Snowshoeing

Challenge Trail (Nr. 141)

Schneeschuhwandern mit winterlichem Panorama

Zermatt

2/7°

This snowshoe trail leads close to the Gornergrat Bahn railway line from Gornergrat down to Rotenboden. Snow, sunshine and a magnificent mountain panorama with the Matterhorn promise a memorable hike.

Difficulty

Easy

Length

1.67 km

Duration

1:00 h

Der Schneeschuhtrail startet bei der Station Gornergrat

Description

Especially after fresh snowfall, this walk promises pure pleasure. Hikers following the leisurely trail barely notice the descent of about 300 vertical metres, so beautiful are the mountain vistas – taking in the Matterhorn, Klein Matterhorn, Breithorn and other peaks. Railway enthusiasts are also in for a treat, with fine views of the cog trains of the Gornergrat Bahn as they twist prettily and almost silently through the snow-blanketed landscape.

From Gornergrat, set off left of the railway line
Unusual route away from the ski pistes
Pink markers approx. every 100 m along the route
Photo subjects: Gornergrat Bahn cog railway and mountain panorama
Stay on marked trail to avoid disturbing wildlife
Guided tours bookable through the Zermatters

Turn-by-turn directions

Gornergrat - Rotenboden (on the left side of the railway line)

(Hiking time in reverse direction: approx. 1h 30)

Start

Gornergrat (3,089 m) (3079m)

Destination

Rotenboden (2,815 m) (2813m)

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Author's recommendation

If you have not had enough of snowshoe hiking, you can continue along the Panorama Trail to Riffelberg.

Technical information

Altitude

3089m

2815m

Ascent

+1m

Descent

-267m

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

By train to the Matterhorn village: 3½ hours from Zürich airport or 4 hours from Geneva airport. Change at Visp onto the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (Matterhorn Gotthard Railway). From Visp, the railway leads through the Mattertal valley past idyllic small villages to Zermatt.

Zermatt is also the start and finish point for the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (Zermatt to St. Moritz or Davos).

Approach

Zermatt is car-free. Private vehicles are permitted only as far as Täsch (5 km before Zermatt). The Täsch–Zermatt road is closed to the public.

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

Täsch has car parks with both covered and open-air parking – e.g. at the Matterhorn Terminal or privately operated facilities.

Onward travel: see “Getting there”.