Switzerland is probably one of the best countries in the world for hiking. From simple easy hikes to intense trails, the Swiss Alps have them all. But what we really loved were the numerous themed trails and countless of alpine playgrounds that keep kids motivated to hike and instil the love for mountains.

The Hasliberg region is nothing short of spectacular trails for adults and fun trails for kids. Years ago we did the Aare gorge hike, but the trails in the Hasliberg somehow eluded us. And there are actually two, starting from Magisalp at 1710m all the way down to Reuti at 1053m.

Hiking from Magisalp to Reuti. As I mentioned before, we combined two hikes, the Dwarf trail and the Marble run trail. The combined hikes are approximately 8km and normally descending, with occasional short upwards and steep sections.

The Dwarf trail. This is the longest trail of the two, with approximately 5km descend from Magisalp to Bidmi and it has several play stations along the way. It is a thematic trail inspired by the Muggestutz fairytale, which is basically telling the story of the dwarfs living the in the Hasliberg area. We did not read the book before going and it was still fun. We picked up a map from the gondola station, which made it even more fun to discover all the play stations. The map is also available online here. The trail has about 100m ascent and 400m descend, not suitable for strollers on a dirt path. Allow about 2h for the trail, perhaps 2.5h to include all stops at the play stations along the way. The trail is clearly marked and starts at the Magisalp station. Exit to the left and descend on the path beneath the gondola lines. The starting point is marked by a wooden gate with small dwarfs (Zwergenweg Magis Bidmi).

Why is it great for kids? The play stations are fun and interactive, which will keep kids going. Eric loved the tree hollows that supposedly are home to the dwarfs, we tried to chop some wood for the dwarfs, there’s a swing and a cave and a fun labyrinth. The map might be a little misleading in terms of the distances between the stations, but they are all there if you follow the trail. There’s also a small playground at Magisalp and one at Bidmi, which is big and super fun with lots of climbing stuff, tree top trails and a nice lake (swimming is not allowed). What I love about these playgrounds is that they’re built next or around bbq and picnic areas so great for the kids to run around, while adults make lunch.

The Marble Run trail. This is a shorter trail, which is even more interactive than the previous one. 13 marble runs are spread over approximately 3km. The trail starts at Bidmi and goes all the way down to Reuti. Normally, 1h should be enough to complete the trail, but it depends on how many times the kids will want to run the marble down at each station. We spent 1.5h here. The trail goes through the woods in some parts and is great for shade and some of the stations are very elaborated. Some parts of the trail are also quite steep, with a general descend of nearly 400m and an insignificant ascent of approximately 20m. The trail starts right next to the playground in Bidmi and it is clearly marked. All marble runs are clearly visible along the path, except for one in Reuti, at the bottom station, located in a small playground. The last marble run is right next to the gondola station and restaurant in Reuti. So naturally, we ended the hike with an ice cream that we bought from here. The map and official info for the trail are available here.

Why is it great for kids? It’s a short descending hike, starting with a playground at Bidmi. The marble runs are fun and engaging.

How we got here? There are actually two ways. The initial starting point of the gondola is in Meiringen. But honestly, it makes more sense to drive to the next station, Reuti. There are a lot of parking spaces available next to the cable car in Reuti and the gondola prices from here are cheaper. We saved 14CHF starting from Reuti instead of Meiringen.

Prices. Since we rode the gondola from Reuti up to Magisalp we payed 28 CHF/adult and 14CHF/kid aged 6-15 years old. Plus the cost of the wooden ball at 3CHF. Updated prices here: https://www.meiringen-hasliberg.ch/en/Info/tickets/Tarifs_summer

Tips:

1. If your short on time or with little kids, it might be a good idea to do only one of the trails. The Dwarf trail is better in terms of mountain views, especially at the top in Magisalp, but the marble run trail would be more fun for kids.
2. Check gondola opening hours and weather, online tickets: https://www.meiringen-hasliberg.ch
3. Bring cash (coins). If you travel by car, there’s an outdoor parking right next to the gondola in Reuti (7 CHF/day, only in cash at the vending machines). You can choose the preferred language and simply insert 7CHF. You then receive a parking ticket, which you leave in the car under the wind screen, before you actually start the hike.
4. The gondola goes all the way to the top of the mountains at Alpen Tower 2250m. You could go all the way up to enjoy the views and then descend to Magisalp by gondola and hike from there. If you choose to do this, you need to purchase tickets from Reuti to Alpen Tower and then back to Magisalp.
5. Wear good comfortable hiking shoes as the two trails have nearly 800m descend and it is a lot of pressure on the toes.
6. Don’t forget to buy a wooden ball from the gondola stations (we bought ours in Reuti). It’s 3 CHF and comes in different colours.