Respecting the outdoors: Switzerland

In our Respect the Outdoors series, we're focussing on hotspots for boulderers, climbers and general outdoor enthusiasts - not only because the local wildlife but also for the local people.

We can't talk about climbing hotspots without highlighting Switzerland Spots like Magic wood, Brione and Ticino are recognised all around the world for the gorgeous scenery and world class bouldering.

We caught up with 3RD ROCK Ambassador Michaela Tracy to share some of the things she does when visiting Switzerland to help keep us climbers & adventurers in the good books!

Of course this outside of the obvious: Clean your chalk off the rock, stick to paths and Magic Wood isn't a toilet!

Make sure to only park in designated areas and where applicable make sure you pay the relevant parking charges.

Fees are used to cover the additional expenses caused by the increase in traffic to the area (like waste management & area maintenance, and as a way of controlling the number of visitors. If we want to maintain access to areas, and be courteous to the local community, it is important to pay up! 💲💲

Chironico has recently introduced parking charges to control overcrowding in the area. You now must park at the car park in the centre of town and hike up the hill.

Brione does have charges, but only for peak holiday season (1st April - 31st October) which doesn’t tend to coincide with peak climbing season.

In Magic Wood there are a number of different options, both paid and unpaid. It’s best to check local information before you go.

This is a super duper important one: Only camp in approved locations - this includes vans! 🚐

Switzerland can be pretty strict on this, and it is likely that if you park in an unapproved location you will be moved on. Luckily there are spots where it is permitted to stay in vans near popular climbing destinations. 🙌

Where to rest your head in Brione: you can stay for free over winter in the “Area sosta camper Verzasca,” and in Chironico you can pay 12 CHF to stay overnight in the car park.

Sleeping in Magic Wood: you can stay at the campsite in a van for 16 CHF per night, or if you don’t want to pay you can either park at the dam at valle di lei which is 14 km up the valley, or in Juf which is 22 km at the end of the valley.

Most regions of Switzerland have very specific rules about rubbish, and you will commonly need to buy a special coloured rubbish bag for your general waste.

These are normally sold in local supermarkets - but can be pricey!

Keep costs down by recycling as much as possible. Recycling is highly encouraged in the country and most towns and villages will have at least one recycling point.

Keep dogs on leads. In most parts of Switzerland dogs must be kept on lead at all times in public spaces, this is a law.

It's also considerate to fellow climbers who may not appreciate little Fido leaving paw prints on their bouldering mat, or stealing their sandwich.

If we want the community to see a real benefit from the increase in tourism to their area, we need to be visiting local shops, cafes and restaurants - not just doing all of our shopping at the supermarket in the closest big town.

It might not be the most dirtbag friendly option, but it helps support small businesses and can improve relations between climbers and the local population!

Plus you may find locally made goodies that nearby Coop wouldn't offer. 😋

There you have it, some easy to follow tips to help the locals around Magic Wood, Cironico or any other areas welcome climbers with open arms!

We'd love to see your Swiss climbing adventures, so don't forget to tag us using @3rdrockclothing so we can sit at our desks in envy! 📸