, bouncing on the suspension bridge and playing music with the cow bells. There are two playgrounds with zip lines, swings, and climbing equipment plus nice picnic areas with fire pits.

The trail is very pretty, through both lush fields and dense forest, with plenty of viewpoints where you can see the rolling Swiss hills and mountains in the distance.

Distance from Zürich: 35 mins by car, 1h20 by train/bus

Trail: 4 km loop • 2h with kids • 80m up & down • no strollers

Cost: free

See details for Frick Sensory Trail

15. Atzmännig Spatz Männi Adventure Trail

Atzmännig has lots of fun amusements including a ropes climbing park, summer toboggan, and large playground. From the top of the chair lift, a fun theme trail visits eight stations, designed for children ages 2-10. Kids get a “safari pass” to record their answers at each post, then turn the pass for a chance to win a prize.

No strollers on this trail, but you can rent a child carrier pack for CHF 9 at the ticket office.

Distance from Zürich: 55 mins by car, 1h10 by train/bus

Trail: 2.3 km one way • 1h with kids • 290m down • no strollers

Cost: chair lift Adult CHF 9.50, Child CHF 5.50, under 6 free

Learn more about the Amden Spatz Männi Adventure Trail