Greifensee walks

This is an easy route. You will follow various streams through forests and villages, exploring the outskirts of Zurich as far as the beautiful Lake Greifensee, where you can go swimming (in summer, at least).

Departure from Zurich Hauptbahnhof station. Walk along the Letten, first through Platzspitz park and then along KlosterFahrWeg. Then take the Lettensteg bridge and walk along Sihlquai to return to Platzspitz park via a footbridge. Return to the station via another bank of the Letten.

An accessible hike around Lake Türlen, pleasant in summer thanks to the coolness of the lake and forest. You will pass through different landscapes: a wetland area, forest, and the climb to the village offers beautiful views of Lake Zug, the Titlis summit, and Lake Lucerne. You will descend through meadows before arriving at the more touristy beach.

This second stage will take you from Gyrenbad to the Hulftegg Pass. The Schauenberg offers a magnificent view of the Alps. The route to Sitzberg offers more interesting views, particularly of the Bichelsee. From Sitzberg (on the border between the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen) to Allenwinden, the route follows a small road, which fortunately is not very busy. When you arrive at the Hulftegg Pass, you will enjoy a superb view of the Toggenburg and the Appenzell region.

Four-day tour through the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen. This route offers views of Lake Zurich and the peaks of the Bernese Alps, the Glärnisch massif and the Alpstein, including the Säntis Winterthur, the starting point, and Rapperswil, the finish, both have remarkable historic centres.

For this first stage, starting from Winterthur station, after exploring the old town, you will very quickly find yourself in the countryside. You will cross an animal park. The route is quite varied, following the Töss river and passing through the peaceful village of Kollbrunn. Then, a ridge path will lead you to Gyrenbad, a place of tranquillity and rest.

This route starts in Pfäffikon (SZ) and leads to Rapperswil (SG) along a wide causeway that divides Lake Zurich into two parts. The first section follows wide gravel paths through a peaceful landscape. Up to Hurden, the path winds through meadows. From Hurden to Rapperswil, you’ll enjoy magnificent views of the lake as you walk along a series of wooden jetties. In Rapperswil, the path passes through a beautiful park leading to the historic town centre. The return journey can be made via the same route or by train (a train runs every half hour between Rapperswil and Pfäffikon).

Seventeenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. Through the landscapes of northern Zurich, this stage takes you from Embrach to Uesslingen-Buch, following the rivers and villages that line the Huguenot Trail. From hamlet to hamlet, you will walk along well-marked footpaths, between discreet forests, peaceful farms and typical bell towers. Gradually, the scenery opens up onto the vast agricultural expanses of the Thur Valley, signalling the proximity of the German border. This route, rich in heritage and contrasts, ends gently by the river, in the peaceful countryside of Uesslingen.

This third stage will take you from the Hulftegg Pass to the isolated inn at Chrüzegg. The start of the route alternates between forest and pastures before taking a ridge trail at Roten. You will follow this ridge between the cantons of St. Gallen and Zurich to the Schnebelhorn, the highest point in the canton of Zurich and also the highest point of the hike. This summit offers a splendid panorama stretching from Lake Constance to Lake Zurich. The scenic route then passes through the Schindelberg, Rossegg, Habrütispitz and Chrüzegg peaks, offering more superb views.

Sixteenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This transitional stage marks the departure from the Jura ridges and their mountainous panoramas to begin the descent towards Lake Constance. You leave the Jura Höhenweg to cross a more urban landscape, bypassing the metropolis of Zurich while skirting the runways of its imposing international airport. This contrast between nature and infrastructure gives the route a unique character. The stage ends gently on the banks of the peaceful Töss Valley, where the river meanders between woods and meadows, offering a relaxing setting after a varied day's walking.

This stage will take you from Unterägeri to Cham. You will gradually arrive at Lake Zug after a short climb to the Brunegg mountain pasture. On the way down, you will pass the pretty chapel of St. Verena. You can enjoy a lovely walk along the lake in Zug.

This hike follows the Via Jacobi (signposted with a No. 4 symbol). Einsiedeln, home to a vast monastery, is a major pilgrimage centre. The route offers views of Lake Sihl. After crossing the Etzel Pass, you’ll catch sight of Lake Zurich as you descend towards Pfäffikon.

This stage will take you from Einsideln to Unterägeri. You will enjoy a superb view at the Chatzenstrick pass. You will descend to Unterägeri on the shores of Lake Ägeri via a ridge path.

This stage will take you from Cham to Lucerne. The Michaelskreuz chapel offers a splendid view of Lake Lucerne. Gradually, as you walk along the Lucerne golf course, you will reach the shore of the Luzernersee. The magnificent lakeside promenade will take you to the old town near the famous Kappelbrücke.

This stage will take you from Siebnen to Einsiedeln. After the long climb up the Stöcklichrüz, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich and the Sihlsee. At the Etzelpass, you will pass the St. Meinradskapelle chapel and the birthplace of Paracelsus. In Einsiedeln, a major pilgrimage site in Switzerland, don't miss a visit to the monastery.

Stage 18 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This stage, starting from Uesslingen, first takes you through peaceful agricultural pastures before skirting the vineyards of an old monastery. You then reach Warth, home to the Ittingen Charterhouse, which bears witness to more than 850 years of history and spirituality. Passing through Frauenfeld, the capital of the canton of Thurgau, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and return to the tranquillity of the banks of the Thur. The route takes you to Pfyn, then offers a beautiful immersion along the river, punctuated by the passage of the superb Eschikofen customs bridge. A stage combining heritage, nature and the gentle flow of the river.