23

Host: Swiss Hiking Trail FederationTarget not accessible

The Swiss people love hiking much more than sports that happen to be in vogue or fitness centers. Marmi joins in and sets out to explore Switzerland. But he doesn’t yet know what the yellow signs mean.

Marmi packs his rucksack. Plenty of clover, lots of grass and a few earthworms to nibble on. Then he’s ready to say goodbye to his family. Chirping, he sets off from his burrow. The weather is glorious. Marmi suddenly finds himself in front of a post with lots of yellow signs fixed to it. Where next, then?

Over four million people over the age of 15 living in Switzerland do the same thing as Marmi on a regular basis. Growing numbers of young people are discovering this outdoor activity for themselves on over 65,000 kilometres of hiking trails, where you can be athletic, or more meditative and at one with the landscape, depending on your abilities. A survey conducted by the Swiss Hiking Trail Federation in 2020 showed that on average, the Swiss people go on 15 hikes a year, each lasting around three hours. Despite digital maps on smartphones, signposts are still the number one guide to finding your way around.

Around 2,000 volunteers regularly review the network and signage. The signs are easy to read: the white field shows the current location with the altitude above sea level. Then come the hiking destinations, with the nearest shown at the top. The hiking time is a calculated average without breaks.

The coloured marking on the arrowhead indicates the hiking trail category, which corresponds to the level of difficulty. Mountain hikes are marked white-red-white, while challenging alpine hikes are white-blue-white. Particularly attractive national routes are marked with a green sticker with numbers and the route name. Marmi can find the complete route plans at switzerlandmobility.ch. Intermediate markers along the way show whether you are still on the right trail.

A-ha. Marmi sees a train symbol on the yellow sign. There must be a railway station there. He’s already tired and looking for an easier way to explore Switzerland than on his paws.

As a main partner of the Swiss Hiking Trail Federation, Swiss Post has been enabling unique hiking experiences for children and adults since 2017. Discover family-friendly hiking suggestions and find out more about our commitmentTarget not accessible. (only available in German, French or Italian)