My favorite kids-friendly Swiss trails
At long last! 😁 Having lived in Switzerland for almost eight years and walked plenty of its fabulous mountain trails in the company of little children, I would like to share my absolute top of the top ❤️ The list is quite long, so this is going to be a whole series 😉 In no particular order – let’s get down to it!
Ebenalp-Seealpsee
I’m sure you have seen this famous Alpine hut nestled against a cliff face, a guesthouse located below Ebenalp, the northernmost peak of the Appenzeller Alps. There is a cable car that can take you to the top, from which you can walk down, visiting this iconic inn on your way. At first, the trail to Lake Seealpsee is exposed, offering splendid vistas of the monumental mountain range. Then it leads through a forest into a valley with a magnificent lake. The whole trail from Ebenalp to the parking lot is quite long and can be bumpy, so I wouldn’t recommend it for children below the age of 4 (unless you have a carrier). It is definitely not available for strollers, but it’s amazing for older kids!
Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen
It’s iconic – hence touristy and somewhat overcrowded. Nonetheless, the trail is truly spectacular, offering panoramic vistas of both Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau, the famous trio of four-thousanders, and the whole Lauterbrunnen valley (you know it from postcards, the one with Staubbach falls), as well as Mürren and Wengen, two villages located on its walls. You can take a train to the Kleine Scheidegg mountain pass, where the trail leading up to Männlichen begins. On your way there is a restaurant, where you might stumble upon a… wedding reception (true story!) – the scenery with live music was something straight from a fairytale. The round trip itself is nice and easy, so even three-year-old’s should be able to do it without complaining too much 😉 The trail is also (trekking) stroller-friendly, which means that even infants can reach its peaks and passes ❤️
Stoos-Fronalpstock
Stoos is absolutely stooning 😉 ! This tiny village is available by the steepest mountain car in the world, which is quite an experience itself. Next, you can either walk or take a chairlift to Fronalpstock. From the top you can admire the spectacular Lake Lucerne and enjoy a meal in a restaurant serving local cuisine, complete with a huge, wooden playground which caters for children of all ages. You can rest there, take a walk, and feast your eyes from a few viewing platforms available there.
Axalp and Brienzersee
The Alpine lakes are famous for their breathtaking turquoise waters – lake Brienzersee is no different! It’s best to start your trip near Axalp, a grazing land located above Lake Brienzersee. There is a trail overlooking the lake which takes you through a beautiful forest to a small lake hidden among the green and rocks. On your way back, make sure to stop by Lake Brienzersee, where you can rent a boat or a SUP, which is definitely worth your while given the wonderful location of the lake among the mountains. There is also a grassy beach, where you can rest or even spend an afternoon or an evening by an atmospheric cocktail bar. Extra bonus: there is also a beautiful outdoor swimming pool overlooking the mountains ❤️
Golnzernsee
I discovered this gem purely by chance! There is a cable car from Bristen (it takes a while in the summer) which takes you to the beginning of this spectacular trail. As soon as you reach the top, you see a wall of mountains growing from the depths of what seems to be a bottomless abyss. With each step towards the lake the place is growing more and more magical. The trail is practically flat, which renders it available even to toddlers above the age of three, as well as strollers. Lake Golzernsee is the cherry on top of this magnificent trail, absolutely stunning in the light of the late afternoon sun.
This is just a handful of examples of my favorite trails in Switzerland, so see you soon! Many a beautiful family adventure await you there ❤️