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10 Best Hikes for May in Switzerland

A few of our favorite family hikes in May in Switzerland, away from the tourist crowds, but just as beautiful. These hikes focus on lower elevation areas, particularly along lakes and rivers, where the wildflowers come early.

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I love spring hiking in Switzerland! In May, the wildflowers are out in force and the waterfalls starting to roar. Since most mountain resorts and higher elevation trails are still closed until June, we focus on lakes and rivers and in lower elevation mountain areas. Here are some of our favorites that we have done with our kids in May over the years.

These routes are popular with Swiss locals, away from the tourist crowds. If you are checking off a bucket list and want to visit the most famous areas, see my Top 10 Spring Hikes in Switzerland.

Please note that in spring, trails may not be at their prime. Trails can be muddy and covered with debris. Fire pits probably aren’t yet stocked with wood. Some trails might still be covered with snow. So use common sense and be flexible. If you’re hiking in April, some of these aren’t open yet so check my list of April Hikes for Zurich Families.

1. Ebenalp Wildkirchli

This is one of the first mountain areas to open for hiking, usually in mid May. We’ve been a few times in May and it always delivers. It’s an easy 15 min walk to the iconic cliff restaurant, with an optional longer hike down to a beautiful alpine lake. It’s a popular area, so on a sunny day, expect the locals out in force. But on the trail, the crowds quickly thin out and

Get more details for Ebenalp Wildkirchli

2. Pigniu Lake Hike (Graubünden)

Visiting this gorgeous lake has become a spring tradition for our family. We first went because you can drive right to the trailhead (no mountain transport, which was all closed until summer). When we walked through these amazing yellow fields, I was smitten. We love building a fire on the lakeshore and playing in the mud. The waterfalls are fantastic here as well! In spring, the trail is often in disrepair, but it’s manageable. Summer is great here too!

>> Get the details for the Pigniu Lake hike

3. Sattel Panorama Trail (Central Switzerland)

Because of its low elevation, this is one of the first mountain areas to open, as early as the second week of June. It has a very nice panorama trail that winds around the hills, with views of the taller surrounding mountains. At the top of the cable car, there is an entertainment complex with bouncy castles, trampolines and an alpine slide. These attractions sometimes open later in spring, so check the website for opening times so the kids aren’t disappointed.

> Get the details for Sattel Panorama trail

4. Swiss Path (Luzern)

This commemorative trail works its way around the southern fingers of Lake Luzern, passing through the original cantons where Switzerland was born. The full trail is very long, so it’s divided into sections which you can hike separately, with public transportation at each juncture. We’ve done four sections, all in May, which was a very time to go, with lots of wildflowers and beautiful views across the lake.

Get details for the Swiss Path

5. Rhein Gorge, aka Swiss Grand Canyon (Graubünden)

This meandering forest trail takes you to a lookout tower over the Rhein Gorge, with interesting cliff formations descending to a lovely river. You pass by the gorgeous Lake Cauma, a popular swimming hole in summer. The wildflowers are thick and vibrant, the fields impossibly green, the mountain snowcapped. The restaurant near the lookout is suprisingly delicious and creative.

Get the details for the Rhein Gorge hike

6. Näfels Obersee (Glarnerland)

This little alpine lake is a secret gem, reached by a narrow winding road up the mountain. We’ve been in May and November, both gorgeous with this fantastic reflection of the mountain peak in the lake. Walk around the lake until you find your perfect picnic spot, then build a fire and throw some rocks in the water.

Get the details for Näfels Obersee

7. Areuse Gorge (Neuchâtel)

I’m glad spring forces us to try hikes that in summer we don’t consider because we love the mountains so much. We really enjoyed this popular hike through a long river gorge in northwestern Switzerland. I had seen pictures of its iconic stone bridge on social media and we excited to get my picture taken there!

>> Get the details for the Areuse Gorge hike

8. Bannalp Dwarf Trail (Central Switzerland)

This adorable theme trail has little wooden dwarf figures hidden along the trail to motivate little walkers. We love the big picnic area along the lake, with beautiful views and an oversized marble run with golf balls.

>> Get the details for the Bannalp Dwarf trail

9. Mythenrundreise

If you want a longer hike with big mountain views, this is a great choice for May. This 10 km hike winds its way under the tall spiky Mythen peaks, with panorama views of green valleys, rolling hills, lakes, and distance famous peaks of central Switzerland. You can end the hike at Sattel Hochstückli so kids get the bouncy castles and alpine slide as reward. It’s a long walk, but not particularly difficult. We saw people of all ages out there and lots of families. There’s even a short loop option at the start with a small playground if need an easier option.

Get more details for the Mythenrundreise hike

10. Atzmännig (St. Gallen)

This area is at a very low elevation, so you can hike here quite early in the season. Atzmännig is full of beautiful forests and rolling Swiss countryside, very charming even without the big mountain views. We like that you can add on the rope course, which has lots of challenging obstacles and fun zip lines in the forest. It also has a mini course for younger kids.

Get the details for Atzmännig

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Welcome

Hi! I’m Tanya and our family has been living & hiking in Switzerland since 2005, collecting dozens of fun hikes and activities for all ages and abilities. More about us…

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