Hiking with children: family friendly hiking trails in Switzerland

Some of the most important prerequisites for a hike with the whole family: a safe hiking trail, beautiful landscapes and the ability to shorten or adapt the hike to the children’s mood. We’ve put together a few tours in Switzerland that are ideal for a trip with children.

If they suddenly lose motivation while hiking, these tips will help your children stay interested.

Appenzell: barefoot hiking

Give the hiking boots a break during this hike. On the barefoot path you’ll hike through meadows, streams and short stony or asphalted sections – without shoes. After just a short amount of time you’ll be able to refresh your feet in the Wissbach river. Then, continue towards Gontenmoos, where peat used to be cut – a small museum in a barn on the roadside offers insight into this period of history. From there, the destination isn’t too far. You’ll constantly encounter restaurants or bakeries on the way, and there’s a fire pit in Jakobsbad. If your feet are more sensitive, you can also wear barefoot shoes.

Start: Jakobsbad
Finish: Gontenbad
Distance: 5 kilometres
Duration: 1.5 hours

Toggenburg: a musical journey

The sound trail consists of three stages, allowing the length of the hike to be adapted to the children’s fitness level. With the sound sculptures, children can make their own music or listen to unique sounds. For the first stage, take the cable car from Alt. St. Johann up to Alp Sellamatt. You’ll walk to Iltios from there. This stage is 2.5 kilometres long and there are a total of seven sound installations along the way. The entire section is also accessible with a pushchair.

The second stage continues from Iltios to Oberdorf. While hiking, you’ll discover 14 more sound installations. The third stage goes around the Schwendisee lakes, past six sound installations. Along the way, you’ll also encounter fire pits, mountain restaurants and playgrounds.

Tip: buy your ticket for the sound trail at the valley station. This includes a trip up and down the mountain and transport by PostBus back to the starting point.

Start: Alp Sellamatt
Finish: Oberdorf
Distance: from 2.5 to 7 kilometres
Duration: 1.5 to about 5 hours

Ticino: marble run in the Verzasca valley

It’s a hiking trail fashioned as a giant marble run; you can also walk this trail without a wooden marble, but it makes it extra fun for children. You can buy one in different places throughout the valley – be sure to find out the shops’ opening hours in advance. Pack the ball in your bag and get going. There are four entrances to the hiking trail, all of which can be reached by PostBus. In addition to the hiking trail, there are various installations where you can play a game using the wooden ball. If the full hike is too long, you can shorten it from the entry points.

There are picnic areas and barbecue areas along the way; find out in advance whether there is a fire ban in place.

Start: Piée
Finish: Lavertezzo
Distance: up to 5.5 kilometres
Duration: up to about 5 hours

Bernese Oberland: hiking past waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen valley

This hike starts in Lauterbrunnen, so you’ll see the famous Staubbach Falls right away. Halfway through, you’ll pass the Trümmelbach Falls – the largest underground waterfalls in Europe, which roar over ten cascades into the depths. You can get a glimpse of the labyrinth of rock and water via stairs and galleries. Continue past the Mürrenbach Falls and the ice-blue, shimmering Lütschinen river. From here you can take the PostBus back to Lauterbrunnen.

Keep in mind that depending on weather conditions, this route may be blocked or inaccessible. Find out about the conditions on site in advance.

Start: Lauterbrunnen
Finish: Hotel Stechelberg PostBus stop
Distance: 8 kilometres
Duration: 2 hours

Nidwalden: the Walenpfad trail

If your children are a bit older and can hike longer distances, then the Walenpfad trail is worth it. From Oberrickenbach, take the cable car up to Bannalp. From there, the trail leads to the highest viewpoint of this tour – Walenegg. Later, you’ll pass the Brunnihütte mountain hut and the Härzlisee lake – the 220-metre-long ‘Kitzelpfad’ trail goes around the lake. From here, you can keep going without shoes. Over moor, gravel, wood chips and stones, your feet can enjoy a little rest from the hiking boots on the trail. From here, it’s not far to Ristis, where the train will take you to Engelberg.

This tour is not easy to shorten, so take this into account when planning – especially if you want to go on the hike with the whole family.

Start: Bannalp
Finish: Ristis
Distance: 11.2 kilometres
Duration: 4 to 5 hours

Jura: nature, solar panels and wind turbines

Take the cable car from St Imier to Mont Soleil to begin the hike. The mostly flat path goes across wide meadows and huge fields with solar panels. On the way to Mont Crosin, you’ll frequently learn information about renewable energy, the local flora and fauna and the weather. Pass an observatory and you’ll reach Mont Crosin and its wind turbines. But nature doesn’t play second fiddle: you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Alps and the Jura at picnic areas or while hiking.

Start: Mont Soleil
Finish: Mont Crosin
Distance: 6 kilometres
Duration: 1.5 hours