As your kids get older and more hiking experience, they can do longer and more difficult hikes, which opens up so many amazing possibilities in Switzerland. Exciting! If you want them to have a positive experience, it’s important to pick a hike that pushes them but doesn’t break them.
Here are some longer hikes we’ve done with our kids (between 6 and 9 km) that are good for testing and improving your child’s skills before trying very challenging hikes. These are suitable for kids with hiking experience, around 7 and older.
Don’t worry if your kids complain and give up on the trail. That’s part of the process. It will get better with practice. Even my kids still complain sometimes, but they also surprise me how much they far they can hike and we always leave with positive memories. Plus they learned some important life lessons about endurance and working hard to achieve a goal. It’s (almost) always worth it.
See also Tough Hikes for Teens for more challenging and even longer hikes
1. Eiger Trail
This trail traverses right underneath the famous north face of the Eiger, where over 60 climbers have died trying to reach the peak. Unlike the rock face, this Eiger trail is safe for little hikers and has fantastic views of the Grindelwald valley and surrounding peaks. The alpine trail is mostly easy walking, with a few switchbacks and rocky sections to navigate. It’s one of our favorites!
Stats: 6km, 730m elevation descent, about 3 hours walking time with kids
Get details for Eiger trail…
2. Oeschinensee Panorama
This is a proper alpine trail, with rocky trails up and down the mountain and a really dramatic landscape, with lots of cliffs, waterfalls, and the bright blue lake below. We saw several families on this one, the smallest maybe 6 years old. So give it go with younger kids if you’re feeling ambitious.
Stats: 8 km loop, about 450m up and 450m down, about 3-4 hr walking time with kids
Get details for Oeschinensee Panorama Hike…
3. Gemmipass from Leukerbad to Kandersteg
This hike is a bit long and goes over a mountain pass, but it’s actually quite easy walking, with a wide gravel trail and mostly gradual descents. There are cable cars at both ends of the trail saving you a lot of hard work. If your child can make the distance, they can feel a real sense of accomplishment walking all the way from Valais canton to Bern canton.
Stats: 8.5 km, about 490m descent, about 4 hours walking time with kids
Get more details for the Gemmi pass hike
4. Hoher Kasten
This is another training hike for older kids. It’s a long walk down from the top of Hoher Kasten, but about 2/3 down you can optionally rent a scooter and ride the rest of the way, a nice option/reward for kids. The views are great and the hike varied: rocky steps, forests, fields, gravel paths, cow pastures, paved roads, muddy bogs, etc. The hike is not particularly difficult since it is mostly downhill, but it is long and could be challenging for small children. Next time we hope to do the even longer and more difficult Saxer Lücke hike which also leaves from Hoher Kasten. Can’t wait to report back on that one!
Stats: 6 to 9 km plus 3km on a scooter, about 700m descent
Get details for Hoher Kasten hike…
5. Swiss White Water Trail: Sonogno to Lavertezzo
The Swiss Tourism Board thinks says this is one of the most beautiful hikes in Switzerland, well deserved in my opinion. The path is very easy to walk, following the Versasca river, dipping in and out of the forest, crossing through fields and tiny villages of rustic farm houses. The hike ends in Lavertezzo and the popular “Valle Verzasca” swimming area, a nice reward for your hard work. One advantage is that if your kids get tired, you can easily cut your hike short, since the bus runs parallel to the trail.
Stats: 4 to 13 km one way
Get details for the Swiss White Water Trail
6. Hike to source of Rhein river
This was a tough one for our family due to whiny kids but I’m still glad we went. It’s such a magical place, with the water bubbling up to gradually form the Rhein river. We saw plenty of other families, some with much smaller kids carrying their packs so I know you can do it.
Stats: 8 km round trip, 400m up, then another 400m down on the way back, about 4 hours with kids
Get details for Rheinquelle Hike
7. Fürenalp
This was a long one, but it’s mostly easy walking over a gradual descent, with a few switchbacks here and there. It has a playground at the beginning to motivate your kids to at least get out of bed in the morning. There’s a roaring waterfall and beautiful river at the halfway point, a nice goal for little walkers. There are also shorter loop hikes in this area if you’re not ready for the long haul. It opens for summer earlier than other mountains, so it’s a good choice for spring.
Stats: 9 km, descending 800m, about 3.5 hr walking time with kids
Get details for Fürenalp hike
One Response
Love your website!!
We will be in Zurich Sept 15-23 dog-sitting 1 dog and looking to hike (w/the dog). We would like to make some daytrip returning to Zurich that night and one multiple day trip to the Murren area that we visited last year. We will rent a car for the BO area trip and possibly for a day trip or two.
We are all-set for BO/Murren area but would appreciate daytrip hikes from Zurich. Ridge hikes interest us, the more mountains the better. We’re thinking Stoos Ridge hike (if dog can go on chairlift?) and Appenzell area hikes and any other Ridge or “Great” hikes in your opinion. I’ve looked at several on your site but your personal advise would be great. We also will do the “walks” through Zurich and hikes along the Lake when we stay in town for the day.
Please let me know if there’s a better way to contact you, we are monitoring Facebook as well.
Thank you for your site and your advise.
Bill Taylor