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

CONTENTS

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 by the glacier route

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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