Edelweissweg Hike (Höhbalmen High Trail) in Zermatt, Switzerland

Edelweissweg is a circular hiking trail that leads from the town center of Zermatt to the Höhbalmen alpine meadows. 

After a vigorous and unrelenting ascent, the path levels across the Höhbalmen plateau and develops into a high balcony trail with jaw-dropping views of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa massif. 

This day hike takes 7 hours (without breaks) to complete. Fortunately, the considerable length of the trail combined with the absence of cableways thwarts most travelers from attempting this hike.

I say this with zero hesitation: Edelweissweg (trail 30) is the best hike in Zermatt, Switzerland. If your time here is limited, make this hike your top priority.

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Edelweissweg – Höhbalmen Hiking Map

To view an interactive map of this hike, check out our Zermatt hiking guide.

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Essential Trail Info

Hiking Season | June – September (October)

Trail Direction | Hike the circuit trail counter-clockwise, so that you’re facing the Matterhorn for most of the day. 

Difficulty | This hike is moderately-difficult due to the elevation gain and the distance. Its difficulty lies in its length, not in the terrain. There are technical sections. 

Trail Variations | When we hiked this trail in September 2024, the Triftbach Valley ascent route from Zermatt to Berghaus Trift was damaged due to heavy storms. To bypass the closed section, we hiked to Höhbalmen meadows via Hubel. Check the current trail status on the swisstopo mobile app, or wegwandern.ch. The Hubel route is slightly shorter (17.5 km) than the official Edelweissweg (20.7 km). If the official route is open, I would do it, unless you want to hike a slightly shorter route. 

Where to Eat | Berggasthaus Trift and Restaurant Z’Mutt. We packed a lunch and sufficient water (2 liters per person). In the town center, you can purchase sandwiches at Bäckerei Fuchs. They have four bakeries in Zermatt, including this central location on Bahnhofstrasse. We also ate at Restaurant Z’Mutt, which is located in Zmutt, towards the end of the hike. 

Responsible Hiking | The hike is named after the rare, snow-white Edelweiss flower, which only grows in high altitudes. Edelweiss is a protected plant. Please enjoy these miraculous flowers in their natural habitat and do not pick. On the Höhbalmen plateau, you may see Valais blackneck goats and blacknose sheep. Do not feed, or in any way disturb the animals. 

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Edelweissweg Höhbalmen High Trail Description 

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Alternative Ascent Route: Zermatt – Hubel – Höhbalmen (2:30 hours)

As stated earlier, we hiked to Höhbalmen via Hubel, because the Zermatt-Berggasthaus Trift trail (aka Triftweg) was closed. This alternative ascent route intersects with the official Edelweissweg trail atop the Höhbalmen meadow. 

From the town center (Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius church), follow Oberdorfstrasse street, passing by Du Pont and Herz Stüberl. 

Soon, veer right on Schälpmattgasse. The narrow cobbled road ascends.

Turn right again, following the Kulturweg Zermatt-Zmutt trail in the direction of Hubel. There’s a handwritten “Wanderweg” sign on the left side of the road and stacked yellow trail signs on the right. 

On the way to Hubel, the path crosses the Herbrig plateau, home to the oldest barn in Europe, dating back to 1261. Like many traditional timber buildings in the area, the grain barn stands on stone slaps on four stilts. 

The trail continues to rise above Zermatt. 

At the signed trail junction at Hubel, turn right in the direction of Alterhaupt Edelweiss and Trift. Heading in a northeasterly direction, your back is to the Matterhorn. 

After traversing a patch of larch forest, the trail progresses across tussock and juniper-carpeted mountainside. 

The Mischabel group (Mischabelhörne in German) comes into focus, especially the pointy snow-covered summits of Täschhorn (4490 m) and Dom (4545 m). 

About 20 minutes from Hubel, you’ll reach another junction. Turn left to Höhbalmen. In a westerly direction, the narrow path ascends. Zermatt is still visible below. 

Breithorn (4160 m) is the impressive glaciated dome to the left of the pointy Klein Matterhorn. 

The final stretch to Höhbalmen follows a depression and creek.

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Höhbalmen to Zmutt Valley (2:15 hours)

As soon as you crest the Höhbalmen plateau (2665 m), your efforts will be rewarded with a panorama to die for. 

The striking north face of the Matterhorn looms large, upstaging a host of 4000-meter peaks of the Mischabel and Monte Rosa groups. 

At the signed junction, turn left in the direction of Chalbermatten (2:15 hours) and Zmutt (2:50 hours). 

The Matterhorn is your constant companion along the smooth, mostly level Höhbalmen High Trail. 

In summer, Valais Blacknose sheep graze atop Höhbalmen.

Initially, the trail traverses the wide plateau, scattered with rocks. It’s delightfully easy. 

With time, the trail develops into a balcony overlooking Dent d’hérens (4171 M) and the tongue of Zmutt glacier, which melts into Zmutt Valley. 

The narrow trail contours around the steep mountain slopes, still maintaining a mostly level gradient. 

Soon after passing a cross-bearing elevated viewpoint, the Edelweissweg gently descends to Zmutt Valley. 

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Zmutt Valley – Chalbermatten – Zmutt (1:15 hours)

When you reach the valley floor, turn left in the direction of Zmutt, signed 1:15 hours. The flat riverside path gives way to a rocky zigzag descent, which circumvents the Arbenbach waterfall.

The Edelweissweg smooths out and leads through a larch stand. 

As the descent continues, the path tacks to and away from the flowing Zmutt stream. 

On the way to Chalbermatten, the trail abruptly ascends for a few minutes. 

Chalbermatten is marked by the Restaurant Kalbermatten (private / closed). Nearby the Chalbermatten trail junction (2105 m) indicates 35 minutes to Zmutt and 1:45 hours to Zermatt. 

Zmutt is located just beyond the reservoir wall of Zmutt Stream. This 500-year-old hamlet is a cluster of stilted timber buildings with slate roofs. Tucked inside, you’ll find Restaurant Z’Mutt, a popular gathering place for hikers.

This mountain restaurant is open from 9 am until 5:30 pm (the kitchen closes earlier). When we arrived at 3:50 pm, the menu was limited to soups and cakes. 

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Zmutt to Zermatt (1 hour)

After a well-earned break, follow the most direct route down to Zermatt. Ignore the trails leading to Hubel. 

The final stretch follows the Zmutt River into the town center. 

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Where to Stay in Zermatt

We recommend staying in a central location in Zermatt, between the train station and Kirchplatz (church square).

Haus Zer Weidu (budget-friendly apartment), SCHLOSS Zermatt – Active & CBD Spa Hotel (luxury), Wellness Hotel Alpenhof (luxury) are all great options near the train station. 

Schweizerhof Zermatt – a Small Luxury Hotel (luxury) is advantageously located on the Bahnhofstrasse, the main street of Zermatt. From its enviable perch, The Omnia (luxury) enjoys direct elevator access to the heart of town.

Across the Matter Vispa River, you’ll find more standout accommodations like Jolimont Apartments (midrange), Hotel Bristol (midrange), Hotel Daniela (midrange-luxury), Europe Hotel & Spa Zermatt (luxury), and Youth Hostel Zermatt (budget). 

Look for accommodation in Zermatt. 

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Keep Reading about Switzerland

Zermatt:

• Gornergrat Hike
• Tufteren High Trail
• Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge Hike

Lake Lucerne Region:

• Lucerne Itinerary for Hikers
• 2-Day Stanserhorn-Engelberg Hike
• Walenpfad Panorama Trail
• Stoos Ridge Trail

Appenzell:

• Appenzell (Appenzellerland) Region Guide 
• Appenzell Village: Hotels, Restaurants, and Museums
• Best Hikes in Appenzell
• 3-Day Alpstein High Trail Trek

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