Full Description
Home to the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, and some of the most iconic mountain scenery in the Alps, the Mattertal and Saastal valleys in the Swiss Valais offer walkers an unrivalled combination of spectacular high-alpine terrain and well-developed mountain infrastructure. With 50 routes making full use of the area's extensive path network and lift systems, this is one of the finest walking destinations in Switzerland.
This trusted guidebook by Lesley and Jonathan Williams describes 50 graded day walks ranging from 4 to 29km (3 to 18 miles), completed in 2 to 10 hours, based around the resort towns of Zermatt and Saas-Fee. It combines clear, walk-by-walk route descriptions with thorough planning information to help you make the most of every day in these magnificent Swiss 4000m mountains.
Organised across four areas — Zermatt and the Mattertal, Grächen and the lower Mattertal, and Saas-Fee and the Saastal — the 50 graded walks range from easy village strolls to full-day mountain outings,
Clear route descriptions are supported by 1:50,000 maps for every walk, with detailed information on planning, transport, and amenities to help you navigate the valleys and mountains with confidence
GPX files are available to download for all 50 routes, making it simple to follow the path digitally, whether you're tracing the Matterhorn Glacier Trail or picking your way above the glaciers to the Monte Rosa Hütte
Stand-out routes include the Five Lakes Walk in the Findeln valley, the Gornergrat to Riffelsee circuit, the iconic Grächen to Saas-Fee Höhenweg, and hut walks to the Britanniahütte and Mischabelhütte, with welcoming mountain restaurants dotted throughout the area
Background notes on the plants, wildlife, and geology of these extraordinary 4000m peaks sit alongside practical guidance on getting to Zermatt and Saas-Fee, travel in the region and accommodation options
Packed with 50 route descriptions, 1:50,000 maps, and GPX downloads, this is the definitive Cicerone guide to walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee. Step into the shadow of the Matterhorn and explore the Swiss Valais with confidence.
Contents
Map key
Map of the valleys
Route summary table
Introduction
The walking
The valleys
The Matterhorn
The shape of the mountains
Plants and wildlife
When to go
Getting there
Travel in the region
Accommodation
Other local facilities
Weather
Maps
Apps
Equipment
Preparation
Using this guide
Zermatt and the Mattertal
Walk 1 The Trift gorge and Hotel du Trift
Walk 2 Ascent of the Mettelhorn and Platthorn from Trift
Walk 3 Two-day expedition - Schönbielhütte via Höhbalmen
Walk 4 The villages of Zmutt, Zum See and Blatten
Walk 5 Balcony route to Zmutt and the Kulturweg
Walk 6 Zermatt to Sunnegga - the Findeln villages
Walk 7 Gletschergarten and Gorner gorge walk
Walk 8 Schwarzsee and Stafelalp - under the Matterhorn
Walk 9 Schwarzsee to the Hörnlihütte
Walk 10 The Matterhorn Glacier Trail
Walk 11 Gornergrat to Riffelsee, Riffelberg and Riffelalp
Walk 12 Riffelalp and a woodland walk to Grüensee
Walk 13 The Gornergletscher and Monte Rosa Hütte
Walk 14 The mountain restaurants of Findeln
Walk 15 Blauherd to Sunnegga via Tufteren
Walk 16 The Five Lakes Walk in the Findeln valley
Walk 17 The Oberrothorn
Walk 18 Blauherd to Pfulwe and Täschalp
Walk 19 Täsch to Täschalp and the Täschhütte
Walk 20 Täschalp to Zermatt
Grächen, Randa and the lower Mattertal
Walk 21 The Europahütte and Hängebrücke to Täschalp
Walk 22 Schaliberg alp
Walk 23 Jungen, Sparru and the Jungtal
Walk 24 A tour of the villages - Grächen and Gasenried
Walk 25 Grächen leat paths - the Chilcheri and Eggeri
Walk 26 The Ried glacier and the Grathorn
Walk 27 Hannigalp to Grächen via Hohtschugge and Bärgji
Walk 28 Grächen to Hannigalp via Stafel
Walk 29 Ascent of the Wannehorn
Walk 30 The Grächen to Saas-Fee Höhenweg
Saas-Fee and the Saastal
Walk 31 Fee, Almagell, Grund and the Feevispa gorge
Walk 32 Hannig from Saas-Fee
Walk 33 The ascent of Mällig - The Ibex Trail
Walk 34 Gletschergrotte, Spielboden and Längflue
Walk 35 The Gemsweg - a tour of the Saas-Fee valley
Walk 36 The Mischabelhütte
Walk 37 Plattjen
Walk 38 The Britanniahütte
Walk 39 The Felskinn-Plattjen traverse
Walk 40 Saas-Grund to Saas-Fee - the Kapellenweg and Saumweg
Walk 41 Saas-Grund to Saas-Fee via Bideralp
Walk 42 Saas-Grund to Triftalp, Kreuzboden and the Weissmieshütte
Walk 43 The Gspon Höhenweg
Walk 44 The descent of the Saastal - Mattmark to Saas-Balen
Walk 45 Almagelleralp and the Almagellerhütte
Walk 46 The höhenweg from Saas-Almagell to Kreuzboden
Walk 47 Furggstalden and the Furggtälli
Walk 48 Schwarzbergalp and circuit of the Mattmark
Walk 49 The Monte Moro Pass
Walk 50 The Ofental, Jazzilücke and Antronapass
Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B 4000m peaks
Appendix C English-German terms
