6 Best Hikes in Zermatt, Switzerland

Mountain lovers from all over the world venture to Zermatt to gaze upon the mighty Matterhorn, which straddles the Italian-Swiss border. Naturally, all the best Zermatt hiking trails are odes to the most recognizable mountain in the Alps. 

Kati and I spent a week hiking in Zermatt in early-mid September. We recommend dedicating three days in Zermatt to hike the unparalleled Edelweissweg to Höhbalmen Meadows, the Tuftener High Trail, and the Gornergrat hike.

Although Zermatt attracts visitors all-year-round, it’s first and foremost a ski destination. To monetize the cableway infrastructure in summer, Zermatt Tourism cleverly designed thematic hiking trails that run between cableway mountain stations. For example, the Matterhorn Glacier Trail (#26), the 5-Lakes Trail (#11), and the Kristallweg (#7) are all point-to-point hikes that utilize multiple cableways.

Seasoned hikers will likely be disappointed by most of these underwhelming hiking trails that largely follow roads and ski slopes, especially the 5-Lakes Trail (#11) and the Kristallweg (#7). 

When planning a hiking trip to Zermatt, a healthy dose of skepticism is necessary for evaluating and prioritizing hikes. Keep in mind that social media has popularized viewpoints along some very mediocre trails. An exceptional lakeside photo of the Matterhorn doesn’t necessarily equate to an interesting hike. 

I’m coming in hot and heavy, because I want to ensure that your time and money is well spent in Zermatt. 

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Zermatt Hiking Map

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1. Edelweissweg to Höhbalmen Meadows Circuit Trail 

Edelweissweg is a life-giving hiking trail that rises steadily from the town center of Zermatt to the Höhbalmen Meadows.

With continuous views of Matterhorn’s triangular north face, the trail crosses the Höhbalmen plateau and develops into a balcony path above Zmutt Valley. 

With an unforgettable outlook towards Dent d’Hérens and the Zmutt Glacier, the Edelweissweg gently descends in wide serpentines.

The trail follows Zmutt Valley to the tiny hamlet of Zmutt and then continues all the way down to Zermatt.

Depending on your ascent route, the moderately-difficult Edelweissweg circuit trail is between 17.5 km and 20 km in length. Allow at least 8 hours to complete the trail. 

Read our Edelweissweg Hiking Guide for a complete trail description. 

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2. Gornergrat – Riffelberg – Riffelalp Hike

Gornergrat is a panoramic ridge overlooking the impressive Gorner Gorge, the Matterhorn (4478 m), and Dufourspitze (4634 m), the highest mountain in Switzerland.

It’s truly one of the most impressive viewpoints in the alps. The ridge is built-up with a hotel, railway mountain station, and observation platforms.

To get to Gornergrat, simply ride the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to the mountain station (40 minutes). The Gornergrat Railway valley station is located directly across from the Zermatt train station.

After sufficiently taking in the beauty of the glaciers and peaks from the observation platform behind 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, we recommend hiking down to Lake Riffelsee and further down to Riffelberg, or even Riffelalp.

Since you can board the Gornergrat Railway back to Zermatt from several different stations, you can tailor your hike according to your schedule and needs.

Read our Gornergrat hiking guide for essential information on riding the Gornergrat train and a complete trail description. 

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3. Tuftener High Trail 

The Tuftener High Trail is a scenic balcony trail connecting Täschalp with Tufteren. It follows the final leg of the Europaweg. 

With continuous views of the Matterhorn, this easy point-to-point hike crosses the eastern flanks of Mattertal Valley.

From the Tufteren hamlet, the trail follows the Blumenweg to Sunnegga. Hikers can descend to Zermatt with the Sunnegga funicular, or better yet, continue the hike to Findeln. Enjoy a mountainside lunch at @Paradise, Chez Vrony, or Findlerhof, on your way down to Zermatt. 

The easy-moderate 12.2 km Tuftener High Trail from Täschalp to Zermatt takes 4 hours. 

We’ve explained how to get to the trailhead in our Tuftener High Trail hiking guide. 

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4. Randa – Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge – Europahütte Circuit Hike

Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the Alps. It’s located above the village of Randa, which is an 18-minute train ride from Zermatt. 

From the Randa train station, the trail leads through the heart of the village, up a larch forest, to the suspension bridge. 

Along the way, there are peekaboo views of Weisshorn and the Bisgletscher. 

After the 10-minute bridge crossing, we detoured to Europahütte for lunch (30 minutes one-way). 

We enjoyed this hike, because it was quiet and the scenery was pristine (no ski infrastructure). It’s a nice adventure for an overcast, or cloudy day, when you want to be active, but you don’t want to spend a small fortune to access viewpoints that are obscured by the clouds (e.g. Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, etc…). 

This moderate 8.3 km circuit hike takes 4 hours. 

Read our Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge hiking guide for more information. 

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5. Matterhorn Glacier Trail

The Matterhorn Glacier Trail is a thematic trail (#26) that showcases what a melting glacier leaves behind as it retreats across the landscape. Since 1850, the Furgg and Theodul glaciers have retreated more than 3 kilometers. 

Starting at Trockener Steg (2939 m) and ending at Schwarzsee (2583 m), this rugged trail weaves between various lakes at the edge of the Furgg and Theodul glacier tongues. The Matterhorn’s Eastern Face dominates the skyline. 

To start the hike, walk to the Zermatt Bergbahnen valley station (Google Maps), which is located just south of Zermatt’s town center. 

Purchase the Matterhorn Glacier Trail Kombi-Ticket, which includes the Zermatt-Furi-Trockener Steg cableways and the Schwarzsee-Furi-Zermatt cableways.

Ride the Zermatt Bergbahnen to Trockener Steg (gondola to Furi followed by the aerial cableway to Trockener Steg). 

Note: It’s feasible to combine this trail with a visit to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, though you will need to purchase a different ticket. 

The moderate 6.6 km Matterhorn Glacier Trail takes 3 hours to complete. 

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6. Gorner Gorge – Blatten – Zum See (Perfect Hike for a Cloudy, Overcast Day in Zermatt)

We decided to make the most of our overcast day in Zermatt, by hiking through the Gorner gorge.

The entrance of the gorge is a 20-minute walk away from Zermatt’s town center. Follow the Zen Steckenstrasse south along the Matter Vispa river. After passing Fun-Park, keep your eyes out for a descending staircase on the left side of the paved road. Follow the stairs to the gorge entrance, marked by a small staffed timber hut.

Purchase your entrance ticket in cash, or by card and continue down a series of stairs to reach the gorge. It takes 20 minutes to walk through the Gorner Gorge, following a sturdy timber walkway.

Upon exiting the gorge, we continued the hike to the hamlets of Blatten (15 minutes) and Zum See, where we ate a delicious lunch at the charming Michelin-listed Restaurant Zum See amid stilted timber barns and houses.

Next, we crossed the Zmuttbach stream and hiked along the Zmuttweg trail to the hamlet of Zmutt. 

We returned to Zermatt via Hubel and Herbrig. This higher route is only suitable in dry conditions.

This 9.22 km circuit trail takes 3:30 without breaks. You can significantly shorten the hike, by descending to Zermatt after crossing the Zmuttbach stream.

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Where to Stay in Zermatt for Hiking

I recommend staying in the town center of Zermatt, walking distance to the train station. 

Take a look at these central accommodations: Haus Zer Weidu (budget), Wellness Hotel Alpenhof (luxury), Schweizerhof Zermatt (luxury),and  THE OMNIA (luxury).

On the other side of the Matter Vispa River, check out Jolimont Apartments (budget), Hotel Bristol (midrange), Hotel Daniela (midrange-luxury), and Europe Hotel & Spa Zermatt (luxury).

There are several famous mountainside hotels around Zermatt. These hotels are great places to stay in winter, because of their ski-in ski-out locations. But, in summer, their remote locations make it more difficult to actively explore the various trails of Mattertal Valley.

If you’re planning a relaxing spa holiday with some walking, then the mountainside Riffelalp Resort 2222 m is a wonderful option.

For the ultimate sunrise and sunset experience, consider staying a night in 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat.

Look for accommodation in Zermatt. 

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Keep Reading about Switzerland

Switzerland:

• Best Hikes in Switzerland

Lucerne:

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

Appenzell:

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

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