Help

How do I find a hike?
What do the search criteria mean?
What do the levels of difficulty mean?
What do I need for hiking?
How do I use the SwitzerlandMobility map?

How do I find a hike?

You have two options:

Use the map on the home page. Each red point represents a hike.
Use the detailed search on the page Hikes. Are you looking for a hike that lasts a maximum of two hours? Do you want to climb at least 500 meters? Would you like to hike in the Jura or rather in Ticino? Are you interested in circular hikes, mountain trails, hikes along the water, etc.? Choose the hikes that best suit your needs.

What do the search criteria mean?

Region: Switzerland is divided into ten hiking regions - from Graubünden in the east to the Jura in the west.
Duration: Here you can choose how long your hike should last (walking time only, without breaks).
Track length: Here you can choose the length of your hike in kilometers.
Difficulty: Hikes have different degrees of difficulty. See below for more information.
Ascend: Here you can choose how many vertical meters your hike should entail in the upward direction.
Descend: Here you can specify how many vertical meters your hike should entail in the downward direction.
Waypoints: Choose your hike based on the name of the starting point, the destination or waypoints in between (e.g. «Bellinzona» or «Chancy»).
Search term: Choose your hike using a freely selectable search term (e.g. «Glacier» or «Lake Geneva»).
Circular hike: If you select this feature, hikes are shown where the starting point and destination match.
Educational trail: If you select this feature, hikes that follow a thematic trail are displayed (e.g. trails with information boards).
Suitable for families: If you select this feature, hikes that are particularly suitable for families are displayed (e.g. with attractions for children along the route).
Even in winter: If you select this feature, hikes are displayed that can also be used in winter.
Along the water: If you select this feature, hikes are shown that mainly run along rivers or lakes.
Panorama Trail: If you select this feature, hikes are displayed that follow hill or mountain ridges.
Scenic mountain: If you select this feature, hikes are shown that lead to hill or mountain peaks; the route rises above the surrounding area and offers a genuinely awesome view.
Pass hike: If you select this feature, only hikes are shown that connect two valleys through a mountain pass.

Please note: You can refine your search by combining several criteria. Depending on the combination, however, your search may return zero results. In this case, deactivate one or more of the criteria.

What do the levels of difficulty mean?

Hikes have different levels of difficulty. The classification is based on the scales of the Swiss Alpine Club.

T1 hiking. The path is well paved.If applicable, exposed areas are well secured. The risk of falling can largely be excluded in normal behavior. The route is signaled in yellow. There is no special requirement as to equipment and the route is also doable in sneakers. The orientation is straightforward; usually no map is needed.
T2 mountain hiking. The terrain is sometimes steep, the risk of falling is not excluded. The route is usually signaled with white-red-white. Requirements: some sure-footedness, trekking shoes, elementary orientation skills.
T3 demanding mountain hiking. The path may not be visible at all times. Exposed areas may be secured with ropes or chains. You may need your hands for balance. Some exposed areas present an increased risk of falling (e.g. slippery scree, pathless rock shredding). The route is signposted with white-red-white. Requirements: good physical condition, good sure-footedness, good trekking shoes, good orientation skills, elementary alpine experience.

What do I need for hiking?

Hiking does not require much. Protection from cold, rain and sun, as well as sturdy shoes with a steadfast sole, drinks and snacks – these are actually enough. However, some other things can be quite practical. I recommend the following equipment:

Mobile phone with camera and GPS, for digital hiking maps, taking pictures and recording points of interest
Hiking maps on paper – they work without batteries, in places with bad or no mobile connection, and do not break if they fall
Insect spray or cream to treat insect bites
Pocket pharmacy with compresses, plasters, disinfectant spray, possibly a triangular cloth and emergency blanket
Toothbrush, toothpaste and soap if an overnight stay becomes necessary unexpectedly
Pocket knife, possibly also cutlery (use recyclable materials)
Snacks such as nuts and dried fruit, energy bars with minimal weight
Headlamp, useful in caves, tunnels and at night

How do I use the SwitzerlandMobility map?

In cooperation with SwitzerlandMobility, we provide you with a high-quality cartographic information. A map is available for each hike.

How to proceed (basic version):

Click on the red bar "Larger Map / Print" below the map. The map is displayed in a new window together with the elevation profile of the hike. You can see all the ascents and descents at a glance. You can move the map section and reduce or enlarge the scale (up to 1: 10,000).
When you are on the hike, you can also check at any time whether you are still on the right track thanks to the integrated GPS location function.

How to proceed (version SwitzerlandMobility / Plus):

Register at schweizmobilplus.ch in order to be able to fully use the services of SwitzerlandMobility. The subscription costs CHF 35 per year. SwitzerlandMobility beginners can benefit from a special price of CHF 20 in the first year. To do this, enter the following coupon code when registering: 1057-0355-0110-5247
Click on the red bar "Larger map / Print" below the map for the desired hike. The route map is displayed in a new browser window together with the elevation profile of the tour.
In the red window with the hike information, you can register as a subscriber to SwitzerlandMobility / Plus and import the hike into your account. You can use this hike on the go in the SwitzerlandMobility app. If you download the map in advance, it is also available offline.
Download the SwitzerlandMobility app to your smartphone (App Store or Google Play).

What advantages does SwitzerlandMobility / Plus offer?

You can import multiple hikes directly into your account and create a list of hikes accessible in alphabetic order.
You can access the hikes presented on easyhiker.ch offline.
On your computer, you can draw your own hikes and access them on the go through the app.
You can share your own hike with your (hiking) friends.