Guest Author: Jérôme Lacourrège
Hiking with kids can be wonderful. But let’s be honest – it can also be exhausting. “Are we there yet, Dad?” and “My legs are tired!” are phrases I’ve heard more times than I can count during our family hiking adventures. And yet, there are some hikes that kids simply enjoy more than others. At Mamarocks, we’re here to share our best tips for hiking with children, plus a few of our favorite family-friendly hikes in Switzerland – tested and approved by parents and little adventurers alike.
How do I choose the right hike for my family?
The golden rule? Go at the pace of the slowest hiker – which usually means your youngest child. How far can your little one comfortably walk? Is the trail stroller-friendly? If not, a carrier or hiking pack is always a smart choice. By now, we have a good sense of how far our youngest is willing to walk. And when his legs do get tired, he hops on our shoulders for a while.
Short hikes with little elevation gain are ideal – around 2 to 5 kilometers for younger kids, and up to 8 kilometers for older ones. Of course, every child is different. Our 3.5-year-old surprised everyone one day when he suddenly discovered his love for hiking – and ended up walking 13 kilometers in a single afternoon. What really helps? Variety. Animals along the path, a bubbling stream, or a themed trail can do wonders for motivation. Playgrounds, restaurants, or games along the way also help keep things fun and engaging. Pro tip: You’ll find more tips on keeping kids motivated during a hike in this blog post.
And no matter how far you're going: Plan plenty of time. With little ones – or even bigger kids – expect your hike to take twice as long as it would for adults. Children notice everything along the way. A pile of ants, a fox den, or an unusual rock formation might spark a long pause. And that’s part of the magic. If your route allows for a shortcut or a public transport option on the way back, you’ll be able to enjoy these moments together without pressure.
Our Favorite Family Hikes
Walk the Solar System: Planetenweg Uetliberg – Felsenegg
One of our very first hikes – nearly 9 years ago – was this family favorite with our daughter. The trail is just over 7 kilometers long, fully accessible, and stroller-friendly from start to finish. Starting at the Uetlibergbahn mountain station, the path takes you through a to-scale model of the solar system, beginning with the Sun and ending with Pluto. Each step along the way equals one million kilometers in space – our daughter still finds that mind-blowing to this day! You’ll enjoy stunning views of Lake Zurich and the Alps along the Albis ridge, and there are plenty of picnic and grilling spots in the forest along the way. At the end of the trail in Felsenegg, you hop on the cable car down to Adliswil – a relaxing way to wrap up a space-themed family hike.
Who can find the moor spirit? Zugiblubbi Adventure Trail
Some might know that the Zugerberg is home to a vast raised bog. But have you met Zugiblubbi, the friendly moor spirit? We’ve gone looking for him more than once! At the mountain station of the Zugerberg funicular, grab a treasure map and set off on a scenic circular hike to search for diamonds and hidden clues. The trail is stroller-friendly, and the themed stations along the way offer plenty of variety: mazes, barefoot paths, climbing structures – and even a giant mushroom garden invite kids to explore with all their senses.
All About Goats: Geissä Wäg
Even the ride up to Mostelberg is an adventure – after all, you’re taking a rotating cable car! Fun fact: this is where I learned to ski over 30 years ago. But before you head off on the “Geissä Wäg” (Goat Trail), you'll have to make it past Rondo’s Kids World – complete with bouncy castles, tubing, and a toboggan run. Our tip? Let your little adventurers know they can ride the toboggan at the end, as a reward for the hike. Trust us, the trail will feel a lot shorter with that promise waiting at the finish line.
The trail leads past seven interactive stations over 2.5 kilometers to the Blüemlisberg goat farm, where a sweet reward is waiting: delicious goat milk ice cream. Along the way, you’ll learn all sorts of fun facts about goats – perfect for curious little hikers. On the way back, those feeling brave can cross the 374-meter-long Skywalk. The hanging bridge was a real test of courage for us, but absolutely worth it .
Bucket List Experience: Aare Gorge
Is the Aare Gorge a popular tourist spot? Absolutely. Did our kids care? Not in the slightest. The experience speaks for itself: beneath us, the Aare river thunders through the ancient gorge, droplets fall from above, and we pass through tunnel after tunnel. We all feel the raw power of nature here – and even as adults, we suddenly feel very small. Imagine how awe-inspiring it must seem from a child’s perspective!
The path is well secured and technically stroller-accessible, but due to narrow walkways and crowds, we recommend using a baby carrier instead. Note: There’s an entrance fee to hike through the gorge.
Pure Alpine Bliss: Mettmen Alp and Lake Garichti
Getting there is part of the adventure: first a postbus ride, then a scenic cable car from Schwanden. But once you arrive on Mettmen Alp, you’re surrounded by pure nature. A mostly flat trail takes you around the Garichti reservoir in about an hour. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of picnic and grill spots to take a break and soak in the scenery.
At the barefoot trail near the Naturfründehuus, we cooled our feet in the mountain stream and learned about the nearby high moor and Europe’s oldest wildlife reserve. And then – excitement! Our daughter spotted an eagle hunting marmots. Nature at its most thrilling, right here in Glarus.
Cool Escape on a Hot Summer Day: Areuse Gorge
The local train empties out in Noiraigue. Most hikers head toward the Creux du Van. But not us. We choose the path that leads in the other direction – following the Areuse River through a fairytale-like forest down to Lake Neuchâtel in Boudry. Along the way, we pass old hydroelectric stations, narrow bridges, anglers quietly waiting by the river, steep stone staircases, mysterious Stone Age caves – and countless waterfalls. But the highlight for all of us? The stunning stone bridge Pont du Saut du Brot. It’s so magical, you almost forget to keep walking. Note: The trail does require surefootedness – this is not a spot where you’d want to slip into the river...
On the Ridge: Alpenzauberweg Gstaad
The gondola takes you up to Rinderberg, and the great thing about hiking the Alpenzauberweg near Gstaad with kids? It starts with a restaurant and a playground right at the top. A short but steep climb leads straight to the summit. My son was bursting with pride as he signed his name in the summit logbook for the very first time. And when an eagle soared gracefully overhead, it completely captivated my middle child.
Along the nearly 6-kilometer trail, there’s plenty to discover. At eight themed stations, kids (and their parents) learn all about life on the alpine pastures. Those who stamp their pass at every station are rewarded at the end – with a surprise gift at the gondola station! Speaking of gondolas: the return trip is by chairlift, which adds one last big adventure to round off the day.
Along the Wall of Superlatives: Eiger Trail
This is the kind of hike where you’ll hardly see any Swiss hikers – and definitely not many kids. Instead, we met Korean, Israeli, French, and Spanish hikers along the trail that winds its way from the Eigergletscher station, right beneath the mighty Eiger North Face, all the way down to Alpiglen. Our son, by the way, decided on this hike that he wants to climb the Eiger one day – just from the other side. The 1,600-meter vertical north face? He’s leaving that to the pros. And honestly… same.
We’ve probably never received so many compliments for hiking with our two big kids. And it makes you wonder – why is that? The trail mostly heads downhill, only requires a bit of surefootedness, and runs alongside rushing mountain streams where kids can splash and spot insects. All of this beneath the towering wall of the Eiger – pretty unforgettable.
Hiking with kids isn’t always easy – but it’s almost always rewarding. Especially when you choose trails that make little explorer hearts beat faster. With a bit of planning, plenty of breaks, and just the right dose of adventure, every family hike can become an unforgettable memory. And who knows – maybe those tired little legs from today already belong to tomorrow’s mountain climber.
