Hikes

Edelweiss path (Höhbalmen) (No. 30)

Auf Höhbalmen mit dem Matterhorn im Blickfeld

Zermatt

-1/8°

Closed

Seeing an edelweiss in the mountain meadow once in a lifetime is the dream of every mountain walker. Here the dream becomes true. The edelweiss shine, sometimes even at eye level along this path! The hike leads to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Zermatt area.

Difficulty

Difficult

Length

20.63 km

Duration

8:00 h

Eventuell unterwegs anzutreffen: Schwarznasenschafe

Ein Blick auf die Matterhorn Nordwand bevor es weiter hinunter in den Stafel geht

Description

The edelweiss can be found in various areas of the Zermatt mountains. Simply never where crystalline rock forms the subsoil, but rather in the sediments, in the limestone rock. Here it defies the adversities of nature. The fluffy hairs serve as protection against strong sunlight, frost and drying out. Edelweiss is a frost germinator: The seeds must freeze first before they grow in the following year.

The hike offers a special moment. On the ascent from Trift, the mighty peak of the Matterhorn suddenly appears behind the hill. Who spots it first? Then the path leads to one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Zermatt, at Höhbalmen. The view is unique: Matterhorn with north face and Zmutt ridge, Breithorn, Liskamm and Monte Rosa massif.

Edelweiss: protected plant
Information panels about the plants along the path
Between the Edelweiss guesthouse and the mountain guesthouse Trift: edelweiss at eye level (right-hand side)
Unusual view of the Monte Rosa massif
Possibly black-nosed sheep and black-necked ibex

Turn-by-turn directions

Zermatt (train station) - Alterhaupt (Edelweiss) - Trift - Höhbalmen - Zmutt - Zermatt (train station)

(Approximate hiking time in the opposite direction 7 h 20)

Start

Zermatt (1,620 m) (1605m)

Destination

Zermatt (1,620 m) (1605m)

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Author's recommendation

Please do not feed the black-necked ibex and black-nosed sheep.

At Höhbalmen and further towards Hohliecht: watch out for eagles. They sometimes circle here.

Technical information

Altitude

2745m

1605m

Ascent

+1215m

Descent

-1215m

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

By train to the Matterhorn village: 3½ hours from Zurich Airport or 4 hours from Geneva Airport. Visp is always the transfer point to the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway. From Visp, the railway line runs through the Nikolaital, past small idyllic villages to Zermatt.

Zermatt is also the starting or ending point of the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train ride (St. Moritz / Davos – Zermatt).

Approach

Zermatt is car-free. Access for private vehicles is only permitted up to Täsch (5 km before Zermatt). The road Täsch - Zermatt is closed to public traffic.

Further travel to Zermatt is by private taxi service or shuttle trains. The trains run every 20 minutes. After about 12 minutes the journey ends at the station square in Zermatt.

Parking

In Täsch there are parking garages with covered and uncovered spaces available, for example at the Matterhorn Terminal or from private providers.

Further travel: see arrival.