The Best Hiking Trails for Families in the Swiss Alps

Hiking · November 15, 2024

Last summer, the Keller family from Berne spent almost half our week on a single trail. Not because they couldn't move on – but because the path was so beautiful the children kept stopping. A marmot here, a mountain stream there. That's hiking in the Swiss Alps: less destination, more journey.

In our regions – Braunwald in Glarus and the area around Liddes in Valais – there are walking trails for every age and fitness level. With toddlers on your back, poles for grandparents, and excitable ten-year-olds charging ahead: the terrain accommodates everyone.

The Zwerg-Bartli adventure trail in Braunwald winds through fairytale forest clearings and keeps children engaged with small activity stations along the way. If you know the story, read it aloud as you walk. If you don't, make one up. Both work perfectly.

Our favourite routes: from Braunwald to St. Bernard

Important for hiking with children: Plan enough breaks, pack plenty of snacks and water, and don't forget sunscreen. The mountain air can be deceiving – UV protection is important even on cloudy days.

Our hostels in both regions are the perfect starting point for your hiking adventures. After an active day in the mountains, you can relax in our cozy atmosphere and reflect on the day.

A special recommendation for more experienced families: the ascent to the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard. The route through Val d'Entremont offers spectacular views and historic waypoints. With children aged eight and above, the tour is very manageable if you start early and set a pace the little ones can follow.

What to pack – and what to leave behind

For the backpack, less is more. Water (at least two litres per person), energy bars, a rain jacket and plasters are usually enough. What's often forgotten: a small pair of binoculars for wildlife spotting. Marmots, chamois and sometimes even golden eagles create spontaneous breaks everyone enjoys.

Our planning tip: check the latest trail descriptions from the local tourist office and ask at check-in. Our team knows current conditions — snow patches in spring, closed sections in autumn — and is happy to recommend the right route for your age and fitness.

Hiking in a group is more fun. In our chapters, families often spontaneously organise joint hikes. Some know the trails, others bring maps. In the evening you share photos and plan the next stage. These casual community moments are, for many, the highlight of a stay.

Hiking as a shared experience

In the end, it's not the summits you remember. It's the small moments: spring water by the trail, a marmot whistling, the exhaustion and satisfaction at day's end. The Swiss Alps provide the perfect backdrop — you just have to start walking.