Lugano, Monte San Salvatore Hiking/Running Route

Click here for route map

And here's official map:
https://map.wanderland.ch/?lang=de&bgLayer=pk&resolution=2.5&trackId=3333316&photos=yes&logo=yes&season=summer&layers=Wanderland%2CStation%2CAccomodation&E=2716669&N=1093623

Length (several possibilities, see below): 14 km (8.7 mi) for variation 3, terrain: constant climb up, sometimes steep, gain 990 meters for route variations 2, 3 and 4!

Lugano, is a lakeside gem in Swiss Ticino. There is old-world charm in the winding lanes of the old town, with its arcaded shop-fronts and elegant parks. The town is like a hand-polished burl-wood box glistening unobtrusively at the corner of a massive oak desk.

Lugano offers two challenging mountain hikes/runs right in town. One up Monte Bre, that cone-shaped hill to the east, and one up Monte San Salvatore to the south, shaped like a sugarloaf when seen from town, but it is really a long ridge when seen from the east or west.

Monte San Salvatore as seen from Lugano

That's the one we'll be exploring today. Monte San Salvatore has long been a destination for people from the region: on its peak is a pilgrimage chapel, there for 800 years. Local people believed that Jesus stopped there to rest on his ascension to heaven, and many have hiked up the mountain to visit the site. There is a 600-meter gain in altitude from Paradiso.

And for us typical tourists, there are a lot more great reasons to join the hike ourselves: amazing views, vineyards, cliffs and woods, and even a few good hilltop restaurants to spend some time.

There are several possible variations to the run:
 1. Run to the peak and back, a hard 6.2 kilometers.
 2. Run to the peak, then on to Ciona village, then run back for a total of 9.6 kilometers (or take the 434 bus back, for a 5km run. You can find timetables here: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Lugano/Carona-Paese#r/Line-434-bus)
 3. Run to the peak, then on to Ciona and then to Carona village, then run back for a total of 14 kilometers (or take the 434 bus back from Carona, for 7 kilometers).
 4. Run to the peak, then to Carona, then down to the lakefront at Melide, for an out-and-back run of about 15.7km. From there you can take the S10 commuter train back to Paradiso or Lugano station (the S10 trains run hourly and cost just CHF2.30). Make online timetable queries here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html.

NOTE: There is also an inclined cable-car ("funicular") train that goes right from Paradiso for the 1600 meters up to the peak, for those who want to avoid the climb and just run along the nature-trail on the ridge at the top. The lower station in Paradiso is on Via delle Scuole. Passengers have to change to a different car at the Pazzallo station, part way up the mountain, to take the steeper section to the top for this 130-year-old train. The last train departs at 11 p.m. in the summer. It leaves every 30 minutes and takes 12 minutes for the whole trip, and costs CHF23 one way or CHF30 return. See their website at https://www.montesansalvatore.ch/en/mount-san-salvatore/funicular/

Funiculare station in Paradiso, with peak

This route description will assume that you want to take the third variation: run/hike to the peak, then on to Carona, then run back.

I consider this route more of a hike than a run, but some people do try to run it for the whole distance. I walked the steep parts, which is hard enough in itself.

So, if you want to try this memorable mountain, let's get to the start. We'll start this at the turn-around spot of the Paradiso Run, where the lakeside promenade ends at the fountain. You can do the short run there from town, or maybe you're staying in one of the nearby Paradiso hotels.

Just across the lakeside road from the fountain is Via Bosia, which you follow past some businesses and the school, then under the railroad overpass. This is the local commuter line, the S10, which you can take back from Melide if you want to do the one-way run described in variation 4.

After going under the underpass, where the road does a hairpin turn, take the left-hand side-street going south, uphill, Via Guidino. There are nice villas in this neighborhood, but we'll soon turn right onto that marked hiking trail (look for the yellow signs with the destination name of "S. Salvatore").

Trail bridge

The trail first follows a stream and then some level fields to arrive at the cable-car tracks. Now the trail turns uphill to follow directly next to the tracks. You see that radio tower way up at the top? That's where we're going!

We'll pass a nearby abandoned restaurant and head past vineyards in the open country, already with a great view north to Lugano and the Alps.

Trail sign in the vineyards

At the Pazzallo transfer station, after 900 meters, the trail splits. The trail to the right follows fairly level terrain along the west side of the mountain. We'll follow the left-hand (easterly) trail, heading to the peak. Pazzallo is 500 meters high, so we've gained about a third of our total altitude towards the peak.

The trail soon dips into woods, and stays that way for the rest of the trip. But as we continue uphill, there are various nice lookouts over the vertical east side of the mountain, with cliffs plunging down to the lake. The trail zig-zags its way up to the peak past the Belvedere lookout, along the eastern cliffs. There are white-red-white trail markings painted on occasional rocks.

View of Lugano and Alps behind

After the 3-kilometer mark, we'll come to the peak area, with the cable-car station, the radio tower, the Vetta restaurant (with a panorama terrace) and the chapel. The summit with the chapel, at over 900 meters, is 60 meters higher than the station. The chapel is now a museum, and you can go up to the rooftop terrace for another great view, this time all the way to Monte Rosa, with Switzerland's highest peaks.

The chapel/museum

So, if you're doing the simple variation 1 out-and-back, you've made it to the top, and here's the place to turn around and head home.

If you're continuing on variations 2, 3 or 4, now take the Via San Salvatore trail downhill towards Ciona and Carona (the signs also point to Morcote, which is beyond those two nearby villages. The trail leaves right behind the Vetta Restaurant.

Wooded trail

We'll lose about 300 meters in height at first, heading down along the ridge, through woods. Then the trail is paved and flattens out before coming to scenic Ciona village at altitude 610 meters, at the 4.8-km mark.

This is a pretty little place, with its own little chapel and a restaurant with a shady terrace, the Osteria Grotto Ciona.

In Ciona: keep right!

Just past the restaurant is the road to the next nearby village, Carona. There is a parking lot there, and the bus stop (you can take the 434 bus back to Paradiso from here). For those people following route variation 2, this is the turnaround spot.

For those continuing on to Carona, just keep going straight on the soft dirt trail that continues on the other side of the road (Via Principale) and follow this level, shady trail until you come into the south side of Carona, merging into Via Nodiva.

Continue through the edge of this scenic village until you get back to Via Principale, where you continue heading south. There is another bus stop in town for the 434 bus at the post office, if you want to take it home.

View of peak from Parco San Grato

At the south end of town is a popular botanical gardens, the Parco San Grato. Entry is free, and it is an absolutely beautiful spot to run a little loop, with some amazing views of Lago Lugano and the peak.

So, now variation 3 ends and you run back home the way you came, totaling 15 kilometers. Or take the bus back, from the post office back in Carona village (just head straight up Via Principale to the center of town).

For those wanting to follow variation 4, there is a foot-trail (just south of the Santi Giorgio e Andrea church) that zig-zags down the east slope towards the lakeside town of Melide.

The Melide train station is at the main intersection, at the roundabout. It's right at the lakeside, with the Swiss A2 autobahn right behind it, which tunneled through the mountain. For about CHF2.30, you can take one of the hourly S10 trains back, one stop to Paradiso, or two stops to Lugano Central.

I think you have just run a route you will not soon forget! Now go enjoy a Aperol Spritz and a nice dinner in Lugano!

Geneva Old-Town/Rive Gauche Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 8.9 km (5.5 miles), terrain: flat with two hills, gain 87 meters
Or shorten it to just 5-km if you leave out the last leg along the leg

Geneva running routes:
Geneva Old Town / Rive Gauche route
Geneva Rive Droite / UN route
For more running routes, see Route List.

A runner in Parc des Bastions

In our other Geneva route, we went up the north shore of the lake. This time, we'll see the old town and the south shore (Rive Gauche). But you can easily split this route into either half, if you want shorter runs.

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
 
The old town is perched up on a hill overlooking the exit of the Rhone River from Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). There is a fairly steep uphill climb to get to the top, but it's really worth it! The town has existed since pre-Roman days, founded by a Celtic tribe, and there are lots of interesting spots to discover.

Old-town café near the cathedral

And down behind the old-town, to the southwest, lies the university quarter, with its lively (and relatively cheap) pubs and restaurants and the Plainpalais fairgrounds.

So, if you're ready to discover Geneva's fascinating other half, get yourself to the Jardin Anglais park at the lakefront. This is one of the nicest spots in town, a great place to view the boats going by and to people-watch.

The steamship fleet heads off from several docks all around you, and out in the harbor the huge Jet d'Eau fountain rockets a stream of water into the sky.

In the summers, a big Ferris Wheel lifts visitors up above it all, right next to one of Geneva's landmarks, the immaculately trimmed flower clock. Remember, Geneva is the "City of Time", the headquarters of Swiss watch-making-craftsmanship for centuries.

The flower clock

Standing with your back to the flower clock, cross the busy street to run southwards into Place de Longemalle, a narrow square full of the mix typical of Geneva's downtown: banks, watch-sellers, jewelers, chocolate shops, restaurants, hotels and fountains.

In Place de Longemalle

Keep running south as the street goes uphill towards the cathedral spires ahead. You'll come to Place de la Madeleine, with an old church, a carousel and restaurants accompanying you into the old town.

Continue straight ahead, following Rue de la Fontaine uphill, with terraced parks above you on the right side. And of course, you'll go by fountains. In fact, everywhere you go in Geneva you'll find beautiful fountains.

Cafès at Place Bourg-de-Four

You'll soon reach the next square, the beautiful Bourg-de-Four, with alleys zig-zagging into it from several directions. There are some lively cafés and restaurants here (for later!). Keep to the right and keep heading uphill along Rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville.

There are nice galleries and antique shops here, and the cathedral is coming up on the right. So at the first lane to the right, turn there and run straight towards Saint-Pierre cathedral, just a block away.

It's pretty impressive, with various additions from various eras. The oldest parts are over 850 years old.

Turn left and run downhill a bit to come to the front entrance, with its huge portico.

Saint-Pierre Cathedral

This is a Protestant cathedral. Geneva was a hotbed of Protestant activity during the Reformation. John Calvin preached here, and his house was just a block away. Many Protestants, persecuted in nearby Catholic areas, fled to Geneva for refuge.

Now turn with your back to the church and run out along Rue Otto Barblan, which ends at the armory in just a block (another great fountain here!).

Now turn left and run past the armory, with its cannon collection in the arcade.

The armory cannons

At the corner, the flag-covered town hall is waiting, which has a cool old courtyard inside the doors, take a peek!

Keep running southwest, along the right side of the town hall and you'll run under a columned gateway and out onto a wide terrace, with a view out over the south side of town. You can see the Alps rising behind the city.

Along the Promenade de la Treille: great lookout!

This park with the inspiring view is called the Promenade de la Treille. A lot of people come here to relax and enjoy the amazing view, and whole families come to picnic at the tables.

Down below, that other park and the neighborhood behind it is where we'll head next.

So, after taking in the view, turn right and run downhill along the street, passing the 1-kilometer-mark. You'll come to Place de Neuve at the bottom, flanked by a collection of elegant, classical buildings. The biggest one, the Grand Théâtre, is now inside a big tent, undergoing restoration.

Chess players in the park

On the left side, behind the iron fence, is Parc des Bastions. This is a great place, with chess-players, a restaurant-café, monuments, exhibits and the main university buildings along the south side.

Turn left to run through the park. Along the left side, lining the wall to the outlook is a series of statues for the Protestant pioneers, many of whom spent time in Geneva.

Along the other side, the classical university buildings line your run. Normally, quite a few runners come through here mornings and evenings.

Just before you exit the park, turn right to stay on the walkway within the fence and exit the park on the south side. Now turn left, then right to get onto Rue Saint Léger, running southwestwards.

Follow the street for the next few blocks as it curves to the right. This is the university neighborhood, with some cool hangouts.

Cross the tram tracks at the 2-km-mark, with the Holy Cow gourmet fast-food hamburger restaurant (try it out some evening: their Montreux Jazz and Blues burger is amazing!)

After a block, you come to a big empty square, the Plaine de Plainpalais. This used to be a big swamp, but is now home to Switzerland's biggest flea market every Wednesday and Saturday.

Now just circle the square for a kilometer, running as you please, and come back to this spot again.

Then head back the same way you came, but when you come to the Parc des Bastions, stay on Rue Saint Léger, running along the outside of the park fence, heading towards the hill of the old town, straight ahead.

Stay on Rue Saint Léger as it goes by nice flower plantings at the park gate, then up through an archway into the old town.

Rue St. Leger, heading up into the Old Town again

Soon you'll find yourself at Place du Bourg-de-Four again. But this time, instead of turning left to head down the way we originally came, turn right to see a bit more of the old town, along Rue Etienne-Dumont. This is a nice street, with interesting boutiques and restaurants.

The street ends at Place Franz-Liszt, an elevated spot, with a busy road sunken down in the valley below.

Turn left to run through the Promenade Saint-Antoine square, which lines the roadway below.

Run to the traffic circle ahead, passing the 4-km-mark, then turn left and you'll be back at Place du Bourg-de-Four again.

Now turn right and head downhill again towards the lake, but keep right to stay on Rue Verdaine, to see a bit more of downtown.

When Rue Verdaine ends, turn left till you're back at Place de Longemalle, where you turn right and in a block you'll be back at the flower clock, right at the 5-kilometer-mark.

NOTE: Now you'll have to decide if this is the end of your run or if you want to add another four kilometers and run out along the south shore of the lake.

Musicians in the Jardin Anglais

So, if you want to experience a bit more of this beautiful lake, head to the water's edge in Jardin Anglais, and turn right to follow the water, heading out to Genève-Plage (Geneva Beach).

Along the Rive Gauche docks, with a steamship

There is a tree-lined promenade along the waterfront for the whole way. The line of apartment buildings has an elegant flair, but not much life. There are hardly any restaurants or stores along the way. The waterfront -- with its docks and boats -- is definitely the big attraction. And it's crowned by the view across the lake to the Jura Mountains, forming the nearby border to France.

You'll pass a water-taxi dock (ride these to get a great view from the water!) and then the narrow causeway to the Jet d'Eau fountain. You can run out there and take a close look!

After the big Eaux-Vives marina and then the appropriately named Baby Plage (a tiny beach), you continue following the promenade.

View along the whole lakefront stretch, from the Jardin Anglais

You'll then come to Port Noir, with the yacht club and Genève-Plage, an outdoor pool and a little lakeside beach. You can't get into either place, though, so you might as well cross the road at the crossing and turn back towards town.

On this other side of the street, running southwestwards, we can pull into a couple of elegant old parks along the way on the left side.

The first one is Parc des Eaux Vives, a huge park-like property on the sloping hillside, with a tennis club behind the mansion. The house is now used as a hotel. The property is actually private, and not a public park.

The grounds are impressive, so take a loop towards the house, then continue southwestwards through the wall to the next park. This will be the 7-km-mark.

This next one, Parc La Grange, also has a huge mansion, and big trees and a rose garden. But this one is a real public park. Again, loop around near the house and then exit at the lake road again, across from the Baby-Plage.

Now, just head back to the Jardin Anglais, passing the Jet d'Eau at the 8-km-mark.

So, what do you think? Geneva is not a bad town! No wonder it is rated as one of the world's top cities to live in.

Geneva Rive Droite Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 8.6 km (5.3 miles), terrain: flat with one easy hill, gain 68 meters

Geneva running routes:
Geneva Old Town / Rive Gauche route
Geneva Rive Droite / UN route
For more running routes, see Route List.

Geneva has so much going for it: a beautiful lakeside, an old town, two rivers, mountains to the east and west, sailboats and steamers gliding past on the lake... You really have to get out and enjoy the water views.

So this run does just that, following the northern shore of the lake, plus an extra turn inland to head through the botanical garden and take a look at the United Nations campus up the hill.

Rive Droite runner

The northern shore is referred to as the Right Bank (Rive Droite), and it's lined by a nice promenade and a string of parks and mansions. The town's oldest, most elegant hotels line the lakeside there, and the steamboats head off for tours up the lake. And another great thing is, you get a view of the Alps across the lake, towards the tallest peak in Europe, Mont Blanc.

So, don't leave out this route if visiting this beautiful town!

We'll start in the heart of downtown, right near the lake, at the Place du Molard, lined with restaurants and the Globus department store. One of the old town-wall towers still stands at the north end of the square.

So turn north, run past the tower and continue over the zebra stripes to the water just a few steps ahead, with its Promenade du Lac.

The waterside Lacustre Restaurant and a water-taxi landing are right there, along the promenade.

NOTE: The yellow water-taxis are part of the Geneva public transportation system, and are included with your visitor's free transport card. Make sure to ride them! 

The waterfront at Molard, with water-taxi

You're now facing right towards the Rive Droite, where we'll be running. This spot is where Lake Geneva (Lac Leman in French) empties out into the Rhone River, soon becoming France's biggest river. France is just a few kilometers away, up past the airport.

To get to Rive Droite, we need to cross one of those several bridges to either side. Let's turn left and take the first bridge to that side: it's for pedestrians only, and nice and quiet.

So run along the Promenade du Lac, right next to the water till the bridge, then turn right and cross the Pont des Bergues, with its little defensive fort, L'île Rousseau.

At the far side, turn right and start running along the Rive Droite. Normally you can take a little sidewalk under the next loud street and bridge (Pont du Mont Blanc), but some construction blocked it when I was there last week, so I had to cross at the traffic light above.

Quai du Mont-Blanc

Past the bridge, we're now running along the Quai du Mont-Blanc, passing the main tour-boat landing. The traffic is loud here, and the sidewalk is right next to the street, but soon you can run along the promenade, a bit off to the side, and you'll be out of the worst downtown traffic.

A steamboat heading off for a lake tour

You'll pass the Beau Rivage, Geneva's most elegant hotel. The neighborhood behind it, rising uphill to the train station, is known as the red-light district. But it seems pretty tame, and is a quiet residential area with a lot of shops and hotels.

At the 1-kilometer-mark, you'll pass the next water-taxi landing that connects to Rive Gauche across the lake.

The lighthouse at night

After a little marina, you'll see a narrow spit of land going out to a nice old lighthouse. This is the Bains des Pâquis, and a public beach and swimming pool line the walkway. There is a fun restaurant/bar that I can recommend. Across the water, you'll see one of Geneva's landmarks, the huge fountain called the Jet d'Eau (water jet), created for practical reasons to relieve the water pipes of excess pressure.

You might want to run out to the little lighthouse and take a look!

Now the lakeside takes a turn to the left and you continue northwards along Quai Wilson along the promenade past another marina, with great views to the Alps across the lake during nice weather.

A runner along Quai Wilson

Soon, things will get even better. At the 2-km-mark, the street will veer off to the left and you'll now have quiet lakeside parkland to run in, at Parc Mon Repos. There are a series of mansions here, each with a park-like garden.

In Parc Mon Repos

You'll pass a long building on the left with a couple of statues, that's the World Trade Organization.

More parkland

At the 3-km-mark, you'll come to a green, metal gate into a small, waterfront section of the Botanical Garden, and continue for 100 meters. Then, just before reaching the fence at the other side of the garden, turn left and take the paved footpath under the nearby Rue de Lausanne road and into the main part of the Botanical Garden.

Greenhouse in the Botanical Garden

The path curves to the left and takes you to a round greenhouse. Just before the greenhouse, turn right to head uphill to the further greenhouses. What a great park, with interesting plants and gardens in every direction!

A rockgarden

Turn left and head south past the rock gardens and giant oak trees to the southwest exit of the park.

Exit onto Avenue de la Paix, a busy street with a lot of new UN buildings on the other side.

Turn right and continue uphill along Avenue de la Paix, heading under the train tracks at Sécheron station. Right after that, the main UN campus lines the right side behind a stout fence, at the 4-km-mark. This was originally the League of Nations headquarters, the precursor to today's UNO.

The UN

Soon, you'll come to the main entrance to the UN, with its lines of flags. Across the street is the Place des Nations, with its giant broken chair sculpture.

The broken chair

This is our turn-around point: now head back downhill and follow the same way back home, maybe following some different paths through the Botanical Garden and the parks. Now you'll get to see everything from the other direction: enjoy!

Heading home

Best Zurich Running Routes

Top Zurich Runs

Zurich is a cool place: a bit button-down, with all its banks, but there are some friendly restaurants, and lots of green areas and lakeside paths to take a great run. It's one of the few European cities you'll ever find with two old-towns, one on each side of the river, with two very different personalities.

Running along the eastern shore of the lake

Plus, the city straddles the northern tip of Lake Zürich, providing miles of lakeside promenades with constantly changing vistas over the water and past the nearby hills.

The Best Zurich Running Routes:
Old Town: As I mentioned, there are really two old towns, each with its own personality. The eastern side is full of high-priced boutiques along quiet lanes, while the west side has a lot of night life: restaurants and clubs and lots more going on. Enjoy them both!

Eastern shore: This shore is lined by parks most of the way and even has a bit of beach. One of the most popular runs in town!

Western shore: There are parks and swimming pools along this shore too. Check it out!

Uetliberg trail run: This run follows a hilltop ridge at the edge of town. Easy to get to with a train, the views are fantastic!

Winterthur Eschenberg Hill Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 7.3 km (4.5 miles), terrain: hilly, total gain almost 500 meters

NOTE: There is a similar hill-run on the north side of town, up the Lindberg. Just take Lindstrasse north, cross the bridge over the railway, then turn right onto Haldenstrasse and head straight up the hill and into the woods!

St. Laurenz Church in Winterthur old-town

The city of Winterthur is surrounded by hills, as you could imagine for a Swiss town. And Winterthur has some of the biggest woods of any town in the country. So the best runs take you up into the wooded countryside hills, which you can get to within minutes of the center, in the old town.

This run heads south of town to Eschenberg hill, and loops across it past an animal park, through some farm fields, and then back again.

We'll start the run in the heart of the old-town pedestrian zone, at the corner of Marktgasse (the main shopping street) and Metzggasse, next to the Krone (Crown) Hotel. There is a fountain there, the Justitia-Brunnen.

Starting point of the run on Marktgasse

So, if you're ready to go, head south along Metzggasse the three blocks till Technikumstrasse, a busy street just outside the old town.

Cross the street and keep heading south, where it starts going uphill along Turmhaldenstrasse. You're now running up Heiligberg, the steepest spot on the whole run.

Go up and over this little hill, where the street-name changes to Hochwachtstrasse.

When you come to the next busy street, Breitestrasse, Winterthur ends, at about the 1-km mark. Now the road continues southwards going up the forest-covered Eschenberg hill.

Take the path to the left of the road going up the hill

Cross Breitestrasse, then take the gravel path to the left of the paved road, following the signs for Bruderhus, Bruederhus or Bruderhaus (there are a few ways to spell it). The trail parallels the street all the way up. The hiking trail markers are yellow diamonds.

At a spot where the trail goes downhill for a short ways, there is a fresh spring-water fountain. At the fountain, turn right to continue following the signs to Bruderhus.

The fountain, turn right here

When you get to the top of the hill, you'll see the farm buildings at Bruderhus, at about the 2.5-km mark.

Bruderhus is an animal park, with deer, mountain goats, European bison (a smaller cousin of the North American ones), and other animals grazing within fenced meadows.

Deer at Bruderhus

Continue following the paved road. Right after Bruderhus, follow the Wildparkweg trail to the east, just to the left of the paved road, following the signs to "Eschenberg Seen". You are now running along a fairly flat hilltop for the next two kilometers.

The top of the hill is to the left side, with occasional cross-trails heading up there to the 30-meter-tall observation tower.

We're now running towards a farm on the other side of the hilltop, with a restaurant.

Approaching the Eschenberg farm

At the farm, the path rejoins the road in the open meadows. You can see the 800-year-old Kyburg castle on the next hilltop to the south (to the right).  

View south towards Kyburg

NOTE: If you want to go there, you have to first run down to the bottom of this hill and the back up to the castle, but that's another great run!

Run straight to the farm's barn, then turn left onto the dirt path to the left of the paved road, at the 4-km mark. The path is marked for "Waldheim Bus". It soon starts heading downhill, back to town.

Make sure you keep following the signs for Waldheim and not the ones that turn off to Waldegg. Remember, WaldHEIM, your Woods Home.

Woodpiles along the way home

The last part of this trail goes downhill steeply, merging into Langgasse, where you keep running straight, past some new apartments, after the 5.5-km mark.

Cross Breitestrasse again, continuing north on Langgasse. The main street curves to the right and becomes Reitweg.

Just after the parking lot on the left, at the fountain, turn left onto Wildbachstrasse.

Now head north on Wildbachstrasse, cross the bridge over the stream and come out onto the loud intersection at Technikumstrasse.

Along Oberer Graben

Cross the street, re-entering the old town along Oberer Graben, with its trees and park-like feeling. At the next intersection, turn left onto Marktgasse again and run westwards the last three blocks back to the starting point, past the fountain.

A VERY cool run!

Zurich Uetliberg Running Route

Click here for route map
Length 12.7 km (7.9 miles), terrain has constant rise and fall, total gain of 187 meters

Zürich Routes List:
East shore out-and-back  
West shore out-and-back  
Zürich old-town loop  
Uetliberg hilltop trail

For more running routes, see the Route List

Zurich is lined by tall hills to the east and west, and they offer a wooded challenge to any trail runner. So this time in Zurich, I decided to tackle the tallest hill, the Uetliberg, but to save the long run up- and downhill by taking the train to the peak.

The Uetliberg is 869m high, and lies to the west of the city center. It stretches towards the south, lining Lake Zurich along its west side. The hill has a network of hiking trails stretching along its whole length, and -- as I mentioned -- you can take a train to the top. The S10 train line (costs CHF 16) ends just before the peak.  

Sometimes it's narrow along the Uetliberg ridge

NOTE: If you really want to run up the hill, you can get out of the S10 at the Triemli station at the foot of the mountain, and choose from several trails of various lengths and steepness that go to the peak, rising 400 meters to the top.

But even with the train ride, this run still has almost 200 meters total rise in it, and it's a great workout, especially the last four kilometers, which have lots of uphill stretches. It is essentially an out-an-back, which follows the ridge of the hill along the "Gratweg" to the Felsenegg restaurant, then back to the Uetliberg train stop. Of course, you can also shorten the route by turning around at any time you please.

The Uetliberg Route
When you get out of the train, you have to continue uphill for a half-kilometer to reach the real peak. The peak has a pair of towers: a red/white TV tower and a triangular outlook tower. There is a restaurant and outlook point, too. The whole peak was once enclosed in an iron-age earthen fort, which you can see just before the restaurant.

Uetliberg final station: head up to that red/white TV tower

NOTE: see the Destinations Tips page for tips about spending your free time in this great town!
 
After reaching the top, continue southwards either by taking the stairs down (follow the yellow sign for "Balderen") or run back the way you came for 100 meters, and then take the first left turn, also following the yellow signs towards Balderen.

At the Uetliberg peak lookout

You can follow any of the yellow signs for "Wanderweg", "Gratweg" or "Planetenweg": they all mean the same gravel road that follows the ridge. The "Planetenweg" begins near the train station and has markers for the sun and all the planets proportional to their distances from the 1.5-meter-wide sun along the ridge.

The Gratweg trail

You are now running downhill towards the south. Sometimes, you'll be in woods, sometimes in meadows with vistas to the east or west. Mountain-bike- and nordic-walking-trails also use parts of the hiking trail.

Saturn along the Planetenweg

The Gratweg also passes a couple of hilltop farms, one of which sells its fresh produce to passersby. There are also spots where fresh water springs provide fresh drinking water out of faucets, which are a big help in summer weather.

After 4.5-km, you'll come to Balderen, at one of the lowest points on the trail, where trails cross from either side. This ex-castle site has an abandoned yellow restaurant that doesn't look like it will re-open soon. The nordic-walking path splits off from the main gravel road here and rejoins with it later, so you can take it, if you prefer.

The Balderen spring

After 5-km, the hiking trail splits off from the gravel road, rising above it along the left. Some parts can be muddy, but it's more scenic.

At 6-km, you'll pass another radio tower and then the peak station for the Felsenegg gondola lift from the lakeside.

The Felsenegg gondola lift

And just 200 meters further, you reach the turn-around point at the red Felsenegg restaurant, with its outside terrace providing a beautiful view of the lake and the snow-covered mountains to the south. I decided to use the opportunity, and sat down to a beer before heading back again (hey, it was really warm out, what do you want!).

Felsenegg lookout

Now, you turn around and head back. I took the gravel road back, just for a bit different scenery: first running downhill through the meadow from the restaurant to the west, then turning right onto the gravel road again.

The last 4 kilometers contain a lot of uphill, as you head back up to the Uetliberg peak before running back down to the train stop again.

View back towards Uetliberg from Felsenegg