Winter hikes

Zermatt Circular Trail (Nr. 117)

Winterwunderland

Zermatt

-5/6°

A chapel, beautiful bridges and an enchanted winter forest like no other: the Zermatt Circular Trail offers this and more.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

6.49 km

Duration

2:00 h
Winterwunderland
Vorbei an einem alten Teehäuschen und weiter nach Blatten
Unterwegs auf dem unteren Höhenweg (AHV-Weg)
Winterwandern

Description

From the train station, one walks to the far part of the village and then up to the hamlet of Blatten, where there is a wonderful view of a chapel waiting. Between Blatten and Moos, one crosses a wooden bridge before arriving at the enchanted winter forest near Moos.

A highlight of the circular trail is the crossing of the Findelbach Bridge. This spectacular bridge is 93 metres long and about 50 metres above the Findelbach.

The last section of the hike also passes through the forest again. The level AHV trail goes to Zermatt and back to the Bahnhof through the village.

  • Suitable for children over 6 years old
  • Baroque Maria Rosenkranzkönigin Chapel at Blatten
  • Findelbach Bridge – one of the most popular photo opportunities around Zermatt

Turn-by-turn directions

Zermatt (train station) – Blatten – Moos – Findelbachbrücke – AHV Weg - Zermatt (train station)

(Hiking time in reverse direction: approx. 2h)

This hike is marked on the signposts as “Rundweg Zermatt”.

Start

Zermatt (1,620 m) (1605m)

Destination

Zermatt (1,620 m) (1605m)

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Author's recommendation

Look down from the wooden bridge between the hamlets of Blatten and Moos and admire the impressive ice walls that often form during cold weather.

Technical information

Altitude

1761m

1602m

Ascent

+198m

Descent

-198m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Tags

  • Scenic
  • Fauna
  • Round trip
  • Refreshment stops available
  • Family-friendly
  • Way cleared
  • Groomed snow
Getting there
Information

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”.

Equipment

We recommend:

  • Good footwear
  • Hiking poles (optional)
  • Warm winter clothing appropriate for the weather

Safety information

  • Plan every mountain tour carefully and adapt to participants’ fitness level as well as the weather and season.
  • Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Appropriate clothing is therefore essential, along with adequate supplies of food and water. In uncertain weather, turn back in good time.
  • Inform others of planned route, and whenever possible avoid going alone.
  • Do not leave the marked routes; do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.
  • It is forbidden to walk on the ski pistes.
  • Please be considerate to other walkers and to plants and animals.

Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.

Source

This activity is brought to you by Zermatt - Matterhorn. Valais/Wallis Promotion is not responsible for the content provided.