Home to the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and some of the most iconic mountain scenery in the Alps, the Mattertal and Saastal valleys in the Swiss Valais offer walkers an unrivalled combination of spectacular high-alpine terrain and well-developed mountain infrastructure. With 50 routes making full use of the area's extensive path network and lift systems, this is one of the finest walking destinations in Switzerland.

This trusted guidebook by Lesley and Jonathan Williams describes 50 graded day walks ranging from 4 to 29km (3 to 18 miles), completed in 2 to 10 hours, based around the resort towns of Zermatt and Saas-Fee. It combines clear, walk-by-walk route descriptions with thorough planning information to help you make the most of every day in these magnificent Swiss 4000m mountains.

• Organised across four areas — Zermatt and the Mattertal, Grächen and the lower Mattertal, and Saas-Fee and the Saastal — the 50 graded walks range from easy village strolls to full-day mountain outings,
• Clear route descriptions are supported by 1:50,000 maps for every walk, with detailed information on planning, transport, and amenities to help you navigate the valleys and mountains with confidence
• GPX files are available to download for all 50 routes, making it simple to follow the path digitally, whether you're tracing the Matterhorn Glacier Trail or picking your way above the glaciers to the Monte Rosa Hütte
• Stand-out routes include the Five Lakes Walk in the Findeln valley, the Gornergrat to Riffelsee circuit, the iconic Grächen to Saas-Fee Höhenweg, and hut walks to the Britanniahütte and Mischabelhütte, with welcoming mountain restaurants dotted throughout the area
• Background notes on the plants, wildlife, and geology of these extraordinary 4000m peaks sit alongside practical guidance on getting to Zermatt and Saas-Fee, travel in the region and accommodation options

Packed with 50 route descriptions, 1:50,000 maps, and GPX downloads, this is the definitive Cicerone guide to walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee. Step into the shadow of the Matterhorn and explore the Swiss Valais with confidence.

Walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee – Quick Facts

Region: Mattertal and Saastal, Valais, Switzerland 
Walk format: 50 graded day walks 
Walk distances: 4 to 29km (3 to 18 miles) per walk 
Walk duration: 2 to 10 hours per walk 
Areas covered: Zermatt and the Mattertal, Grächen and the lower Mattertal, Saas-Fee and the Saastal 
Main centres: Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell, Grächen, Täsch, Visp 
Lift system: Routes make use of the area's extensive cable car and gondola network, opening up high-alpine terrain to walkers of all abilities 
Hut walks: Dedicated routes to iconic mountain huts, including the Monte Rosa Hütte, Britanniahütte, Mischabelhütte, Täschhütte, and Almagellerhütte 
Key highlights: Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Gornergrat, Five Lakes Walk, Matterhorn Glacier Trail, Schwarzsee, Zmutt village, Monte Moro Pass, Findeln valley 
Difficulty: Easy 1 to 2 hour walks through to full-day challenging mountain outings; routes suitable for beginners and experienced walkers alike 
Terrain: Well-maintained mountain paths, glacier viewpoints, valley floors, alp restaurants, lift-assisted ascents 
Best season: Mid-June to the end of September, when snow has melted, and mountain huts and restaurants are open 
Getting there: Fly to Geneva or Zurich; Zermatt is car-free and reached by train via Visp or Brig; Saas-Fee is car-free beyond the village entrance 
Maps: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk 
GPX files: Available to download for all 50 routes

Author Highlight

“Zermatt and Saas-Fee are the twin poles of this guide; poles apart, maybe, but united in the mountains that surround them and the quality of the walking opportunities. United too in the absence of cars, which are confined to large car parks outside the resorts. Numerous lifts and mountain railways will take you high into the mountains and the glaciers and to the starting points of the major climbs. The woods, tarns and mountain inns in the valleys and middle-mountain regions provide the ingredients for gentler days.”

- Lesley Williams, one of the authors of Walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee

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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