swiss summer hiking goals

I’ve mentioned in my last few posts that I’m really excited about this summer’s hiking season. I would love to be hiking every weekend, and though this hasn’t been the case so far as Martin has been gone the last few weekends on sporting-related trips, I’m ready to get going. So, let’s start by setting out some of the places I really want to go this season. First, there are a few destinations from last year’s UBS summer mountain getaway partnership with Swiss Tourism. Second, I really want to explore a bit more around Ticino and in Graubünden, perhaps even around a long weekend. So, here’s my starting list of mostly mountain-top locations for summer hiking exploration.

• Schynige Platte // With views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau, and a beautiful, panoramic ridge hike, this is topping my list this season.
• Säntis // Topping Säntis is a weather station built in 1882 with distant views of six countries. There are a variety of hikes around the mountain, but the challenging Lisen ridge trail really looks amazing, if scary (advertised only for the very sure-footed). Perhaps not the best idea for us this summer, but there is a variety of other hiking paths for safer exploration and mountain views.
• Hoher Kasten //Between the St. Gallen Rhine region and Appenzell, Hoher Kasten has a fairly new geological trail route, as well as revolving restaurant, and expansive alpine gardens. The primary hike is quite long at 16km, but other shorter options are available.
• Kandersteg // Both the deep blue waters of the Blausee and the Oeschinensee are accessible from Kandersteg, along with a summer tubing and a tobaggan run, along with lots of other mountain trails, which means this is the perfect location for a summer weekend day trip.
• Diavolezza // We’ve never been up to Diavolezza but since we love Graubünden, I’m interested in returning to the Engadine valley this summer and exploring new summer hiking options around Diavolezza, Corvatsch, or even up into the Swiss National Park.
• Val Fex // Again, bring on more exploration of the Engadine, including the picturesque Fex Valley (hiking options around Sils), which is mostly car free and filled with alpine meadows.

If you’re interested in other people’s goals, you may want to check out the hashtag #visitswitzerland_hikinggoals on Instagram. Here are several from my list (from top left, clockwise): Val Fex, Oeschinensee, Blausee, and Schynige Platte.