Oberer Katzensee, a region nestled between the city of Zurich, Regensdorf, and Rümlang in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, is characterized by its pristine natural landscapes. This area is designated as a nature reserve, featuring the two small lakes, Oberer and Unterer Katzensee, surrounded by moor forests, reed meadows, and a mix of forests and farming countryside. The diverse terrain makes it suitable for several sports like road cycling, touring cycling, hiking, jogging, and more.
170
Routes
4.6
(802)
Average rating
8987
People visited

4.7
(68)
546
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(6)
227
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(79)
575
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
155
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(96)
1,625
riders
52.4km
02:06
240m
240m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(26)
342
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.9
(12)
274
riders
78.6km
03:34
770m
770m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.8
(9)
135
riders
32.7km
01:36
360m
360m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.5
(51)
460
riders
43.0km
02:48
480m
480m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(54)
358
riders
51.0km
03:09
490m
490m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(3)
191
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(11)
68
riders
67.4km
04:04
480m
480m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(18)
421
runners
9.61km
01:01
90m
90m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(29)
252
runners
7.98km
00:50
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(65)
251
runners
5.88km
00:36
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

29
runners
23.2km
02:24
90m
90m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(19)
149
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
75
riders
38.5km
03:05
870m
870m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.3
(10)
41
riders
29.3km
02:06
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
34
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(3)
29
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.8
(12)
148
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(7)
19
riders
19.4km
01:08
160m
160m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
27.9km
01:42
270m
270m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Oberer Katzensee offers a variety of outdoor activities including road cycling, touring cycling, hiking, jogging, mountain biking, and gravel biking. The region is known for its natural landscapes and is designated as a nature reserve. Many routes are available for different skill levels.
The Oberer Katzensee region is characterized by its two small lakes, Oberer and Unterer Katzensee, which are part of a protected nature reserve. The area features moor forests, reed meadows, and a mix of forests and farming countryside. It is also a year-round hotspot for bird and nature watching.
Yes, Oberer Katzensee is suitable for road cycling, with specific routes available. The region integrates into broader cycling networks, offering opportunities for longer touring. More information is available in the Road Cycling Routes around Oberer Katzensee guide.
The area boasts numerous trails suitable for hiking, from easy strolls around the lake to more challenging paths. The walking path around the lakes and through the farming countryside is generally a wide, obstacle-free dirt path. Guides like Hiking around Oberer Katzensee provide detailed information.
The Oberer Katzensee region is popular for families due to its easy-to-access paths, swimming opportunities, and areas for relaxation like barbecue sites and playgrounds. The walking path around the lakes is suitable for all-terrain strollers. Family-friendly hikes are detailed in the Family-friendly hikes around Oberer Katzensee guide.
The Katzensee offers opportunities for swimming, particularly at the Strandbad Katzensee on its southern shore. This location features an 80-meter long bathing beach. The water is generally warm enough for swimming from late May through August.
The Oberer Katzensee region is accessible, with guides available for Hikes from bus stations around Oberer Katzensee. Public transport options connect the area to nearby urban centers like Zurich.
The Oberer Katzensee region has received an average rating of 4.58 out of 5 stars from more than 30,000 ratings. Over 426,000 visitors have shared their experiences in the area.
Komoot offers several guides for Oberer Katzensee, including Road Cycling Routes, Hiking, Running Trails, and MTB Trails. There are also guides for family-friendly and easy routes.
While most tracks are open to bikes, some walkways, particularly east of Oberer Katzensee and north of Unterer Katzensee, require cyclists to dismount and push their bikes. This is especially relevant on weekends when the area can be busy.
Oberer Katzensee is a natural oasis offering a serene escape from urban life, accessible year-round. Its designation as a nature reserve ensures the preservation of its unique ecological value, including diverse plant species and migratory birds. The area provides a combination of accessible paths, swimming, and relaxation spots.
Information about Katzensee Lake is available on the zuerich.com website. Details regarding the Seebad Katzensee (public bath) can be found on the City of Zurich's website. For nature conservation inquiries, the Fachstelle Naturschutz Kanton Zürich can be contacted at +41 43 259 30 32.

