A guidebook to 50 graded day walks in Switzerland’s Valais. Exploring the areas around the towns of Zermatt and Saas-Fee in the Mattertal and Saastal valleys, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike.

Walks range from 4 to 29km (3–18 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–10 hours. The routes make the most of the area's extensive network of well-made mountain paths and its lift system to explore Europe’s highest mountains.

• 1:50,000 maps included for each route
• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on planning, transport and amenities
• Highlights include the Swiss 4000m giants Matterhorn and Monte Rosa

Map key
Map of the valleys
Route summary table
Introduction
The walking
The valleys
The Matterhorn
The shape of the mountains
Plants and wildlife
When to go
Getting there
Travel in the region
Accommodation
Other local facilities
Weather
Maps
Apps
Equipment
Preparation
Using this guide

Zermatt and the Mattertal
Walk 1    The Trift gorge and Hotel du Trift
Walk 2    Ascent of the Mettelhorn and Platthorn from Trift
Walk 3    Two-day expedition – Schönbielhütte via Höhbalmen
Walk 4    The villages of Zmutt, Zum See and Blatten
Walk 5    Balcony route to Zmutt and the Kulturweg
Walk 6    Zermatt to Sunnegga – the Findeln villages
Walk 7    Gletschergarten and Gorner gorge walk
Walk 8    Schwarzsee and Stafelalp – under the Matterhorn
Walk 9    Schwarzsee to the Hörnlihütte
Walk 10    The Matterhorn Glacier Trail
Walk 11    Gornergrat to Riffelsee, Riffelberg and Riffelalp
Walk 12    Riffelalp and a woodland walk to Grüensee
Walk 13    The Gornergletscher and Monte Rosa Hütte
Walk 14    The mountain restaurants of Findeln
Walk 15    Blauherd to Sunnegga via Tufteren
Walk 16    The Five Lakes Walk in the Findeln valley
Walk 17    The Oberrothorn
Walk 18    Blauherd to Pfulwe and Täschalp
Walk 19    Täsch to Täschalp and the Täschhütte
Walk 20    Täschalp to Zermatt

Grächen, Randa and the lower Mattertal
Walk 21    The Europahütte and Hängebrücke to Täschalp
Walk 22    Schaliberg alp
Walk 23    Jungen, Sparru and the Jungtal
Walk 24    A tour of the villages – Grächen and Gasenried
Walk 25    Grächen leat paths – the Chilcheri and Eggeri
Walk 26    The Ried glacier and the Grathorn
Walk 27    Hannigalp to Grächen via Hohtschugge and Bärgji
Walk 28    Grächen to Hannigalp via Stafel
Walk 29    Ascent of the Wannehorn
Walk 30    The Grächen to Saas-Fee Höhenweg

Saas-Fee and the Saastal
Walk 31    Fee, Almagell, Grund and the Feevispa gorge
Walk 32    Hannig from Saas-Fee
Walk 33    The ascent of Mällig – The Ibex Trail
Walk 34    Gletschergrotte, Spielboden and Längflue
Walk 35    The Gemsweg – a tour of the Saas-Fee valley
Walk 36    The Mischabelhütte
Walk 37    Plattjen
Walk 38    The Britanniahütte
Walk 39    The Felskinn–Plattjen traverse
Walk 40    Saas-Grund to Saas-Fee – the Kapellenweg and Saumweg
Walk 41    Saas-Grund to Saas-Fee via Bideralp
Walk 42    Saas-Grund to Triftalp, Kreuzboden and the Weissmieshütte
Walk 43    The Gspon Höhenweg
Walk 44    The descent of the Saastal – Mattmark to Saas-Balen
Walk 45    Almagelleralp and the Almagellerhütte
Walk 46    The höhenweg from Saas-Almagell to Kreuzboden
Walk 47    Furggstalden and the Furggtälli
Walk 48    Schwarzbergalp and circuit of the Mattmark
Walk 49    The Monte Moro Pass
Walk 50    The Ofental, Jazzilücke and Antronapass

Appendix A    Useful contacts
Appendix B    4000m peaks
Appendix C    English–German terms

Seasons

Best for walking from mid-June to the end of September, when snow has melted and mountain huts and restaurants are open.

Centres

Zermatt, Täsch, Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell, Grächen, Visp.

Difficulty

Includes a range of routes, from easy walks of 1-2hrs to full-day challenging outings in mountain terrain. Mainly mountain walking on good paths.

Must See

Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Gornergrat, Schwarzsee, Täsch, Randa, Findeln, Five Lakes Walk, Mettelhorn, Mischabel Hut, Monte Rosa Hut, Zmutt, Monte Moro, Britannia Hut.

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