High-Altitude Trail
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
Author’s recommendation
- 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.

Rest Stop
FluhalpBuffet & Bar Riffelberg
3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat - Panoramaself
Al Bosco - - Riffelalp Resort 2222 m.ü.M.
Mountain Lodge Ze Seewjinu
Chämi-Hitta
Edelweiss
Farmerhaus
Furri
Riffelhaus 1853
Ritti
Schönbielhütte
Schwarzsee
Simi
Stafelalp 2200m
Täschalp Restaurant & Lodge
Täschhütte SAC
Trift Berggasthaus
Alphitta
Monte Rosa hut (Swiss Alpine Club)
Safety information
- 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.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
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
Note
Public transport
By train to the Matterhorn village: 3½ hours from Zürich airport or 4 hours from Geneva airport. Change at Visp onto the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (Matterhorn Gotthard Railway). From Visp, the railway leads through the Mattertal valley past idyllic small villages to Zermatt.Zermatt is also the start and finish point for the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (Zermatt to St. Moritz or Davos).
Getting there
Zermatt is car-free. Private vehicles are permitted only as far as Täsch (5 km before Zermatt). The Täsch–Zermatt road is closed to the public.Onward travel to Zermatt is either by private taxi or shuttle train. Trains depart every 20 minutes; the journey takes about 12 minutes, and ends at the Bahnhofplatz in Zermatt.
Parking
Täsch has car parks with both covered and open-air parking – e.g. at the Matterhorn Terminal or privately operated facilities.Onward travel: see “Getting there”.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
We recommend:
- Good, sturdy footwear
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof)
- Food and water
Questions and answers
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