Plan your own trip
Resources for walking the Swiss Alps without a guide.
For most Swiss alpine routes you don’t need a guide. You need decent maps, a feel for the weather, and time to plan.
Maps and routes
- SchweizMobil. The canonical Swiss trail network. Free, accurate, and tied into public transport.
- Swisstopo. The official topographic map. Best for terrain detail and for anything off the marked trails.
- SAC route portal. The Swiss Alpine Club’s route database. Strong on hut tours and graded alpine routes.
Weather
- MeteoSwiss app for point forecasts that account for altitude.
- Bergfex or Windy for wind and freezing level.
- The freezing level tells you more about a day in the mountains than the air temperature does. Always check it.
Getting there
Swiss public transport reaches almost every trailhead. The SBB Mobile app is the right tool. For multi-day trips, the Half-Fare card or Travelcard usually pays for itself within a weekend.
Huts
SAC huts mostly require reservations in season. Book through SAC Hut Reservation or the hut’s own page. Most still want cash on arrival.
A few principles
- Turn around earlier than feels necessary.
- Tell someone where you’re going.
- Don’t rely on a single navigation source. Phones die. Carry a paper backup on any serious route.
Still not sure where to begin? You don’t have to sort it out on your own — come walk one with me. I’m building up my guiding experience at the moment, so these go out for free for now.