Snowshoeing

Challenge Trail (No. 141)

Schneeschuhwandern mit winterlichem Panorama

Zermatt

2/8°

This snowshoe trail runs almost exactly along the Gornergrat railway line from Gornergrat down to Rotenboden. Gleaming snow, sun, and the mountain panorama with the Matterhorn characterize this path.

Difficulty

Easy

Length

1.8 km

Duration

1:00 h

Der Schneeschuhtrail startet bei der Station Gornergrat

Description

Especially when it has freshly snowed, this is a route that offers pure enjoyment. The nearly 300 meters of elevation gain are barely noticeable when walking down comfortably – the mountain panorama is so beautiful. With views of the Matterhorn, Klein Matterhorn, Breithorn, and so on. Train enthusiasts also get their money's worth. The carriage formations of the Gornergrat railway wind picturesquely and almost silently through the white splendor.

Start from Gornergrat on the left side of the railway line
Unusual route off the piste
About every 100 m pink poles as markers
Photo subject: Gornergrat railway and mountain panorama
Do not leave the route to avoid disturbing wildlife
Guided tours can be booked through the Zermatters

Turn-by-turn directions

Gornergrat - Rotenboden

(Approximate hiking time for the opposite direction 1 h 30)

Start

Gornergrat (3,089 m) (3090m)

Destination

Rotenboden (2,815 m) (2815m)

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Author's recommendation

Those who haven't had enough snowshoeing can continue along the Panorama Trail to Riffelberg.

Technical information

Altitude

3089m

2815m

Ascent

+9m

Descent

-284m

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 the transfer station to the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway in both cases. From Visp, the railway route leads through the Nikolai Valley, past small idyllic villages to Zermatt.

Zermatt is also the start or end point of the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (St. Moritz / Davos – Zermatt).

Approach

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

Further travel to Zermatt is possible either with a private taxi provider or with the shuttle trains. The trains run every 20 minutes. After about 12 minutes, the journey ends at the train station square in Zermatt.

Parking

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

Further travel: see directions.