If you want to get some fresh air, fitness and fab views while the kids are in school, here are 12 short hikes near Zürich that you can fit into the school day. I’ve picked hikes that take about 2-3 hrs walking time and are about 60-90 min drive from Zürich (depending on where you live).
Most are possible by public transportation, but the travel time is longer and you may need to rush a bit to get home on time. While it’s more fun to go with a friend, most of these would be fine solo as well.
This post is sponsored by ABUS, who makes the KeyGarage, where I store a spare key for my kids in case I’m late coming back from a hike. Enter our ABUS KeyGarage giveaway on my Instagram page.
Tips for planning your day
When estimating your time, make sure to account for the gondola schedule and travel time. For example, some gondolas may only run every 30 mins or close over lunch on weekdays. So if you plan to catch a particular bus, make sure to get to the gondola on time as well.
If you are traveling by public transport, carefully check the bus schedule. Some buses only run once an hour or less. If you want to be back in Zurich by 15:30, you may have to catch the bus as early as 13:00 even if the travel time is only 1h30.
Make a backup for your kids in case you are late. Despite your best laid plans, you might hit traffic, miss the gondola, the train might be late, who knows. Sometimes, I wouldn’t decide to leave until after the kids went to school so I didn’t have a chance to give them a key. I never felt comfortable just stashing a key in a flower pot or under the mat. Instead, a leave a key in our ABUS Key Garage, which my son can easily access. I feel more free and my son feels more safe. You can set your own code and it has a LED light so you can clearly see the code numbers.
Easy short hikes
1. Hoch Ybrig Panorama Trail
Easy ridge hike with fantastic panorama Swiss alp views. I have multiple trail options in my post so you can customize the distance to match your schedule. There’s even an option for strollers, so new mamas can do this hike. A few restaurants along the way so you don’t have to carry your lunch.
Trail: 2 h • 5 k • 330m down
By car: 50 mins from Zurich to Weglosen
By public transport: 1hr30 from Zurich to Hoch Ybrig, Talstation Weglosen, connections about once an hour
See details for Hoch Ybrig Panorama Trail
2. Sattel-Hochstuckli Engelstock Panorama Loop
Panorama trail with sweeping views of mountains and lakes. Possible with all-terrain strollers.
Trail: 2 h • 5.7 k • 140 up/down
By car: 45 mins from Zürich to Sattel
By train: 1hr10 from Zürich HB to Sattel-Aegeri, then short walk to gondola
See details for Engelstock Panorama Loop
3. Flumserberg 4 Peak Hike
This is a great choice if you are traveling by public transportation because it’s an easy and fast connection from Zürich. After visiting 4 mountain peaks, treat yourself with a mountain coaster ride for the last bit down the mountain.
Trail: 3 h • 7k • 150 up 525m down
By car: 1hr15 from Zurich to Tannenboden
By public transport: 1hr30 from Zurich to Tannenboden, connections about once an hour
See details for Flumserberg 4 Peak Hike
4. Amden Höhenweg
Beautiful relatively easy mountain trail close to Zürich. The only trick is timing your day so you catch the once-an-hour bus right when you are done. Perhaps park at the end of the hike and taking the bus to the chair lift.
Trail: 2.5 h • 8.5k • 280m up/down
By car: 50mins from Zurich to Amden
By public transport: 1hr15 from Zurich to Amden, Dorf
See details for Amden Höhenweg hike
Moderate hikes
5. Stoos Ridge Trail
Ride the steepest funicular in the world up to this gorgeous ridge hike near Lucerne. It’s a popular trail, so you can avoid the biggest crowds by going on a weekday. It does have some steep drop-offs so better for those who are not afraid of heights.
Trail: 2 h • 4.4 k • 300m up/down
By car: 45 mins from Zurich to Stoosbahn funicular (46°59’33.0″N 8°40’28.9″E)
By public transport: 1hr20 from Zurich HB to Schwyz, Stoosbahn. Catch the 13:29 bus to get back to Zürich HB by 14:55.
See details for Stoos Ridgeline Trail
6. Niederbauen Kulm
A tough but short climb to the Niederbauen peak, with spectacular views over the cliffs to Lake Lucerne and mountain peaks in all directions.
Trail: 2.5 h • 5.3k • 300m up/down
By car: 1hr from Zurich to parking at Emmetten-Niederbauen cable car: 46°57’21.1″N 8°31’07.4″E
By public transport: 1hr from Lucerne, 2hrs from Zurich HB to Emmetten, Post. Catch the 13:29 bus to get back to Zürich HB by 14:55.
See details for Niederbauen Kulm Hike
7. Mettmenalp Kärpfbrugg
This beautiful mountain hike loops through Europe’s oldest wildlife reserve with a dramatic natural land bridge over a raging river.
Trail: 2.5 h • 7.1 k • 400m up/down
By car: 1hr30 mins from Zurich to Kies
By public transport: 1hr40 from Zurich to Kies
See details for Mettmenalp Kärpfbrugg Loop Hike
Tough but short hikes
8. Grosser Mythen
This impressive peak is an icon of central Switzerland, so it’s very satisfying to reach the top and do a little victory dance. It’s a short but demanding mountain trail, with steep rocky switchbacks gaining about 400 m of elevation over 2km. Better for those with hiking experience who are not afraid of heights.
Trail: 2 h • 3.5 k • 410m up/down
By car: 45 mins from Zurich to Brunni-Holzegg cable car
By public transport: 1hr 15 from Zurich to Brunni-Holzegg.
See details for Grosser Mythen Peak Hike
9. Chli Aubrig
This beautiful mountain trail is close to Zürich, climbing through field and forest to the Chli Aubrig peak, giving you panorama views across rolling hills, a lake and many mountain peaks. It’s a great choice for early spring before gondolas open and the snow melts elsewhere.
Trail: 3 h • 9.5 k • 400m up/down
By car: 40 mins from Zürich to Sattelegg Pass
By public transport: not possible
See details for Chli Aubrig Hike
10. Pizol 2 Peak Hike • Garmil & Gamidauersptiz
Unless you leave your house before the kids wake up, you probably can’t fit in the Pizol Five Lakes hike. But you could do this shorter loop visiting two mountain peaks with fab views. This is a tough one, great if you are looking for some sweaty fitness.
Trail: 2.5 h • 6.5 k • 588m up/down
By car: 1hr10 from Zurich to Wangs
By public transport: 1hr30 from Zurich to Wangs, Pizolbahn
See details for Pizol Garmil & Gamidauerspitz Peak Hike
11. Hirzel Rundweg
Super steep hike up to a mountain peak with gorgeous panorama views.
Trail: 3 h • 7 k • 580m up/down
By car: 45 mins from Zürich to Niederurnen-Morgenholz cable car
By train: 1hr from Zürich HB to Niederurnen, Ochsenplatz + 550m walk to cable car
See details for Hirzli Rundweg Peak Hike
12. Schönhalden Guscha Ridge Hike
Beautiful ridge hike near Flumserberg in Eastern Switzerland, accessed by a tiny private gondola. The tough climb at the beginning makes the view from the ridge even sweeter.
Trail: 3 h • 7.5 k • 630m up/down
By car: 1hr from Zürich to Schönhalden cable car
By public transport: not possible
See details for Schönhalden Guscha Ridge Trail
I hope you find something on this list you like. Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite!
2 Responses
Hello Tanya and thank you for these suggestions!
I was planning to do a hike in the Glaris but the snow had decided otherwise, so we improvised (with a couple other moms) a hike in Atzmännig yesterday. We hike on a kind of “ridge” and although it wasn’t at all what I had in mind in the morning, the view from the ridge on Säntis / Churfisten etc. was beautiful! We were there in about 50 min from the French school in Dübendorf and the frost-fog was just going up, so there were frozen trees and a few peaces of fog flowing from the crest, with still some fall colours and the sun, as you can imagine, it was really nice! We had a picnic near a feuerstelle and a cross, on a few benches with a great view. Although I was disappointed at first not to do a more “wow” hike, the ratio between easy access / view / weather etc. was quite perfect and we had a fantastic time!
Sorry I didn’t see this comment earlier. Thanks for the detailed report and glad you had a nice time!