US equivalent of Switzerland
 

In your opinion, which parts of US could be as scenic with mountain ranges as Switzerland?

Not US, but Banff in the Canadian Rockies is amazing.

Without a doubt, the Grand Teton Range in Jackson, Wyoming!

Ouray, Colorado is known as "Little Switzerland." The Million Dollar Hwy from Ouray to Durango offers one of the most amazing mountain views you'll ever see!

Sorry, asdaven, I love the Teton. It's a spectacular sight and, in fact, is our favorite US destination. But, in no way, would I compare it to the Swiss Alps in appearance.
Rather, I agree with tekwriter in naming Colorado as a far more valid comparison.

Alaska, with Colorado second.

Ozarks! LOL - I saw those wee mountains once and they were pretty though!

What about the Cascades in Washington? And areas near Durango, Colorado!

Olympics over the Sound here in Seattle remind me somewhat of the area along Lac Leman outside Geneva.

Would love to get to Ouray some day--it's just so hard to get to. It is considered most like Switzerland, as mentioned above.

Love, love, love the Canadian Rockies--fabulous hiking and sightseeing. I would visit every year if I could--and I rarely return to the same destination twice.

I've been to all the above mentioned, including the Swiss Alps and I'd have to say Glacier National Park, Western Colorado (Durango to Ouray) and parts of Alaska are the closest. You did say U.S. and I didn't think Banff is any prettier than Glacier.

No where else gets up up IN the mountains like you do in the Alps--not just hiking but staying in villages too.

This is without a doubt (?) the most "US equivalent of Switzerland", right down to the music (well, for the first minute anyway):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z3Y4ZAtV1E

The Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon.

All of those places mentioned offer spectacular world-class mountain scenery (and I would add Mt. Rainier at Paradise, parts of the North Cascades, particularly around Cascade Pass and up around Mt. Shuksan, the backcountry of the High Sierras . . . on and on. We have beautiful mountains in the US (and certainly in Canada too, although that wasn't the question).

But nowhere is there an "equivalent" to Switzerland in terms of the total package---the lovely meadows dotted with cows, charming car-free villages, mountain huts scattered here and there for lunch while hiking, a reliable public transport system to take you to the trailhead and back, and a comfortable hotel with Swiss hospitality and great food to welcome you at the end of a day in the mountains.

yeah, went to ouray last year and the plance is known as "like sswitzerland". It IS beautiful.

When I went to Grand Teton Wy, I thought, this is just like Switzerland.......My vote goes to Tetons.

I just got back. Yes, they are magnificent. But, not quite Switzerland. When I was there, this morning, at 7 am, there were a handful of people out along side of the pull off, taking breathtaking photos of the Tetons. I want to live in Jackson Hole. But then again, every place I go, I want to live there......

"Would love to get to Ouray some day--it's just so hard to get to."

Fly to Albuquerque; get in the car and head to Durango on 550. That is a 3 hour drive.

Stop, stay the night and go north on 550 up to Ouray, which is about a 2 hour drive.

Not hard at all. And so worth the trip.

Deb