Hiking and Strolling Around Zermatt

October 20, 2026

The walks around Zermatt run from a flat village loop to a mountain-hut approach graded for sure-footed hikers, so this page lists them from easiest to hardest. The high trails are a summer activity, roughly mid-June to early October, and the lifts that serve them take breaks in the shoulder weeks. Distances and times vary by source, and costs are in Swiss francs (CHF). Carry layers, water and sun protection, stay on waymarked paths and start early, because cloud and thunderstorms often build by late morning.

Level and free: the village loop

Start at the station and follow Bahnhofstrasse to the Kirchplatz and the parish church of St. Mauritius. Cross the Kirchbrücke footbridge over the Mattervispa and finish in Hinterdorf, a lane of old larch barns and granaries on stone slabs, where people live. The loop is short, free and has no real climbs.

Behind the church lies the Mountaineers’ Cemetery, where climbers who died in the surrounding mountains are buried. It is a place of mourning. Walk through quietly, speak softly and leave the graves as you found them. Admission is free.

Gentle and downhill: Gornergrat to Riffelberg

Ride the cog train up to Gornergrat at 3,089 m, then return as far as Rotenboden. A 10-minute walk leads to Riffelsee at 2,757 m, and the path continues to Riffelberg, where the train takes you down. It is mostly downhill and easy underfoot, but the start is high, so go slowly. A summer return fare is CHF 132 and the winter return CHF 102, and Swiss Travel Pass holders pay half. Use the Gornergrat Bahn price page for the current table.

Moderate: the Zmutt hamlet walk

Zmutt sits at about 1,936 m and is more than 500 years old. About 20 dark timber houses cluster around a baroque chapel to St Catherine of Alexandria, with 1727 on its doors, and one house carries the date 1595. The walk from Zermatt is official hike number 121. It covers about 2.7 km, climbs about 330 m and takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes each way. Bring food and water. Do not count on a restaurant on the way. See the Zmutt chapel page .

Medium: the Five Lakes Walk

The Five Lakes Walk, or 5-Seenweg, goes from Blauherd down to Sunnegga past Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee. Plan on about 10 km and about 3 hours. The Swiss route listing gives 11 km, 380 m of climbing and 660 m of descent, and rates it as medium for technical and physical demands. Stellisee is about 20 minutes from Blauherd. The Matterhorn reflects in Stellisee, Grindjisee and Grünsee on a calm day. Moosjisee is a reservoir used for snow-making, and Leisee has a bathing beach.

The walk depends on the Sunnegga funicular and the Blauherd gondola. A combined ticket, up to Blauherd and down from Sunnegga, was about CHF 47 to 52 in recent summer tables, so confirm the price. The lifts of this sector rest from mid-October until late November, which ends the season. The full route is on MySwitzerland , and guided options can be browsed through a GetYourGuide search for Zermatt walking tours .

Demanding: the Hörnlihütte approach

The trail from Schwarzsee to the Hörnlihütte (3,260 m) gains about 680 m and is graded T3 to T4. It is a serious route for experienced hikers, open from roughly mid-June to mid-September, and it should never be walked in snow or ice. The guided version is graded T4, takes 5 to 6 hours including the gondola and has a minimum age of 10. The hut is the climbers’ base camp for the Matterhorn, not a lunch stop, and beds must be booked well ahead. The Hörnli ridge above it is a guided alpine climb, not a walk. See the guided hike listing .

Maps and safety

Zermatt Bergbahnen sells hiking tickets for lift-assisted routes and gives out a free hiking map. Walkers on glacier ground need a certified mountain guide. Mountain rescue is 144.