I’ve been to Switzerland several times, and it always beckons me back.
The iconic Alpine landscape is unmatched in beauty and, unfortunately, also in price. It’s one of the most expensive countries in the world, and traveling there costs a pretty penny.
High prices for flights, accommodations, meals, and entertainment mean I can’t afford to visit Switzerland often from the US.
So, in a quest to find an equally charming — but less bank-breaking — alternative, I have taken trips to several destinations that people say feel like America’s version of Switzerland.
Each offered breathtaking scenery and impressive mountain views, but one stood out as the best destination for an Alpine-style getaway.
Ouray and Telluride are lovely, but neither felt like a perfect Switzerland dupe
Ouray, Colorado, situated in the San Juan Mountains, is often referred to as the “Switzerland of America.”
With an elevation of about 7,800 feet above sea level, this town in southwestern Colorado does offer some pretty epic mountain vistas.
I especially enjoyed climbing to Box Canyon Falls Park, which delighted me with views of waterfalls and a downtown area surrounded by soaring peaks.
It’s obvious how this town got its Alpine moniker, but the surrounding landscape felt significantly drier than the lush greenery found throughout Switzerland. It makes sense considering Colorado’s high elevation contributes to its dry climate.
Located just an hour from Ouray is Telluride, Colorado, which some also describe as having a Swiss vibe. Telluride actually felt more European to me than Ouray.
I attribute that to the town’s picturesque Victorian-era buildings, stunning wildflowers, and gondola system offering scenic rides that remind me of traveling into the Alps.
The mountains lacked snow-covered peaks during my summertime visit, but I’d consider returning in the winter.
The ‘Switzerland of North America’ in Montana was lovely, but I can’t see myself visiting often
I have found myself charmed by Montana’s Glacier National Park, which many have dubbed the “Switzerland of North America.”
Though all of the park is magnificent, its Many Glacier portion reminded me most of the Swiss Alps — its chalet-style Many Glacier Hotel, surrounded by Matterhorn-esque mountains, was a striking sight.
I would’ve loved to venture inside to continue my comparison; however, the hotel is closed much of the year, including during my offseason visit in late September.
Sadly, many of the hotel’s windows were boarded up, which distracted from its appeal.
Beyond the hotel, the Grinnell Glacier Trail offered dramatic mountain peaks, glacial landscapes, colorful wildflowers, and pristine lakes.
This journey was mesmerizing, and it truly felt like stepping into the Alps. However, the hike was also an arduous 10-mile uphill climb.
Though I’m eager to make the trek again someday, it took me several hours just to drive to the Many Glacier area of the national park from my hotel in a nearby town.
On future visits to Glacier National Park, I’ll likely stick to hikes on easier-to-access pathways. Though these more well-traveled areas of the park are still amazing, they feel less like Switzerland than Many Glacier’s Grinnell Glacier Trail.
All in all, Washington’s North Cascades National Park provided me with the best Alpine experience
Located just about two hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park is a true Alpine gem with year-round snowcapped peaks and stunning glacial lakes.
It’s been nicknamed the “American Alps,” and I’d say the park has provided the best Alpine experience of the spots I’ve visited outside Switzerland.
It’s shocking that this amazing destination is one of America’s least visited national parks, given its mesmerizing beauty that resembles Switzerland’s mountainous topography and its proximity to a major city.
But the smaller number of visitors is part of what makes this park so magical. It offers unspoiled beauty without the crowds.
Spanning more than 500,000 acres, the North Cascades feature more than 400 miles of hiking trails. My favorite was Diablo Lake, which is a surreal shade of turquoise.
My son skipped stones on its surface, and I wished I had packed a picnic so I could linger longer in this stunning setting.
I’m told that sometimes you can even see mountain goats, which definitely would have enhanced the park’s Alpine vibes. I wasn’t so fortunate on my visit, but I did enjoy an abundance of wildflowers that added to the area’s endless charm.
The area also had some great options for local accommodations.
My family stayed in the neighboring town of Winthrop, a Western-themed area that looked straight out of a movie. Though it didn’t feel especially Swiss, it was enchanting and I’d happily go back.
North Cascades is my new go-to spot to get a taste of Switzerland at a fraction of the price
I loved my journey through several of America’s charming mountain villages and craggy Alpine scenery, and I’d gladly return to all these breathtaking locales.
Still, the next time I’m craving a getaway to savor a peaceful paradise with icy mountains and unbelievably turquoise lakes that don’t require a passport — or venturing hundreds of miles from the nearest airport — I’ll choose the serene beauty waiting for me in northern Washington.
Thanks to the North Cascades’ proximity to Seattle and the numerous nearby hotel options, the park is rather easy to visit. And perhaps best of all, it’s also free to enter.
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