Radio Chablais – Switzerland Rando celebrates its 90th anniversary: ​​a return to the largest hiking network on the planet

Antoni Da Campo

Infos

December 18, 2024

Updated: December 18, 2024

The Swiss Rando federation is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

The national umbrella organization for hiking tourism and its cantonal associations play a central role in the development and promotion of hiking trails. With 65,000 km of trails marked in yellow, including 8,800 in Valais and 3,800 in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland has the largest number of hiking routes in the world.

Every year, 4 million Swiss walk these paths, making walking the most practiced sporting activity in the country. On the occasion of this jubilee, Sébastien Rappaz, future director of Val Rando, spoke with us about the evolution of Swiss hiking associations.

For Sébastien Rappaz of Val Rando, beyond climate issues, the biggest challenge for the sustainability of hiking in Switzerland remains the annual maintenance of trails, which can negatively impact the finances of municipalities.