Where are there legal off-road routes in Switzerland?

Published on 02.10.2025, Last updated on 02.10.2025
Offroad Schweiz Le_col_de_Taney
Photo © Ghost-in-the-Shell

There are only a few countries in Europe with such magnificent mountain landscapes as Switzerland has to offer. And Switzerland is certainly the European country with the strictest nature conservation laws. Even for the Swiss off-road community, it is not so easy to find suitable tracks for a private 4x4 adventure. That's why we are proud to be able to present you with some tracks and descriptions of off-road routes in Switzerland. They won't be the last...

Switzerland | All offroad routes

Here you will find all legal off-road routes in Switzerland - clearly listed, with practical filters and map view.

In Switzerland, driving on unsurfaced roads and paths has been regulated by Article 4 of the Road Traffic Act since 1959. Here is a quote from this regulation that concerns off-road riders: "...paths that are not suitable for motor vehicles or bicycles or are obviously not intended for this purpose, such as footpaths and hiking trails, may not be used by such vehicles." For this reason, Swiss off-roaders mostly use special training routes in off-road parks or drive on private toll roads that are marked as off-road routes.

Other than that, they wait impatiently for their next vacation to take on exciting routes in countries such as France, Italy, Bosnia or Greece. In Switzerland, of course, there are also some rewarding off-road trails - for example the 25-kilometer route over the Furggen mountain. There are even tracks for hardcore off-roaders: for example, the steepest track in Switzerland to Lac de Taney.

However, the number of off-road routes in Switzerland is unfortunately somewhat limited. However, if you are crossing the country on a trip to the south, you will probably still find a few short tracks close to your route. In any case, the Swiss off-road routes are worth it for the scenery alone: there are often magnificent views of the surrounding mountain peaks.

 

Ein schlammiger Geländewagen fährt über eine unbefestigte, staubige Strecke im Wald, umgeben von Absperrband und Bäumen.
There are large-scale off-road centers in Switzerland.
Photo © Maciej Konrad shutterstock

Off-road parks in Switzerland

Switzerland has much more to offer when it comes to off-road parks. In addition to motocross training tracks for enduro bikes and the like, there are also large-scale off-road centers with specially designed tracks of varying degrees of difficulty or on extensive natural areas with steep slopes, rocky passages and water crossings. So if you want to train your off-road skills a little while on the road, Switzerland offers you plenty of opportunities to do so.

 

Tolls in Switzerland

Most of the private forest roads or unpaved mountain passes in Switzerland are toll roads. The toll charged - usually between five and twenty euros - is used to maintain the routes. In some cases, the fees are charged directly at the access road, but sometimes they also have to be paid to the municipality.

By the way: In Switzerland, heavy fines are imposed for driving on toll roads without the corresponding proof of payment. This applies to freeways as well as off-road tracks. You need a so-called "vignette" to use public roads. This is a sticker that is attached to the inside of the windshield. You can buy the vignettes directly when you cross the border.

Norwegen Base Camp
In principle, wild camping is prohibited in Switzerland.
Photo © Peter Schmitz

Can you camp wild on an off-road trip through Switzerland?

If you come across a particularly idyllic spot on your off-road tour, you might feel like spending the night there. In Switzerland, however, wild camping is generally prohibited - with the exception of a few cantons in which one-off overnight stays in parking lots are permitted. However, there are designated motorhome pitches throughout the country where you are allowed to stay for 24 hours. You can find a suitable parking space using the Park4Night or Stellplatz-Radar apps, for example.

In addition, it is also permitted in Switzerland to stay on the grounds of a farm by prior arrangement. On platforms such as Nomady or Landcamp.ch, you can find farms that offer suitable pitches. So if you don't want to spend the night on a campsite, there are plenty of alternatives in Switzerland.

 

Conclusion

With its impressive mountain landscapes, Switzerland is a popular destination for nature lovers. However, the nature conservation laws there are so strict that only a few routes are permitted for use by 4x4 vehicles or off-road motorcycles. If you are planning to drive through Switzerland in the near future, you can find out about legal Swiss off-road tracks in advance at offroadatlas.de. Start planning your trip right away.

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