Hike /Schweiz Mobil
ViaJacobi
Rorschach- / Konstanz (D)Genève (Grenze)
- Distance
- 450.0 km
- Duration
- –
- Ascent
- 11900 m
- Descent
- 11800 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Fitness
- Hard
- Route type
- One way
- Season
- April - October
01/ Overview
The route
The ViaJacobi leads from the Bodensee to Genève as part of the European Jakobsweg (Route of St. James). Lined by churches, monasteries and chapels, it offers a fabulous hiking experience along historic paths through a diverse cultural landscape.
From the Rorschach Hafen stop, the route sets off towards St. Gallen. Via Herisau and Wattwil, open hills, settlements and stretches of woodland alternate, with a waymarked hiking trail leading through the landscape for the most part. After a good 100 kilometres, the route reaches its highest point near Nätschhöchi at around 1,400 m. In total, the route covers approximately 450 kilometres, almost 12,000 metres of ascent and around 130 hours of hiking.
The long route continues via Schwyz to Lake Lucerne. Between Treib and Emmetten, the trail becomes steeper in places before broad hiking paths once again lead through villages, meadows and the Kernwald. It then crosses Obwalden to the Brünigpass and descends to Lake Brienz.
West of Interlaken, the route briefly follows the Aare; via the Bernese hills, Fribourg and Lausanne, it eventually reaches Lake Geneva. Beyond Geneva, the hike ends at the border. The destination is not directly served by public transport; the Pfäffikon SZ, Abzw. Etzelpass stop is around 1.3 kilometres away.
02/ Along the route
What's along the way
Where the route climbs and where it descends. Hover the profile to find the spot on the map.
03/ Conditions
Current conditions
What to know before you set off. Closures and snow are re-checked every day.
Spiez - Thun Einigen Chanderbrügg
From 8 Oct 2025 – Until 31 Mar 2027
Die Brücke über die Kander ist nicht begehbar.
Voie verte Genève Versoix
From 16 Feb 2026 – Until 5 Feb 2027
Interlaken
From 18 Feb 2026 – Until 31 Dec 2026
Parc de L'Hermitage
From 15 Apr 2026 – Until 13 Apr 2027
Voie verte Genève Versoix
From 5 May 2026 – Until 5 Feb 2027
Drize
From 18 May 2026 – Until 30 Nov 2026
Renaturierung der Drize und Sicherung des Wanderwegs.
Rengglochbrücke
From 27 May 2026 – Until 1 Dec 2026
Die Brücke über den Renggbach ist beschädigt und muss ersetzt werden.
Staldifeld
From 1 Jun 2026 – Until 18 Dec 2026
Doppelspurausbau Zentralbahn Staldifeld
Voie verte Genève-Versoix
From 29 Jun 2026 – Until 27 Nov 2026
Chemin de la Chérard
From 7 Sept 2026 – Until 16 Oct 2026
Zu Ihrer Sicherheit folgen Sie bitte der ausgeschilderten Umleitung.
Reussufer Luzern
From 7 Sept 2026 – Until 30 Nov 2026
How we check: Every night we match the route against the official closures and detours from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Any reported closure that touches the route shows up here.
How we check: We look up a live public transport connection from your starting point to the stop closest to the trailhead. If it ends further away, the nearest stop may be a cable car or bus that isn't running right now.
How we check: Snow depth estimated daily at the lowest and the highest point of the route. Estimates: check the situation on site.
04/ Getting there
Getting there
From your door to the trailhead and home again, by train and bus or by car. Computed live from the timetable.
Or from
Outbound
Return
05/ Weather
Weather on the way
Forecast for the lowest and the highest point of the route.
Weather
06/ Trail & landscape
Trail & landscape
Which paths you walk on and the landscape they lead through.
07/ Snow
Snow on the route
Snow depths, new snow and forecast. Estimates: check the situation on site before you set off.
Snow Info
Comparative snow depth is only available from November 1 to June 30.
08/ Export
Take the route with you
Load the track onto your GPS device, print a route sheet for the trail or send the route to your hiking group.
Share
Send the link to friends or your hiking group.
Export GPX File
For hiking apps, GPS watches and navigation devices.
Print Route Sheet
A4 with map, elevation profile, waypoints and emergency numbers.
