With over 65,000km of marked trails crossing hulking peaks, flower-filled meadows, and glittering glacial lakes, the Swiss Alps are just as intoxicating during the May to mid-October hiking season as they are when winter snow cloaks everything in white.
Thanks to online accessibility, travellers can now find remote mountain huts, enabling easy planning of the best hut-to-hut hikes in Switzerland. These hikes cover various difficulties and durations, all easily reachable from at least one major Swiss city. Each trek affords priceless panoramic views from altitudes of 1500m and above.
Route: Haute Route
Where? Chamonix to Zermatt
Duration: Two weeks
Difficulty: Hard
Finishing dramatically at the foot of the Matterhorn, arguably the world’s most recognizable massif, the Haute Route connects the two ‘capitals’ of the Alps: Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland.
This physically demanding trek traverses more than 200km of wild mountains and spectacular valleys that teem with ibex and short-horned chamois hiding among the rugged alpine terrain.
To take in the finest slices of the Swiss Alps, consider an overnight stay at the century-old, family-run Cabane du Mont Fort in Bagnes, and plan a pit stop at the popular Cabane de Vignettes, famous for its legendary rösti stuffed with potatoes, cheese, ham, and fried onions. Less experienced hikers can choose to follow The Walkers’ Haute Route, an alternative and well-marked trail 3000m below the original.
Route: The Swiss Glacier Trail
Where? Bettmerhorn to Fiescheralp
Duration: Four hours
Difficulty: Intermediate
This four-hour hike along Europe’s longest glacier begins with a stunning cable car ride up the Bettmerhorn mountain and concludes high above the UNESCO-listed Aletsch Glacier, a vast ice artery that carves through Switzerland’s Jungfrau region.
As you climb along a series of 4000m-high massifs, aim for Lake Märjelen, a sparkling spring lake reflecting the mountains and surrounding soft cotton fields. After an afternoon of fresh mountain serenity, enjoy dinner and a restful night at the beloved Gletscherstube Hut, renowned for its local Valais wines and homemade apple tart.
Route: The Romantic Trail
Where? Männlichen to Alpiglen
Duration: Two-and-a-half hours
Difficulty: Easy
Take the cable car from Wengen to the summit of Männlichen, where sweeping views lay over the entire valley. From this point, there are several hiking trails for the casual hiker; however, the most remarkable is the Romantic Trail bursting with wild buttercups, alpine roses, and white cotton during spring and summer—ideal for open-air picnics.
On a clear day, you’ll likely glimpse the Big Three: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, the fabled majestic summits overlooking the region. As you leisurely descend to the Berghaus Alpiglen, a family-friendly hut, relish a refined yet unpretentious take on typical alpine food. Sample the beet carpaccio topped with citrus wedges and shaved cheese, while getting to know the local cowbell-toting cattle that occasionally gather here.
Route: Surenen Pass
Where? Altdorf to Engelberg
Duration: Two days
Difficulty: Difficult
The Surenen Pass, a historic mountain route in Central Switzerland, forms part of the long-distance Alpine Pass Route traversing the country from east to west. This trek requires hikers to be in good health, commencing in the massifs above Altdorf, near Lake Uri.
This awe-inspiring path features glacial ravines adorned with gushing waterfalls, encircled by lush green peaks. You can stay at the stone-and-wood Sewenhütte on the Meiental side of the Ruess Valley, where owners can organize wild blueberry-picking trips and boating excursions at Sewensee, another nearby lake.
The hike culminates in the enchanting village of Engelberg, home to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery featuring an onsite cheese factory serving delicious fondue and creamy raclette.
Route: Through the Alpsteinmassiv
Where? Brülisau to Hundstein
Duration: One day
Difficulty: Intermediate
Located a few hours by train from Zürich, Brülisau is a tranquil village surrounded by limestone massifs often cloaked in low cloud. From this village, an excellent marked hike leads up to Hundstein, passing picturesque rural houses, rushing streams, and well-fed cows grazing on nutrient-rich grasses as they have since the Middle Ages.
The route offers a chance for wild swimming at the stunning Fählensee lake, bordered by the Altmann and Widderalpstöcke mountains. Continue the ascent to 1554m above sea level to reach the Hundsteinhütte, the coziest hut on Hundstein, where guests can enjoy a hearty meat and potato gratin followed by Swiss hot chocolate before settling down for the night in a dormitory.
