Hikebeast · Leon Helg

Switzerland is full of places nobody knows about.

The Swiss Map Wildcamping Checker My Filters Journal
A few you may already know

The famous gems. You have probably seen these six.

These six are not the hidden ones. They are the postcards. The rest are deeper in, off the main routes, and only inside the guide.

Oeschinensee, a turquoise alpine lake above Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland.

Oeschinensee

Striking lake surrounded by massive cliffs.

 The Matterhorn reflected in the Riffelsee, with sunbeams breaking through the clouds.

Riffelsee

Small alpine lake reflecting the Matterhorn.

 Schäfler ridge above Ebenalp in Appenzell at golden hour with valleys in the haze.

Schäfler

The best sunset in the Alpstein.

 Seealpsee, a glassy alpine lake below Säntis with green meadows around the shore.

Seealpsee

Alpine lake reflecting the Säntis.

 Saxer Lücke, a dramatic notch between two peaks in the Alpstein with light coming through.

Saxer Lücke

Steep gap between two rock towers.

 Fälensee, a narrow lake wedged between steep walls below Saxer Lücke.

Fälensee

Mystical alpine lake between sheer walls.

The rest of the spots are off the main routes and only inside the guide.  See what's in the guide ›

Leon Helg, founder of Hikebeast, camping in the Swiss Alps.
About me

I'm Leon, a Swiss filmmaker and software engineer. I've lived in Switzerland for 26 years and spent a lot of time exploring the Swiss Alps.

As an IT guy I always needed a balance to touch some grass. Hiking to beautiful places and sleeping outside hits the spot for me. In summer 2025 I started posting some of my adventures on social media.

Red-lit peaks reflected in a still alpine lake Walking the Tannhorn ridge at sunrise above the Brienzergrat A lone peak above a lake at first light A rocky ridge rising out of a sea of cloud Two deckchairs on the grass above a turquoise lake Looking down on the Oeschinensee from the ridge A wooden chapel on a meadow below the mountains Golden larches along a lake in autumn Sleeping bags out on a flowering meadow above the valley A rowing boat on a lake below a limestone face

More on Instagram · @leon.helg ›

Hikebeast

What I do.

Popular CHF 27

The Swiss map

A guide with my favorite 141+ spots in the Swiss Alps.

Get the map
Free

Wildcamping Checker

Name any Swiss spot. The tool checks the local rules and sends you a full report.

Check a spot
from CHF 1000

Private tours

A private day in the Alps with me. Planned around your level.

Email me
from CHF 19

My Filters

The LUTs, the Nodetree and the complete DaVinci projects behind my Reels.

See the shop

Journal

Field reports from the spots: what the law actually says about wildcamping, and how to get there.

Read the journal

Photography & wallpapers

Prints and phone wallpapers from the spots I shoot. No shop yet, message me on Instagram.

@leon.helg
From real buyers

What buyers say.

Antonin @lazyset_up · 608K
★★★★★
"Honestly, it's an amazing guide with so many incredible spots. I already know Switzerland pretty well, but I had no idea about some of these places. The information is super useful too and all the details, best timings, sunlight conditions, parking, access, everything. Really recommend it!!!

Thanks a lot for all the dedication you put into this guide bro!"
Mike @pereganya_mike · 512K
★★★★★
"so many good wildcamping spots in the swiss alps!!"
Andrés @andres.soltermann · 4.9K
★★★★★
"I bought 2 other Switzerland guides before that and this is by far the best."
Oli @oliwear.j · 4.3K
★★★★★
"I showed Leon half the spots on this list but hey, it's a really good one 😄"
Simon @simon_ys32 · 58
★★★★★
"hatte den besten wildcamping ausflug ever!! danke"
Patrick @patrick.machler · 221
★★★★★
"everything worked out perfectly. I think it was money well spent. thanks for putting together this product 😄"

More reviews are on the guide page.  See the guide ›  Write a review ›

Journal

Notes from solo scouting in the Swiss Alps.

Wild camping law, hidden spots, practical knowledge from a life in the Swiss mountains plus five years of Hikebeast spot research. No trend reels, no listicles. Long reads, clear sources, verified on the ground.

All journal posts ›

Questions

Common questions, direct answers.

What's in the guide?
183 spots in the Swiss Alps, organised by region. For each spot:
  • Exact GPS for the spot and the parking
  • Walking time, difficulty, route notes
  • Best time of day and best season for photography
  • Wildcamping legal status with reference
  • Photos from the spot at the right light
An interactive web app you use on your phone or laptop, plus the PDF as a download you keep.
Is wildcamping legal in Switzerland?
There is no uniform federal law. The Swiss Alpine Club considers a single-night bivouac above the treeline unproblematic when no conflicting regulations apply and the camp is considerate of the environment1. SAC further recommends keeping at least 50 metres from water sources for sanitation. On private land, landowner consent is generally required under Swiss civil law. Wildcamping is forbidden in the Swiss National Park2, in the 43 federal hunting reserves (Eidgenössische Jagdbanngebiete)3, in Wildruhezonen during the protected season, and in cantonal nature reserves. These protected areas can apply at any altitude. Below the treeline, wildcamping is typically further restricted by cantonal and municipal rules. The Gems of Switzerland guide marks the spots with current legal status. Always verify the spot-specific status before you camp. For a single spot you can also run the Wildcamping Legality Checker.
How long does the walk take to reach a typical spot?
Most spots are under 90 minutes one way from a parking. About 20 are drive-up viewpoints with no hiking required. A handful are full-day or multi-day routes. Each spot lists walking time, elevation gain and difficulty so you can pick what fits the day.
What's the best month to hike the Swiss Alps?
The Swiss Alps hiking season runs from early June to mid-October. Lower valleys, lakes, and waterfalls peak in early June with the snowmelt. Most SAC mountain huts open in mid-June and stay staffed until mid-October4. High-alpine routes above roughly 2,400 metres are typically snow-free from mid-July. Autumn larch colour in the Engadin and Val Bregaglia runs from late September to mid-October, with peak intensity in the second and third week of October5. The guide lists the best window per spot.
Who is Leon Helg?
Swiss outdoor photographer and filmmaker. Has lived in Switzerland for 26 years, the last five spent mapping Alps spots that don't make tourist maps. Publishes on Instagram and TikTok as @leon.helg. Hikebeast operates under Saftladen GmbH, Rotkreuz, Switzerland.
Do you offer private tours?
Yes. Private hiking and photo tours in the Swiss Alps, usually a full day, planned around your level, the season and the light. From CHF 1000. Write to leon@hikebeast.ch with your dates.
What does it cost?
One-time payment of CHF 27. No subscription, no upsells.

Sources

  1. Swiss Alpine Club, "Camping and bivouacking in the Alps". sac-cas.ch. ↩
  2. Swiss National Park, 170.3 km² in canton Graubünden. nationalpark.ch. ↩
  3. Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU), 43 federal hunting reserves (Eidgenössische Jagdbanngebiete). bafu.admin.ch. ↩
  4. Swiss Alpine Club, hut directory and opening schedule. sac-cas.ch. ↩
  5. Graubünden Tourism, Larch Tracker. graubuenden.ch. ↩