Pfannenstiel Ridge Walk from Meilen

The Pfannenstiel is the wooded ridge (about 850 m) that runs along the east shore of Lake Zürich. A route from the lakeside town of Meilen climbs through vineyards and orchards onto the ridge and continues through forest and farmland with views over the lake and, on clear days, to the Alps. The route is marked with yellow hiking-trail signs and can be completed as a loop or as a point-to-point hike ending at a train or bus stop on the other side of the ridge. The ascent is steady but not technical, and the gradient is moderate throughout. This is a good half-day outing for walkers who want a longer climb than the Uetliberg while remaining within the S-Bahn network.