High-Altitude Trail
The Höhenweg (high-altitude trail) brings hikers to the most beautiful locations in the mountains around Zermatt. Highlights include Höhbalmen and Gornergrat, where the Alpine views seem to go on for ever.
- Type Multi-day hike
- Difficulty hard
- Duration 32,10 h
- Distance 89,3 km
- Ascent 5749 m
- Descent 5921 m
- Lowest point 1438 m
- Highest point 3159 m
Description
Zermatt – the ultimate in alpinism. This long-distance trail, which takes about 35 hours in all to hike, links the beautiful mountain balconies overlooking Zermatt. With total climbs and descents of 7,000 vertical metres, the route promises an unforgettable experience.
The decision of where and when to stop for the night is down to taste and fitness. The choice of welcoming mountain huts offering a real sense of mountain adventure is plentiful. One of the best features of this hike is the way the mountain landscape and the views of the surrounding 4,000-metre peaks change all the time.
- Views of the highest mountains in the Alps
- Photo subject: the Matterhorn from different angles
- Photo subject: the Monte Rosa massif from different angles
Route stages with accommodation options:
- Zermatt - Alterhaupt (Edelweiss) (1h) > Pension Edelweiss
- Alterhaupt (Edelweiss) - Trift (1h 10) > Berggasthaus Trift
- Trift - Schönbiel hut (4h 10) > Schönbiel hut
- Schönbiel hut - Schwarzsee (3h 10) > Hotel Schwarzsee
- Schwarzsee - Gandegg hut (2h 35) > Gandegg hut
- Gandegg hut - Furi (2h 10) > Hotel Silvana
- Furi - Riffelalp (1h 30) > Riffelalp Resort
- Riffelalp - Riffelberg (1h) > Hotel Riffelberg
- Riffelberg - Rotenboden (45 min) > Kulmhotel Gornergrat
- Rotenboden station - Monte Rosa hut* (4h) > Monte Rosa hut
- Monte Rosa hut* - Rotenboden (4h)
- Rotenboden - Gornergrat (50 min) > Kulmhotel Gornergrat
- Gornergrat - Grünsee (1h 40) > Mountain Lodge Ze Seewjinu
Alternative 1 (over Pfulwen)
- Grünsee - Fluhalp (1h 40) > Berghütte Fluhalp
- Fluhalp - Pfulwe - Täsch hut (Alpine Route, 4h 15) > Täsch hut
- Täsch hut - Europaweg hut (Täschalp) - Täsch (2h 15) > Europaweg hut
Alternative 2 (over Tufteren)
- Grünsee - Sunnegga (1h 15) > Rest. Sunnegga
- Sunnegga - Tufteren (30 min) > Rest. Tufternalp
- Tufteren - Täschalp (1h 45) > Rest. Europaweghütte
- Täschalp - Täschhütte (1h 30) > Täsch hut
- Täschhütte - Täsch (2h 15)
* alpine trail in parts, leads over glacier
We recommend:
- Good, sturdy footwear
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof)
- Food and water
- Reservations recommended in mountain huts
- Variants with and without use of mountain railways / cable cars
- Stage to Monte Rosa hut: mountain guide recommended (glacier hike)
- Täschalp: cheese and Ziger soft cheese for sale
The mountain landscape around Zermatt, with 38 summits above 4,000 metres, offers breathtaking panoramic views and is home to a wealth of fauna and flora.
- Plan every mountain tour carefully and adapt to participants’ fitness level as well as the weather and season.
- Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Appropriate clothing is therefore essential, along with adequate supplies of food and water. In uncertain weather, turn back in good time.
- Inform others of planned route, and whenever possible avoid going alone.
- Do not leave the marked routes; do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.
- It is forbidden to walk on the ski pistes.
- Please be considerate to other walkers and to plants and animals.
- Take note of the warning signs drawing attention to the constant danger in river beds and along watercourses below dams and reservoirs.
Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.