Thanks Richard! I would like to camp in the wild or at a lake, not particulary enthused about campsites. However, I did check out the Lazy Rancho site, it looks good. Do you have any suggestions for wild camping as well?

Thanks

Hi,

There are a few good choices although this year the snow level is maybe lower than usual.

http://www.randosuisse.ch/derborence----solalex.html

You can get to Solalex on a bus

There are quite a few other interesting walks on this site.

From Champex, you can take a chairlift then walk towards Orny for a couple of hours. Just before the cabin d'orny is a small lake where many people camp. And you can get drinks in the cabin.

I heard that " Camping in Switzerland is generally not allowed in the wild". is it True?

Wild camping is offically prohibited but not strictly enforced by all accounts. But campers should be discreet and leave the site as they found it. The area around Champex sounds good. Is there any other places that members would recommend for hiking and photography without too much stress and effort?

Hi there, 

As Connor mentionned, wild camping if officially prohibited but not enforced; you must however avoid doing so in any area registered as natural or wildlife reserve. Otherwise, if you stay just one night, it should be OK...

You will find here some more details: 

http://www.sac-cas.ch/fr/environnement/sports-de-montagne-protection-de-la-nature/camper-bivouaquer.html

A nice place where you can mix both an "easy" walk and camping is the Lac de Taney - Grammont. There is a small campsite in front of the small lake, and from there you can walk all the way up to the Grammont, from where you will have an amazing view on the Léman. 

To reach Taney, you can start walking in a place called "Le Flon" (which is not in Lausanne city center!): 

https://maps.google.ch/maps?q=Le+Flon,+Vouvry&hl=en&ll=46.337417,6.854868&spn=0.016089,0.042272&sll=46.340084,6.850834&sspn=0.016088,0.042272&oq=Le+flon&t=h&hnear=Le+Flon+Vouvry,+Valais&z=15

Another easy option is the "Dent de Jaman", above Montreux. You can reach it after a short walk (1h30... ;) ) from the train station called "Les Avants", on the MOB line, that starts in Montreux. 

Cheers!

Lac Taney sounds good. I am going there tomorrow :) Thanks

We spend a great deal of our valuable free time hiking along the Bisses or Suonen in Valais/Wallis. Super, spectacular scenery most of the time and interesting and varied hiking. For example, Baltschiedertal : from Eggerberg north to Ze Steinu along the Gorperi Suon and then south back along the Niwärchs Suon - not for the faint-hearted, or those with vertigo. There is a website telling you all about the various Bisses, as well as a booklet, giving details of how strenuous, easy, medium, but they are never, ever boring!

Spent the weekend in Champex.The lake did not look anything much saturday evening as the weather was dull and rainy. But I arose at 6am this morning and what a sight it was. Like glass, crystal clear without a puff of wind. I spend 3 hours moving around the lake with the camera. Beautiful reflections from the snow capped peaks and the greens of the forested hills. Sun bathing then for awhile and dinner and lots of ice cream. Well recommended for anyone who wants a day out.One hour from Montreux.

Hi Sheila. Where is this area you mention? What towns are near? Any lakes?

Basically a large part of Valais/Wallis, from the Bisse du Trient, and Saxon,on the western end, and up to the Wasserfuhre Heido near Visperterminen beyond Visp, before the Gomsertal on the eastern side. If you look at :

'Die Suonen und Bissen des Wallis' this gives details, or alternatively

you will find all information under www.valaistourisme.ch

We can thoroughly recommend these walks [well, hikes actually] as they are simply magnificent. The most difficult is probably the Bisse du Ro which is not always open, being subject to landslides et al.

Hope this helps

Hey Ryan,

You should try Tannay too, for photography, and from Crans-Montana, you get a great view of everything. That was mentioned earlier by Alex.

From the Jura on a clear day you can get a view of everything in the alps, Mt-Blanc, Matterhorn, Eiger. Perrenoud is a good spot and Ballaigues. Often difficult to get good photos in Summer because of haze, even though the summits are visible. 

For wild camping, I'd say the Jura, which is much less touristy, is great.

You could hike to the top of the magnificent Gorges de la Poetta Raisse from Motiers (Neuchatel Jura - you can take train to there from Neuchatel) and then camp a the top, as long as you are discreet and take all rubbish with you. Or take the Robella chairlift from Buttes (railway station at the bottom) and then walk towards Chasseron, and camp near half-way there. Then to the top the next day (restaurant at top, with amazing views over the whole of the Jura and the Alps, and then down to LesRasses/Bullet (bus to StCroix and then the lovely wild little train down to Yverdon) and back to wherever. And so many more ... 

Above Ballaigues you have fabulous views from the Mont D'Or. Can take the chairlift from Métabief to Mt Rond, and then a nice walk to top. You could discretely camp at the top - again making sure you leave the place pristine.

Another great Jura place is le Creux-du-Van amazing limestone circle - you can't camp there as it is a nature reserve, but in the woods beyond to the East would be fine. Walk up les Oeillons from the railway station in Noiraigue, then down the other side to Lake Neuchatel the next day.

Guess what, I love the Jura me :)