Hi there! My name is Benar Baltisberger. I grew up in Switzerland in a region called Seetal. Nowadays I live in the beautiful and vibrant Zurich.
Since I was doing a lot of training and competition in Judo as a child, I never had much focus on travel or hiking, much less for photography. At the age of about 25, I discovered the pleasure of hiking up the beautiful mountains of Switzerland.
I love the regions and mountains of Switzerland that are less visited by tourists. This includes places that you can’t reach by cable car, that you have to hike up many vertical metres. The reward for your effort is always worth it.
It’s often the case that I am alone on some peaks with amazing views. My favourite destinations in Switzerland are Maderanertal (Uri), Churfirsten Mountains (Toggenburg) and Alpstein (Appenzell).
As a personal experience, I’ve often had the chance to meet nice and friendly people up in the mountains of Switzerland, especially in smaller cantons like Uri or Glarus for example.
They probably enjoy the slower pace of life and are more happy sometimes. I always felt very welcome in those regions of Switzerland.
Amazing Hiking Spots in the Mountains of Switzerland
As soon as you arrive into the alpine regions of Switzerland, you don’t have to worry about finding the overwhelming presence of nature. It is all around you. Just go anywhere in the mountains and you will discover amazing nature.
Personally I am very fond of Walensee Lake. There are many possibilities for hikes around the lake, all with a fantastic perspective for some nice photographs.
The same goes with Urnersee. This is the southern part of Lake Lucerne. There are many steep mountains coming up directly from the lake, resulting in crazy views from the top of the peaks.
For example the view at mount Rophaien above Flüelen (Uri) is simply breathtaking. But in this case, be prepared for a long and steep hike! Otherwise you would be happy on top of Fronalpstock (Schwyz) where you can get up with the cable car.
For amazing hikes in the Switzerland, look no further than the steep and demanding hikes at Churfirsten mountains. Easier hikes with good views and the possibility of using cable cars are Rigi, Stoos and Säntis for example.
Of course there will be more people here, but these areas are better than going to watch the famous and overpopulated spots like Matterhorn or Jungfraujoch – to which, by the way, I have never been for these reasons.
In the case of camping spots, I cannot recommend a lot because I am used to going just with my sleeping bag alone and staying spontaneously somewhere. Someone who is looking for a camping adventure is best not get advice from me.
Like I already mentioned, one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in Switzerland was to discover the Maderanertal in canton Uri. On a weekday we wanted to go up from Bristen to Golzernsee, this time with a cable car since my knee was injured. But the line for the cable car was incredibly long, probably cause it was vacation time.
So we decided (despite my knee injury) to not take the cable car but just walk more westward into the valley. And this was a crazy surprise because we discovered one of the most beautiful nature areas I have seen so far in Switzerland. I highly recommend this experience!
Immersed in the Culture of Switzerland
You probably realize that I do not recommend the typical Swiss cultural experiences. They are usually combined with a lot of tourism and for me personally this is not my way of life.
But anyhow, if you are into taking good hikes and not too lazy to do some vertical meters, go and visit a hut of the Schweizer Alpen Club. There are many so called “SAC Hütte” in the Alps. Make a reservation, hike there and the rest will be given.
When it comes to food in Switzerland you will find delicious local dishes without a problem. What you should do when you’re in the alpine regions is go directly to a farmers house where they sell some cheese. For example at the Flesch Kiosk in Eggbergen, Uri. Switzerland is world famous for its cheese and you won’t be disappointed.
My key tip for your visit to the mountains of the Swiss alps is to be well prepared for your journeys in the mountains, no matter where you are. Never underestimate any mountain! Often I see people who are underprepared or who have no idea where they are heading.
For example, and this is a true story, I saw parents with small kids who took the last cable car to the top of the mountain and wanted to hike down after sunset without a map or any kind of torch or headlight. I mean, this is not only ridiculous but also dangerous.
So it’s always best to be well informed and prepared when exploring the majestic mountains of Switzerland!
