In what will come as bad news for those looking to get into the great outdoors, the Swiss Hiking Association (SuisseRando) has confirmed that scores of hiking trails across Switzerland have been closed due to the recent bouts of bad weather. Over 1.000 kilometres of trails are currently impassable.

1.300 kilometres of Swiss hiking paths taken out of action

Writing to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, SuisseRando confirmed that 620 separate hiking trails have been closed or blocked off in Switzerland since the beginning of summer 2024. They estimated that around 1.300 kilometres of paths across Swiss cities and cantons have been either damaged, swept away or left impassable. 

Cantons Valais and Ticino have been particularly badly affected by the closures. "A good number of the trails in certain regions are inaccessible or even badly damaged," noted Sébastien Rappaz, head of hiking trails for the French part of Canton Valais. Once damaged, hiking paths can take months to repair.

"It's difficult to give a figure for the number of kilometres impacted because there are still all the paths that are not accessible because of the snow in the mountains," Rappaz continued. He said that local councils are responsible for maintaining hiking paths in the region and informing visitors about the closures. These updates will be communicated on the SuisseRando and Switzerland Mobility websites.

Bad weather and climate may close some hiking trails for good

SuisseRando explained that the recent bouts of poor weather are responsible for the disruption. Along with sweeping away sections of motorway, the fatal weather in June and July also damaged many hiking paths.

Rappaz conceded that a combination of bad weather and global warming is forcing them to reconsider whether to remove some routes permanently: “We may have to think about the future of certain paths, whether we will reopen them or not, whether we will have to build specific infrastructure or not.”

What is the advice for those going hiking in Switzerland?

If you are planning to head to the mountains for a hike, Rappaz advised travellers to “follow the routes of the officially marked trails… be sure that the paths are still there and be sure that they are clear of snow and that they are accessible, by giving a call to the tourist office, a cabin or an inn in the region.”

There’s no shame in recognising your own physical limits, with the official concluding that "when you don't have the skills or the abilities, you shouldn't be afraid to go back."