Edelweiss Trail (Höhbalmen) (Nr. 30)
Zermatt
5/10°
Every mountain hiker dreams of spotting edelweiss in the alpine pastures. Here that dream comes true. Along this trail, walkers even spot these beautiful flowers at eye level. The walk leads to one of the finest vantage points in the Zermatt region.
Difficulty
DifficultLength
20.71 kmDuration
7:30 hDescription
The edelweiss can be admired at a variety of habitats in the Zermatt mountains. It won’t grow on ground formed of crystalline rock, but it flourishes on calcareous sediments – despite the often harsh conditions. The fleecy hairs help protect the flowers from solar radiation, frost and aridity. The seeds require exposure to frost before they can germinate the following year.
Hikers on this trail experience a magical moment on the climb up to Trift as the pinnacle of the Matterhorn emerges unexpectedly from behind a hilltop. Who’ll spot it first? The path then continues to one of Zermatt’s finest viewpoints, at Höhbalmen. The panorama is breathtaking: the north face of the Matterhorn with the Zmuttgrat ridge, the Breithorn, Liskamm and the Monte Rosa massif.
- Edelweiss: a protected plant
- Information panels about the plants along the way
- Between the Gasthaus Edelweiss and the Berggasthaus Trift hotels: edelweiss at eye level (right-hand side)
- Unusual view of the Monte Rosa massif
- Possible encounters with Valais Blacknose sheep and Valais Blackneck goats
Turn-by-turn directions
Zermatt (station) - Alterhaupt (Edelweiss) - Trift - Höhbalmen - Zmutt - Zermatt (station)
(Hiking time in reverse direction: approx. 7h 20)
This hike is marked on the signposts as “Edelweissweg Höhbalmen”.
Start
Zermatt (1,620 m) (1605m)
Destination
Zermatt (1,620 m) (1605m)
Author's recommendation
Please do not feed the Valais Blackneck goats or the Valais Blacknose sheep.
At Höhbalmen and on towards Hohliecht: keep an eye open for eagles, which occasionally circle in the skies above.
Technical information
Altitude
2745m
1605m
Ascent
+1195m
Descent
-1195m
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Zermatt is also the start and finish point for the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (Zermatt to St. Moritz or Davos).
Approach
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
Onward travel: see “Getting there”.
Source
This activity is brought to you by Zermatt - Matterhorn. Valais/Wallis Promotion is not responsible for the content provided.