Switzerland only has one national park, aptly named the Swiss National Park. However, the country has 18 other regional nature parks, wilderness parks, and reserves with unbeatable views. Here are the best nature parks in Switzerland and their closest campsites:
The Jura Vaudois Nature Park, near the French border, is a picturesque Swiss mountain and gorge region, complete with woodland pastures and old stone walls that run along the rural property boundaries. Camping des Cheseaux is neatly located 25 minutes away from the main entrance to the park, 20 minutes from Lake Geneva, and 40 minutes from the city of Geneva. An electric hookup pitch goes for £27 to £34 and the campsite amenities include mini golf, table tennis, and a communal kitchenette.
With rolling green pastures blending into jagged rocky peaks, the Gantrisch Nature Park provides an easy way to view the famous Alpine landscape. To the south of Gantrisch is the Diemtigtal Nature Park, which has higher, colder mountains that enclose crystal-clear lakes formed from melted glacier waters. Camping Stuhlegg is less than a 30-minute drive from both nature parks, near the border of Thun Lake. The campsite features a bistro with a sun terrace, a natural swimming pond, a small camp shop, and laundry facilities. Electric hookup pitches are £35 to £40 per day, depending on the season.
The Swiss National Park is the country’s largest protected natural space. Sprawling over the Western Rhaetian Alps, Switzerland’s only official national park is a hiking wonderland with gentle and challenging trails running through gorges and over snow-capped peaks. You must stick to the paths inside a protected area; from these paths, you can spot ibex and chamois goats, red deer, and Eurasian lynx.
If you make it to the eastern edge of the Swiss National Park, you can venture into the Val Müstair Biosphere, a UNESCO reserve with classic valley villages and quaint organic farms. In the town of Zernez, near the outer boundaries of the Swiss National Park, lies Camping Cul, a £41-a-night campsite with a café and snack bar, a kiosk, an all-ages playground, laundry facilities, and a kitchen house.
Zürich Sihlwald Wilderness Park is a large forested area to the south of Zürich that is split into two sections: the Langenberg Zoo and the Zürich Sihlwald. Langenberg is the oldest zoo in Switzerland and accommodates animals, including bears, moose, lynx, otters, wolves, and bison, in spacious, natural enclosures. The adjacent Sihlwald is formed of ancient beech trees once part of a greater forest that spread across 80% of Central Europe. Camping Sihlwald is a peaceful campsite in the middle of the woodlands that offer pitches for £30 per day, with access to hot showers, laundry facilities, and a games area with ping pong, billiards, and darts.
The UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, near the town of Lucerne, is comprised of moors and bogs at the base of frosty mountains, which are critical to local biodiversity. These immense wetlands help keep the Biosphere sustainable, even under layers of snow. Hasle Stellplatz is a basic campsite, not much more than a car park with a bathroom and shower, but it makes up for the lack of amenities by being in the very heart of the Biosphere. The perfect base for a day of exploration, a stay at Hasle costs £22 a night plus £0.50 per kWh of electricity.