My favorite jogging and walking path is along the Limmat River. The Zurich River Run, walk and sometimes rafting path, starts downtown at the Swiss National Museum (or Platzspitz next to the Main Train Station) and follows the river to Werdinsel (a river dam). This is a flat path by Swiss standards.
The Kloster Fahr-Weg – 6 mile loop
If you start near the museum and walk downstream, you’ll be flanked by the Limmat River on your right and the Sihl River on your left. And notice that downstream is actually north. The Limmat and Sihl Rivers are tributaries to the Rhine River. Huge Beech Trees, which are hundreds of years old, guide you to the north corner of the park where the rivers converge (spitz) and where the Platzspitz Fountain is located. Take a right over the larger bridge toward the Marriott Hotel.
Once on the northside of the Limmat River, the route is well marked. Following the river should be guidance enough except for two critical junctions, both of which seem as if the path crosses back over the river but it does not. Stay on this side of the river all the way until the dam at Werdinsel, 3 miles ahead. The picture below shows the first critical junction. The path goes down and under the bridge. It gets tight but I like the historical reminder of medieval development.
Zurich River Run Details
The first mile is a bit of a maze as you’ll pass a swimming area, some cafes, and urban paintings (graffiti). The tall windowless building across the river is a working flour mill, the Swiss Mill, which is open for tours during the Zurich Open House weekend in late September.
Continuing along, you will pass the Wipkingen Community Center with a petting zoo of rosters, sheep, and dwarf pigs. On nice days, they let the pigs out in the park area to mix with the resident sunbathers. If you have additional time and it’s warm, this is the area to begin rafting down the river to Werdinsel. The rafting trip takes about an hour (4 bridges) before you’ll need to get out at the dam.
FYI, there are plenty of water fountains and cafes along the path. This really is a great walk as well as a run. There are free public bathrooms at the Wipkingen Community Center, a bit farther past Werdinsel and at the starting point, Platzspitz There is a pay bathroom outside of the National Museum.
After Wipkingen, you’ll go along some community gardens, which I find fascinating. These plots are very hard to obtain and families build huts and other structures that help them spend time at their garden. Shortly after the gardens is another bridge, the second critical juncture. It feels like the path goes over the bridge rather than on the sidewalk along the road. Stay with the road here, there is a path turn off in about a block.
Once back on the path, there are no necessary turns for many, many miles. If you want a longer run, you can take this path all the way to the town of Baden, following the Limmat River the whole way. I’ve made it about ½ way to Baden and it’s a beautiful country walk with many surprises.
On the Zurich River Run, you can’t miss the dam at Werdinsel. There is a public swimming area which is a fun break on a hot day. Take your shoes off and jump in. There is a clean water shower at the end of the swimming area and a fountain a bit farther down toward the Werdinsel restaurant.
If you don’t stop for a swim, you’ll cross over the river and begin your return trip. Notice the water ramp and the exit strategy if you decide to go rafting on another day. On the south side of the river, the path at this point is bigger and is the start of bike route 66. Keep note if you’d like to bike to Baden.
On the Zurich River Run route back to the city, you’ll pass several homes with personal gardens and even some garden gnomes. The route on this side of the river is only 1 block from a tram line. So, if you need to stop, you can take the tram back to the main train station and downtown.
You’ll cross over the river to the north side a final time to retrace the last 1.5 miles. The bridge is decorative metal and leads to the Wipkingen Community Center. Once back on the north side of the river, your trip becomes familiar until you arrive back at Platzspitz.
I personally like to reverse the loop and take the bike path out to the dam and return on the northside the whole way. I like this route because I like the hillside view of the town of Höngg.