Best Hikes in Eastern Switzerland

Eastern Switzerland is incredibly varied. There are hikes that range from classically Swiss (think green meadows, grazing cows, snow-capped peaks) to hikes that are striking in their barren otherworldliness. As someone who resides in Zürich, Eastern Switzerland is a region where I spend most of my time hiking.

The canton of St.Gallen offers some spectular hikes. It's home to one of my favorite Swiss lakes, the Walensee, as well as a waterfall arena that looks straight out of Iceland. The hikes in this canton won't have the tallest mountains you've ever seen, but can't be beat in their proximity to Zürich It's also one of my favorite regions for late spring hiking.

Speer
Alp Tschingla
Federispitz
Mattstock [coming soon]
Flumserberg 7-peaks
Batoni Waterfalls
Pizol 5-Lakes
Murgseen [coming soon]
Seerenbachfälle [coming soon]
Sardonahütte (2-day hike) [coming soon]

If you want big big mountains without traveling too far from Zürich, Glarus is the place to go. This might be one of the most underrated cantons in all of Switzerland. The hikes here are stunning, the cable cars are affordable, and the whole area has a very local vibe.

Leglerh ü tte
Weisstannen to Pizolhütte
Chüebodensee and Wildmaad
Klontarlersee to Gumensattel
Hirzli Rundweg [coming soon]
Butzi Alp [coming soon]
Oberblegisee [coming soon]

The canton of many names - Graubuden, Grisons, Grigioni - because it's the only canton with three officially languages - German, Romansch, Italian. Out of all the cantons, I think this one displays Switzerland's natural and cultural diversity. Glitzy St. Mortiz, the tiny Romansch towns of the Upper Engadin, the barren Sardona Tectonic Arena, the spectacular Bernina Pass, the remote Parc Ela - there is so much here. You really get a little bit of everything.

Val Frisal [coming soon]
Joriseen
Crap Puter
Fuela Schwarzhorn/ Grietalschütte [coming soon]
Chamanna Jenatsch
Alp Mora
Val da Camp
Morterasch [coming soon]
Cassongrat
Heizenberg Gratweg
Ringlespitz
Ducantal/Walserweg
Kesch Trek (three-day tour)
Prättigauer Höhenweg/ Carschinahütte [coming soon]

Hiking through Appenzellerland feels about as traditionally Swiss as you can get: storybook villages, rolling green pastures, turqouise lakes, spiky mountain peaks, alpine herdsmen and - the very best rösti in the whole of the country. The Alpstein mountain range, in particular, is unforgettable.