HariS

Hi,

I am a regular on the Africa forum but don't post around here too much.

I will be on a business trip in Zurich between December 13th and 16th. Do you recommend any good running routes or trails in or around the city?

Thks
Hari

kleeblatt

Hi Hari. I don't know any myself but you can ask this question on the englishforum.ch website. There are lots of expats in Zürich who use this website and will be able to give you some good advice.

altamiro

Hi Hari,

Zürich is surrounded by wooded hills that contain an extensive network of running trails, often marked. I used to go on the Adlisberg - take the tram 11 or 14 to Bucheggplatz, go up the four-way pedestrian bridge that overspans the area and go towards the forest. Take the road that goes steep upwards and after about 200 m you are in the forest on the pedestrian-only route through it (beware of the cyclists though - it is a popular biking route to the Hönggerberg campus of the ETH).
There is also a runners only round ("finnish trail" - donīt know how it is called in english).

Similar routes exist all around teh city, but it is the only one I know and used.

HariS

Hi! Thank you both for your quick responses ...... will do!!!
Appreciate it.
Cheers,
Hari

Queenie

Hi Hari,
I lived in Zurich for years and ran almost daily. There are so many forest routes, and they are quite beautiful, but be prepared to get somewhat lost.

My favorite run was behind the Dolder. Take the 3, 15 or 8 tram to Dolderbahn stop, then take the Dolderbahn up the hill to the end station. This is all on your city tram card. The view from the top is amazing - best in the city.
From the bahn station, walk up the hill (3 minutes) past the ice skating rink. There is a forest entrance on the right that is both a 5k, and 8k path through the woods.

That 5k path also goes past the 'Lorenkopf' fire tower which you can climb and get another great view.

An easy run is to simply run along the lake on the paved walkway. A bit boring, but it will be very easy to find and follow. You may see other runners.

A real tough run, but spectaucular is up the Uetiberg. Take the 13 tram to the end station (Albisguetli) and follow the sidewalk up into the woods. Take the path there straight up - its quite a climb, and quite steep, but a great workout.

I would ask your hotel concierge where the running paths are (Vitaparcours) - not sure where you are staying. Be prepared for blank looks however, the Swiss for the most part are not avid runners, and they are fair weather runners, so if its snowing/sleeting you will be alone in the forest.

One last suggestion, Dec 16 is Silvesterlauf. Its a 5k through the city. Its one of the highlights of the Swiss race season - see if you can still enter. It would be a fun race to participate in. Google it.

Enjoy!

Queenie

kleeblatt

Hi Queenie,

Thanks for the tip. My son wants to sign up for it so it looks like we'll be there too!

HariS

Hi Queenie,

Thanks so much ..... great info! Will try to run the 5k.

Will get my hotel confirmations over the next day or two and then will post here. Appreicate your input as to how best to get to the trails from my location.

Thanks again!
Hari

PalenQ

If not into hills then nice paths go along the lake's eastern side for many miles - i've walked several miles on them and it's a parklike setting with no traffic to worry about

gruezi

Hi Hari,

You can look into the Panoramaweg on the Gold Coast - the eastern side of the lake. Takes you all the way to Rapperswil basically. I walk it all the time - never get lost - and there are lots of side trails and runners and great lake views. It's not hilly once you get on the ridge which is about a 5-10 minute walk up - not very high.

g.

HariS

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Just got confirmation of hotel booking. I will be at the Savoy Hotel in Zurich .... apparently, very close to the central train station???

Any idea as to what would be the closest running locations from here?

As always ..... thanks for your inputs.

Rgds
Hari

altamiro

Tram No. 5 or 6 up to the Zoo (terminal station) and then you are in the runnerīs paradise.

Queenie

Savoy is a very nice hotel right in the middle of town at Paradeplatz.

I would recommend you simply run south on Bahnhofstr (away from the station) to the lake - that will take about 3 minutes. Then at the lake make a right and run along the walking path to the Enge area - be careful of the bikers! You can go either way actually.

Unless you run at 05:00 I would not run in the city itself as there are too many bikes, trams, cars and people. The lake run is a bit less crowded.

I would not recommend running in the woods if you are there on business. The problem is that it will be dark, and you will get lost in the woods. I ran every morning in the dark, but you need to know exactly where you are going, and you will need a flashlight.

If you can run after 07:00, you could take the 6 tram (not the 5) to the endstation at the Zoo. At the station, run up the only hill in the area, past the Zurichberg hotel (yellow brick building) and there is a trail head there. But do not do this in the dark - it will be too confusing.

There are also several trails behind the zoo, but I cannot tell you by writing how to get to them. They are behind the new FIFA building. If you ask someone they can direct you, but there will be no one early in the morning.

What time are you thinking of running?

The 13 tram to Albesguetli (you can catch this at Paradeplatz) is a trail run, and there are gas lights for a portion of the run, however this is very steep and may be snowy/icy if the weather is bad.

If you are there for Silversterlauf (16 Dec) it takes place right in front of the Savoy.

As you can see I'm pretty passionate about this! Hope this helps.

HariS

Hi Queenie,

Appreciate the enthusiasm!!! I am there on the 14th and 15th full days and could run the 5k if it is in morning of the 16th, as my flight out is around 2 30 PM sunday.

15th is the early meeting (saturday) hence have to run someplace close to the hotel itself. For the 14th, i can head to wherever for a 7am run (light permitting)

Can take the tram or train to run in the woods, if necessary for the 14th. But, are the trails clearly marked and not easy to get lost? has it snowed already that some of the trails are dodgy?

The lake run - what is the approx distance. I am looking for a run somewhere in the 12-15k distance.

Appreciate your suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Best rgds,
Hari

Queenie

Hari,
Thanks for the details.

Forget the Silvesterlauf. It would not start until 13:00, and that would be too late for you. You can check the website, but its only in German and not very user friendly.

www.silversterlauf.ch

Its going to be tough (boring) doing doing 12 - 15 k along the lake. Are you thinking this for the morning of 15 December? The closest run from your hotel is the lake. If you take the tram somewhere that will add another 40 minutes or so of simply tram riding, and you don't have time for that.

Yes, just run down the BahnHstr to the lake. Opposing what I said above, make a left at the lake and run along the paved walk. There will also be gravel paths and cobblestones. You will run to a parklike area (3 km?) called China Garden. You may see a pagoda there. At this point I would turn around, and run back, passing the BahnHstr again (this is where the boats are docked) and into the Enge area (you may see a sign EngeBad). Its very flat and a bit boring, but you will not get lost. Again, do not simply run the city streets because there are too many diversions and you may get hurt.

Let me give some thought on a well marked trail run. If its daylight, it does not matter if you get lost - you can ask someone in the woods (sound weird, but you will be perfectly safe).

And don't worry about the weather. Snow in Zurich does not typically last for long and they do clear the paths.

Will get back to you after some thought.

Queenie

Cicerone

You can also run along the Limmat river from central Zurich going north (i.e. away from the lake, downriver) for an almost unlimited time on a pedestrian and bike path. You will first run along the river in the city on sidewalks, and do have to cross about 5-6 streets (no lights and pedestrians have the right of way), but once you pass the Marriott hotel about 1.5 miles from your hotel you will be onto a walkers/bikers path in the trees and along the little river that is quite pretty. I have not done this in the dark so don't know if it is lit.

Also remember that the sun will rise quite late and set quite early in Zurich this month, it won't be light until like 8 am and will be getting on toward dark by about 5 pm, so keep that in mind. Take a look at sunrisesunset.com for daylight hours.

I agree on the route running along the lake in both directions, hard to get lost and it is lit at night.

Cobblestones tend to freeze up quite easily, so do watch your footing. Zurich does not get a lot of snow, but they do get ice.

HariS

Hi Thanks to the both of you for all the suggestions .... going to print this out and take along with me.

Rgds
Hari

Queenie

Hi Hari,
I have tried to think of a well marked trail - I even asked one of my other running buddies.

The problem with the trail runs is that they are not well marked. And what markings there are indicate the names of nearby neighborhoods which you will not be familiar with. And there is no good trail map either.

I learned the trails through trial and error and lots of hours of simply being lost and just running until I found something familiar.

Oh I wish I were there to take you.

But if you do have time, and want to try, perhaps a simple out and back would be the best solution.
You will need to take the tram to any trail head as you are in the center of town, and the trails are on the fringes.

The easiest trailheads are the one I mentioned above, by the Dolder, or the one by the Zuriberg Hotel.

Also, at the Zoo (tram 6) endstation, if you walk toward the biodome ( you will recognize the huge curved roof), there is a trailhead there with a chipped bark path. Its a bit short, but if you follow the chipped bark you will not get lost.

The trail runs are lovely, I hope you can find something suitable.

Any time you see the yellow 'wanderweg' signs, or see the bike symbol, you are close to some sort of path.

Please let us know how you make out.

HariS

Thanks, Queenie ...... appreciate your help and ofcourse, when i return will mention how the running was!

Best rgds
Hari

HariS

Hello!!! Just back home from my trip. First of all, many thanks to Queenie and the rest of the good folks on these boards for all the suggestions.

The three mornings i was in Zurich, i just went for a run by the Zurich lake .... i found that i was waking up by 5am thereabouts and wasn't any use in waiting for daylight for another few hours.

I quickly realized that the lake is BIG and doesn't loop around within an hour's run ..... found that out, as i landed up a couple towns out of zurich and took a cab back to the hotel on the first morning.

Next two days i did an out and back from the hotel savoy in the direction of the town of AM SEE (spelling?) - out for about 35 mins one way and back .... was very enjoyable!!!

The pastries and coffee at Sprungli next door to the hotel was PHENOMENAL .... especially, those little cream filled meringues (Luxembourgis???). Glad i got that running in, eh?

Cheers
Hari