Winter hikes

Zermatt-Sunnegga (via Winkelmatten) (Nr. 112)

Zermatt

2/9°

This Zermatt walk is a wintery idyll, offering sunshine, the romance of the forest, snow-capped peaks, gastronomic treats and a breathtaking view.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

3.73 km

Duration

2:00 h

Kulinarische Genüsse in den zahlreichen Bergrestaurants in Findeln geniessen

Description

When the view is this beautiful, a hike up into the mountains is doubly enjoyable. After Winkelmatten, the trail enters the protected forest above Zermatt and begins climbing through the dappled woods - there’s plenty of light, as larches lose their needles in winter. Now and again, walkers have a clear view of the Matterhorn. Above the treeline, the trail traces a route across sunlit snowy landscapes.

In Findeln, walkers are spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants; it’s a real gourmet Mecca. After a stop for refreshment, the trail winds along and across the ski piste up to Sunnegga.

Wolli’s park for beginners at the Leisee (for young skiers)
Leisee Shuttle funicular offers an alternative to a winter hike

Turn-by-turn directions

Winkelmatten (chapel) - Findeln - Sunnegga

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

Start

Winkelmatten (1,650 m) (1671m)

Destination

Sunnegga (2,288 m) (2278m)

Download GPX

Download KML

Author's recommendation

Walkers should make sure they’ve checked the time of the last Sunnegga funicular of the day.

Technical information

Altitude

2288m

1672m

Ascent

+641m

Descent

-33m

Technique

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”.