All hikes: Along Water

A stroll through the picturesque old town of Estavayer-le-Lac, with its cobbled lanes and mighty castle is well worthwhile. Children love the fine sandy beaches, the easy rambles through lakeshore reed beds and the numerous aquatic animals.

Wunderbare Flusslandschaften, historische Städtchen und ein wunderbares Thermalbad prägen die Rheinuferwanderung von Eglisau nach Zurzach. Vom schmucken Eglisau geht’s ins mittelalterliche Kaiserstuhl und schliesslich nach Zurzach.

Owing to the lack of suitable trails, Lac de Neuchâtel is crossed by boat. Imposing Mont Vully is visible from afar. Short but steep climb. Wonderful panorama. Through the fertile shoreline forest of Le Chablais to the medieval town of Murten.

The Waldstätterweg hiking trail starts in Brunnen and leads hikers in seven stages over seven days around the scenic Lake Lucerne to the Rütli.

The Principality of Liechtenstein offers plenty of sightseeing attractions. One of the idyllic routes leads from the tiny, peaceful village of Steg to Valüna. The stretch is set in a wonderful natural world and offers unadulterated relaxation.

Flüeli affords outstanding views. The varied route follows the shores of the Sarneree and Lungernsee lakes and from Lungern church along the Brünigweg which, as a pilgrimage pfennig (coin) shows, was once a pilgrims’ path.

The route in and around the charming town of St-Ursanne in Canton Jura is a treat for history lovers. The captivating little town on the River Doubs has changed little over the centuries. It is impressive and well worth a visit.

Over the valley slopes to Oberengadin - and Brail with its ornate small church; the Ober and Unterengadin border by «Punt Ota» and old customs house (later to become a parsonage and then school) with inscription: «Veglia chesa da scuola.» Pretty Cinuos-chel village centre by the church.

Numerous places to take a break or swim are found along the lake shores – and the unspoilt Lachner Horn landscapes and Schmerikon estuary cordially invite you to rest a while. Attractive contrast on this leg is the crossing of the woods by Buchberg.

The Thur flows between the Churfirsten and Säntis Massif through the Canton of St. Gallen toward the canton to which it has lent its name. A well-known personality, Ulrich Bräker (1735-1798) was a citizen of Wattwil. Why not read his lifestory “The Poor Man of Tokkenburg“ (“Der arme Mann vom Tokkenburg”) as spiritual preparation? In any case, the fantastic landscape in the green valley can be thoroughly enjoyed at all times.

This route starts in Pfäffikon SZ and leads along the bank of the Seedamm (lake dam) to Rapperswil SG. The section is marked by wonderful far-reaching views over an endless plain with flower-filled fields and meadows as well as the glistening Zurichsee (lake). The ultimate holiday feeling!

This route starts in Bendern in the Principality of Liechtenstein and leads mainly along the Rhine dam. The wide, smoothly surfaced path and breathtaking views make this an ideal leisure area.

This hike from the Tracouet mountain station to Haute-Nendaz leads to the largest and oldest larches in Europe. Further highlights include the gondola ride with its beautiful panoramic views, the Lac Noir (Black Lake) mountain lake, the wonderful forest paths and the Bisse de Saxon irrigation channel, the longest in Valais.

The hiking trail leads almost continually through the riverside woodlands of the Rhein, which here gets pushed aside by the walls of moraine at the foothills of the Schwarzwald. Ruins of several Roman watch towers lie alongside the trail as well as the «Bürkli» earthworks at Riburg.The hiking trail leads almost continually through the riverside woodlands of the Rhein, which here gets pushed aside by the walls of moraine at the foothills of the Schwarzwald. Ruins of several Roman watch towers lie alongside the trail as well as the «Bürkli» earthworks at Riburg.

This hike does full justice to its name. The trail leads from Les Brenets near La Chaux-de-Fonds to St. Ursanne, almost always alongside the River Doubs and crossing the Doubs Regional National Park from west to east.

Before the opening of the Axenstrasse road in 1865, the main route was by lake. The trip by steamship still remains an exceptional experience. From the jetty at Flüelen, you hike into the cantonal capital of Altdorf.

The route from Zug to Cham leads along the shores of the Zugersee lake. A route marked by variety with it's urbane promenades, tranquil woodland and meadow sections and idyllic views of the lake.

Via the north wall to the other shore and the Bürgenstock cliff path, which as an Alpine promenade, afforded well-heeled ladies and gentlemen a view back to the city of Lucerne. Past the pilgrimage site of St Jost along the shore at Ennetburgen, Buochs and Beckenried.

Stroll with views of the Alps - from Küssnacht through the nature reserves in Wagenmoos, along the lakeshore at Meggen and Meggehorn castle. Approach to the city of Lucerne and arrival along the 19th-century tourism alley, its quay with distant views of the Alps.

The Lützelsee lake in the Zürcher Oberland provides the region with an extremely popular recreation area. The round tour starts in Hombrechtikon and leads through the lush green landscape alongside the sparkling lake.

French poet Gilles described the beauty of the Venoge, the river that this stage follows from Cossonay to Saint-Sulpice, sometimes high up, sometimes beside the water. The pilgrims’ path finally reaches Lac Léman and continues on via the Roman town of Vidy to Lausanne.

Witness the pioneering efforts of man and nature on the Path of the Pioneers, which takes you to the geographic centre of Graubünden. The Crap Furò natural forest reserve is home to one of the most diverse forests in Switzerland on such a small area.

Closely watched by the devil, the route leads from Wassen to Göschenen and through the bottleneck of the Schöllenenschlucht gorge to Andermatt. The sequence of historic routes, bridges, customs posts and hostels bring pre-modern transport to life.

The Vier-Quellen-Weg (Four Springs Trail) in the Gotthard Massif leads to the sources of four rivers: the Rhine, Reuss, Ticino and Rhone. A tour through an exceptional Alpine landscape with a wide diversity of fauna, flora and witnesses to a historic past.

The ViaRhenana, one of Switzerland's longest hiking trails, runs for ten days along the historic waterway between Untersee and Hochrhein. The fourth stage takes four hours from Schaffhausen to Rheinau with its baroque monastery church.

This route starts in the lakeside town of Neuchâtel at the well-known Place Pury and leads to the Piscine du Nid-du-Crô swimming complex. The vibrant metropolis of Canton Neuenburg is combines natural beauty with a permanent holiday atmosphere.

The trail follows the high banks of the Rhein river, which here are strongly influenced by the industrial and traffic infrastructure of Basel's catchment area. The ruins of Augusta Raurica, the Rhine harbour, river power stations and Basel's city-silhouette are outstanding.

The hike starts in Malval and follows the entire course of the Allondon, a tributary of the Rhone and hugely important floodplain biotope.

Gravel banks, footbridges and countless picnic areas line the River Töss between Turbenthal and Sennhof. The hike’s destination is Schloss Kyburg, which towers majestically over the Töss Valley.

This route starts in Ebnat-Kappel and leads along the idyllic banks of the River Thur to Wattwil. An easy route in the middle of an intact natural world, which thanks to the impressive mountains on the horizon offers fascinating scenery.

Nestled in the pre-Alpine landscape of Central Switzerland, Lake Sarnen is the perfect place for a leisurely hike. Sachseln and Giswil lie on the edge of the route. The hike starts and ends in the historic town of Sarnen.

The departure point for this route is the Badische Bahnhof railway station in Basel. The Lange Erlen wildlife park, the Dammweg along the river and the open landscape in Riehen ensure a varied and unforgettable tour.

The highlight of this hike is the nature reserve of Etang de la Gruère, where a path takes you around Switzerland’s largest moor lake, and the acidic boggy soil provides the ideal conditions for unique flora and fauna to thrive.