Zermatt is not just a charming mountain village with cozy streets full of wooden houses. This village is best known as the gateway to the iconic Matterhorn. From Zermatt you can easily hike into the majestic Alps and various beautiful routes lead you past mountain lakes, rugged rocks and, for enthusiasts, even over a glacier. We have collected the most beautiful hikes near the Matterhorn and are happy to help you on your way.
The best hiking trails in Zermatt
Five Lakes Trail or 5-Seenweg
- Distance: 11 km
- Elevation: ▲ 300 m ▼ 575 m
- Cost: 47 CHF (€ 49) for a 5 Lakes Walk ticket. With this ticket you can take the lifts from Zermatt to Blauherd, and from Sunnegga back to Zermatt.
The Five Lakes Trail or 5-Seenweg in Zermatt takes you along no fewer than five picturesque mountain lakes: the Stellisee, the Grindjisee, the Grünsee, the Moosjisee and finally the Leisee. The 11-kilometer route offers breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, which is reflected in three of the lakes. Instagram-worthy pictures, check! The route is well marked, allowing you to optimally enjoy the alpine meadows with colorful flowers around you. With a height difference of approximately 300 meters, the tour is challenging, but certainly not impossible for most hikers.
To get to the start of the Five Lakes Trail, first take the underground funicular in Zermatt to Sunnegga. This takes you in just four minutes to the mountain station at 2288m altitude. From there, you can take the cable car to the Blauherd mountain station, where the hiking trail begins.
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Five Lakes Trail
Matterhorn Glacier Trail
- Distance: 16 km
- Elevation: ▲ 1,200 m ▼ 1,200 m
- Cost: 19 CHF (€ 20) for a round trip ticket with the cable lift to Furi.
The Matterhorn Glacier Trail is quite a bit tougher than the Five Lakes Trail. This route has a huge number of elevation meters, but the reward is very rich. Unless you do rock climbing, you will not get closer to the Matterhorn. We wrote down our entire adventure in a separate blog post, which you can read here.
If the elevation gain scares you, know that you can take the lift to skip most of the climb. There is a gondola that goes to Trockener Steg. However, we found the price very high: you pay 19 CHF (€ 20) for the first lift to Furi and another 47 CHF (€ 50) for a one-way trip to Trockener Steg. If you choose this option and walk back to Zermatt, the entire route is 12.6km and you only have to climb 160m and descend 1450m.
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Matterhorn Glacier Trail
With crampons over the Gorner Glacier
- Distance: 16 km
- Elevation: ▲ 750 m ▼ 750 m
- Cost: 100 CHF (€ 106) for a round trip ticket with the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt to the Rotenboden station.
Do you want something more special and even more challenging? Then opt for a hike across the Gorner Glacier. With a length of twelve kilometers, this is the second-largest ice mass in the Alps. You have to cross it with crampons on your feet. Moreover, you reach the glacier with a spectacular cogwheel train. In our opinion, this is an experience you absolutely should not miss. We wrote a separate blog post about this amazing experience, which you can read here.
Unfortunately, like most things in Switzerland, the Gornergratbahn is not cheap. A round-trip ticket costs 100 CHF (€106). We saved 50% by hiking down from Rotenboden station to Zermatt. It’s an extra eight kilometers, but it’s all downhill, about 1,250 meters.
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Gorner Glacier
Furi suspension bridge and the Gornerschlucht
- Distance: 5.5 km
- Elevation: ▲ 110 m ▼ 350 m
- Cost: 15 CHF (€ 16) for a single ride with the Materhorn Express from Zermatt to the Furi station and 5.5 CHF (€ 6) for a ticket for the Gornerschlucht.
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Furi Suspension Bridge and Gornerschlucht
This shorter walk combines two highlights above Zermatt: the Furi suspension bridge and the Gornerschlucht. You start at the mountain station in Furi and follow the signs to the suspension bridge. This bridge is 100 meters long and hangs about 90 meters above the ground. It offers a spectacular view of the Gornera river below.
After crossing, you descend to the impressive Gornerschlucht. This gorge has been carved out by the Gornera river in 220 million year old serpentinite rock. Via a secured path with wooden platforms you walk through the gorge, past bizarre rock formations and thundering waterfalls. Once out of the gorge, you walk back to the center of Zermatt.
Access to the Gornerschlucht costs CHF 5.50 (€6) and the site is open from 9:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Visit this website for the most up-to-date information.
Where to stay in Zermatt?
Zermatt, a car-free town, is the perfect base for hiking near the Matterhorn, but it can only be accessed by train. We therefore chose to stay in the nearby village of Täsch. To stay in theme, we stayed at the cozy Matterhorn Inn right across from the train station. Trains to Zermatt depart every 20 minutes. A round-trip ticket costs CHF 17.20 (€18), and the ride takes about twelve minutes. You can park your car for free in the hotel parking lot.
Of course, you can also stay in Zermatt itself. There, you will find a wide range of hotels and vacation rentals at various budget levels. Keep in mind that prices here are higher than in Täsch. The advantage? You can walk directly from your hotel to the start of the hiking trails or lifts, with a view of the Matterhorn as soon as you step out your front door. You can park your car at the Matterhorn Terminal in Täsch for about CHF 15 (€16) per day, and then take the train to Zermatt.
