Spring is a glorious time of the year; often rich with color as nature begins to wake up after a long winter slumber. One of the most beautiful aspects about this time of the year is the blooming trees and flowers that are abundant throughout Switzerland. If you are in search of an absolutely perfect spring trail where daffodils dot the landscape and crocuses are abundant, look no further than the Daffodil Trail in the Neuchatel area.
Despite the short blooming season of these precious yellow flowers, the hike is well worth your time. This moderate loop hike starts with a gradual uphill before flatting out to open meadows with lovely views of the Alps and Lake Neuchatel. You’ll have to stop frequently to take photos of the daffodils, which might add additional time to your hiking journey, but we assure you, it will be worth slowing down!
Enjoy the portion of trail that meanders through the forests before dropping down to the start of the hike. The Daffodil Trail is the perfect way to welcome spring and the changing season. In fact, we cannot think of a more lovely way to shake off winter.
Special Note:
The spring can be a muddy mess when it comes to hiking. It might be advantageous to bring a bag for your dirty hiking boots and a change of light weight shoes to wear on the way home. If space is limited in your backpack, consider packing a brush to clean off your shoes. We certainly needed the change of shoes for this route!
Tip:
The daffodils are typically in bloom and at their peak from the end of March through the end of April. We enjoyed this hike the first weekend of April and the daffodils were plentiful, though still coming up. On a sidetone, the crocuses had yet to fully bloom.
Special Features:
This is truly a gorgeous hike when you hit the peak of the daffodils in bloom.
This makes for a spectacular spring hiking experience.
The route provides gorgeous views of Lake Neuchatel.
The hike is a mixture of wide open paths and forested areas.
Be Aware:
The first section of this hike is a gradual uphill.
To help preserve the daffodils for other visitors, it is advised to not pick the flowers.
Please never remove the bulbs of the flowers from the ground.
There are areas in which are designated for walking as a means to preserve the flowers. Please use the walking paths and try not to hike over the flowers.
Drinking water and toilets are limited on the route, though there were restaurants on Tete de Ran and Col de ‘la Vue des Alpes.
Please always close gates behind you when hiking.
Additional Flower Trails and Cherry Blossom Routes:
If you are a fan of spotting flowers in the wild during the spring months, don’t forget the Narcissi trails in Montreax. The area is home to roughly six hiking paths, all ranging in distance (1.9 km - 8.8 km), through gorgeous Narcissus flowers. The website also profiles when the flowers are in bloom to ensure the ideal time to plan your visit! The Narcissus trails in Montreaux are recommended from the beginning of May until the middle of June. To learn more about these hikes, have a look at the Montreaux Riviera website.
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If you are still in search of additional hikes that include blooming flowers and cherry blossoms, here is one in Basel-land, and we can highly recommend the Frick Cherry Hike (Fricktaler Chriesiwäg), which is located in the canton of Aargau. This route is typically ideal during the month of April when the cherry blossoms are at their prime. For a complete hiking profile and details on this route, check out our first book, Fresh Air Kids Switzerland - 52 Hikes That Will Make Kids and Parents Happy.
Finally, for a gorgeous flowering experience, do not miss the blooming Iris gardens in the Merian Gärten located in Basel City. Typically, during the month of May, the Iris Garden is a genuine spectacle. Enjoy a stroll through the botanical gardens and consider having a coffee or a meal at the newly opened Restaurant Iris. For more details, please visit the website: www.meriangärten.ch
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