Hiking with young kids

Posted by Jamie Lynne (North Carolina, US) on 02/28/26 01:07 AM

We are looking to plan our vacation to Switzerland this year. However, last time we went it was just husband and I and we planned to grueling hikes. We got pregnant just after that trip. Last year we went to Italy with our then 2.5 yr old from the Dolomites and down through Italy all the way to Pompei. Our son did great on the hikes!

This year we are looking for some great hikes in Switzerland- keeping in mind we will have a 4.5 yr old and a 9 month old. (The baby will obviously be in a carrier). We did the Oeschinensee panorama hike last time we were in Switzerland and honestly, there were parts I would NOT want to do with my 4 yr old. One wrong step and bye-bye baby. Same with the ridge hikes. Fun as adults...but not with kids. I have too much mother anxiety for that!

Our son LOVES to hike (he asks all the time) and bonus points for scrambles. I think he loved Pompeii so much because of all the rocks in the street he could run and climb on. (Although we need to keep scrambles to a minimum since we'll have a baby one of us will be wearing. Not that I'm aware of any in Switzerland anyway)

We're mostly looking to stay in the Jungfrau region and probably a few days in Zermatt. I am looking for some good hikes that won't have my heart falling out of my chest as I watch my toddler run ahead. Fun, not life-threatening

I know Zermatt had a lot of good hikes and play areas. We do plan to take a train over to the Marble Run from Lauterbrunnen/Interlaken one day. He would like a good gorge hike as well.

I'd love to hear suggestions!

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

02/28/26 01:52 AM

12208 posts

In the Lauterbrunnen Valley you should find the hikes from Grütschalp to Mürren and through the valley itself from Stechelberg back to Lauterbrunnen are both wonderful for you and your children. The hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is a little more concerning but generally quite safe for children. Just some places you’d need to hold his hand just-in-case.

The Flower Trail at Almendhubel is good, but quite short. Best playgrounds ever are at Männlichen and Almendhubel. There are also nice walks in Wengen like the Staubachbänklii. Get a local walks map at the Wengen TI.

Posted by margie

Bend, OR

02/28/26 04:12 AM

1886 posts

Zermatt has a great playground and Riffelsee to Riffelberg is a great hike for small kids. There’s also a marble run in Wengen. You get the marbles at the Visitors Center. The playground at Männlichen is wonderful and there’s the Cow Trail (LIESELOTTE) that goes down from there toward Grindelwald. Our grandkids were 6 & 9 and the 6 year old loved it (9 year old thought it was neat). It has kid activities spaced down the trail, ringing cow bells, blowing on a Alp horn, small, short, kid size zip line, etc.

https://www.maennlichen.ch/en/summer/experiences/lieselotte-trail.html

Posted by wanderweg

Nashville, TN

02/28/26 07:20 AM

1241 posts

Northface counterclockwise from Allmendhubel is great and doesn’t have steep drop offs, but still feels like a true hike, not just a tourist walk. Bonus is your 4 year old can play at the amazing playground in the beginning (though good luck dragging them away from it to do the hike, haha!)

Mannlichen is a great playground but I’d suggest the Lieselotte kids trail from there instead of to Kleine Scheidegg, as it’s very easy but has steep drop offs. We did it with my 3 year old nephew and definitely had to keep a close eye on him. The Lieselotte has interactive adventure activities along the hike for kids to keep them engaged.

They’ve turned the easy gravel road walk from Mürren to Grutschalp via Winteregg into the Kid’s Detective trail. It’s more of a walk than a hike, but does have lovely views and interactive kids detective puzzles via your phone
https://muerren.swiss/en/maps/summer-maps/theme-trails.html#=25143813&area=*&cat=Nature%20Trail&filter=r-fullyTranslatedLangus-,r-openState-&ipd=51847035&ov=hiking&zc=12,7.87977,46.55083

Schynige Platte Flower Trail - nine stations in the garden with activity/puzzle signboards and accompanying booklet.

Grindelwald Marmot Trail - booklet at First, signboards on the hike. This is a true hike as well and requires a bus to return down to Grindelwald from Grosse Scheidegg

First to Bachalpsee

Rent e-bikes down in Lauterbrunnen at Imboden with a burley attachment to bike the valley with various stops along the way

Hope that helps!