Most winter hikes in Switzerland are at the top of gondolas, where you’ll find lots of snow and the ski resorts regularly groom the paths.
If you want to winter hike for free without riding mountain transport, you’ll need to pick mountains you can drive to directly but also tall enough to have snow. Not always easy.
So I’ve gathered ten winter walks near Zürich that you can reach by car, bus or train.
Most are not high enough elevation to have snow all winter long. So check webcams and websites before you go, especially if you are trying to get above the clouds.
Map of winter hikes
All my winter hiking suggestions are in my Swiss Winter Guide, which an interactive map.
Short winter walks near Zürich city
1. Buchenegg – Felsenegg
This is an easy walk along the ridge above Zürich. You can drive to the Buchenegg pass (775m) and park next to the restaurants. Then follow the path to Felsenegg, where you’ll find another restaurant.
You can return the way you came, loop down through the tiny village or walk further along the ridge.
Anytime it snows in Zürich, many people are up here enjoying the snow. There are a couple small hills where you can do a little sledding.
Trail: easy • 1h • 3.6 km loop • 60m ↗ 40m ↘
Start: Buchenegg pass or Adliswil cable car
Conditions: Felsenegg webcam • weather
➡️ See Felsenegg winter walk (and trail map).
2. Türlersee
You can walk around this small lake near Zürich any time of year. After snowfall, it’s particularly lovely, with frosted trees and snowy meadows.
The path is not an official winter trail, so it’s not groomed with machines. But it’s a popular walking path, so the snow is always tamped down by other walkers.
Trail: easy • 1h15 • 4 km loop • 20m ↗ 20m ↘
Location: • from Zürich 25min by car, 45 min by bus
➡️ See details for Türlersee winter walk
3. Albis pass
The Albis pass is on the mountain above Zürich, accessible by car or bus. If the snow has melted in the city, there’s often still snow up here, a nice place to enjoy a winter wonderland with views of Lake Zürich.
The path along the ridge is not groomed with machines, but lots of people walk here so the snow is usually tamped down. You can walk south through the forest to a tall tower (sometimes closed in winter). Or you could also walk north toward Buchenegg pass.
At the pass, you’ll find two big hills that locals use for sledding, a nice add-on to the hike.
Location: Albispass • from Zürich 20 min by car, 40 min by bus
Trail: easy • 1h • 3.1 km • 70m ↗ 70m ↘
➡️ See trail map for Albis Hochwacht Tower Walk
Einsiedeln Region
4. Einsiedeln Sihlsee Winter Walk (925m)
This winter trail starts in Einsiedeln and leads along the Sihlsee lake and loops back through the countryside.
It’s rather low elevation (925m) so there’s not always snow out there. But it’s still pretty. The photo below was taken in early December after a recent snow that you can still see on the hills, though it had already melted by the water.
Trail: 2.5 h • 8.5 k • 90m up & down
Location: Einsiedeln Kloster • from Zürich 35 min by car, 1 h by train
Conditions: Sihlsee webcams
➡️ See details for Einsiedeln Sihlsee Winter Hike
5. Ibergeregg (1400m)
This hike starts at the Ibergeregg pass where you’ll find a small ski hill with drag lifts. You can walk along the ridge, with beautiful mountain views, passing a couple restaurants along the way.
If you want a little fitness, you can hike a 4 km loop, that goes down the mountain about 200m of elevation and back up. We’ve also done the snowshoe hike here, which was fantastic.
Best to go early as it can get very crowded on sunny weekends and impossible to find a parking spot.
Trail: Moderate • 2 h • 7.2 k loop • 230m ↗ 230m ↘
Location: Ibergeregg pass • from Zürich 1h by car, 1h41 by bus
➡️ See details for Ibergeregg winter hike
6. Raten Gottschalkenberg (1100m)
This popular winter walk starts at the Raten pass (1100m), where you’ll find a small ski and sledding hill and restaurant.
There is a winter walk path and a snowshoe “trail” that both start across a wide open field, then lead through the woods toward the Gottschalkenberg restaurant.
The full path is 6km round trip with 130m up/down, but you could cut it shorter. We did part of the trail with snowshoes (as shown below) and really enjoyed it.
Trail: 1h30 • 5km loop • 120m up & down
Location: Raten Pass • from Zürich 35 min by car, 1h15 by public transport
➡️ See details for Raten Gottschalkberg Winter Hike.
Heidiland Region
7. Arvenbüel Vorder Höhi
In Amden-Arvenbüel, this winter hike starts from the parking and bus stop and leads up to the Vorder Höhi pass, with beautiful views of the Churfirsten mountain range. At the pass, you can rest at Restaurant Vorder Höhi, a small cafe with tables in the sun.
The route is up and back, gaining This hike takes some effort, with 7km there and back and 380m of elevation gain/descent. This winter hike is not always open so check the trail status before going.
Trail: moderate • 3 hours • 7.8 km • 300m ↗ 300m ↘
Location: Amden-Arvenbüel • from Zürich 55min by car, 1h25 by public transport
Conditions: trail status • webcam • weather
➡️ See details for Amden Vorder Höhi Winter Hike
For an easier hike in this area, from the Amden Hoher Höhi winter hike that uses the Mattstock chair lift to skip the climb.
8. Flumserberg Seebenalpsee (1400m)
This winter hike starts at Flumserberg’s Tannenboden parking lot and hikes up to the Seebenalpsee lake, where you’ll find mountain views and a restaurant.
The path leads through forest and snowy meadows, mostly away from the ski hills. It’s a steady uphill climb, gaining almost 300m.
Many sections are in the shade, where it can get icy. So I recommend bringing traction cleats and hiking sticks to help you avoid slipping.
Trail: moderate • 2h30 • 7.1 km • 290m ↗ 290m ↘
Location: Tannenboden parking • from Zürich 1h10 by car, 1h20 by public transport
Conditions: trail status • webcam • weather
➡️ See details for Flumserberg Seebenalpsee winter hike.
Toggenberg Region
9. Wildhaus Gamplüt
This winter hike is in the Toggenburg region, southeast of Zürich. The circular route starts directly from a parking area in Wildhaus and leads up to the Gamplüt mountain restaurant.
Trail follows a service road where the snow is groomed, so easy walking. But if snow conditions are poor, they may not groom the snow so there can be ice, mud or slushy conditions.
There is a cable car here if you prefer to skip the uphill climb. You can also rent sleds at the top and sled down the mountain after the climb.
Trail: moderate • 2h30 • 7.3 km loop • 360m ↗ 360m ↘
Location: Wildhaus Toggenburg Region • from Zürich 1h30 by car, 1h45 by public transport
Conditions: trail status • webcam
➡️ See details for Wildhaus Gamplüt winter hike
More ideas
You can find more Swiss winter walks on Schweiz Mobil and WegWandern.
Of course, you can also walk on most paths at low elevation where the snow has melted. See also Nature Walks near Zürich.
4 responses
Went to Amden today to do the Hinter Höhi, gorgeous as promised! Return ticket for adult 13 CHF.
I must warn you however if you do want to go all the way to the end you must bring snowshoes with you! After a while the groomed path ends (you take a left turn up the hill) and you get unto a trail, which with sinking knee- and waist-deep in the snow with a toddler on the back, while it’s fun, is not a good idea.
Beautiful area and on a weekday practically empty: there were three cars in the parking lot right next to the Mattstock lift. I can recommend to just get a single ticket though, our two-year old daughter loved walking down the groomed paths and empty slopes!
Thanks for the helpful trip report! Yes, the groomed path only goes up to the pass. I’ll make a note of that in my post.
Great suggestions, Tanya, thank you 🙂
You’re welcome!