Guidebook describing 50 varied walks in the Valais region in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The graded day walks based around the popular resort towns of Zermatt and Saas-Fee explore the Mattertal and Saastal valleys and the surrounding mountains. Ranging from 4 to 18km, the easily accessible routes make use of the area's extensive network of well-made mountain paths and its lift system. There are walks here to suit all tastes, from low-level lake walks or easy strolls up to mountain restaurants, through to serious mountain outings on steep and rocky trails. Distance, walking time and difficulty are shown for each route, and the detailed route description is accompanied by clear mapping.
Dominated by 4000m the giants, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, this is a land of contrasts, with snow-capped mountains and glaciers above and meadows and vineyards fringing the valleys below. Good transport infrastructure and plentiful accommodation make it a superb area for a walking holiday.
Walking in Zermatt and Saas-Fee : 50 routes in the Valais: Mattertal and Saastal
Description
Table of 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 - Schoenbielhutte via Hoehbalmen
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 Hoernlihutte
Walk 10 The Matterhorn Glacier Trail
Walk 11 Gornergrat to Riffelsee, Riffelberg and Riffelalp
Walk 12 Riffelalp and a woodland walk to Gruensee
Walk 13 The Gornergletscher and Monte Rosa Hutte
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 Taschalp
Walk 19 Tasch to Taschalp and the Taschhutte
Walk 20 Taschalp to Zermatt
Grachen, Randa and the lower Mattertal
Walk 21 The Europahutte and Hangebrucke to Taschalp
Walk 22 Schaliberg alp
Walk 23 Jungen, Sparru and the Jungtal
Walk 24 A tour of the villages - Grachen and Gasenried
Walk 25 Grachen leat paths - the Chilcheri and Eggeri
Walk 26 The Ried glacier and the Grathorn
Walk 27 Hannigalp to Grachen via Hohtschugge and Bargji
Walk 28 Grachen to Hannigalp via Stafel
Walk 29 Ascent of the Wannehorn
Walk 30 The Grachen to Saas-Fee Hoehenweg
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 Mallig - The Ibex Trail
Walk 34 Gletschergrotte, Spielboden and Langflue
Walk 35 The Gemsweg - a tour of the Saas-Fee valley
Walk 36 The Mischabelhutte
Walk 37 Plattjen
Walk 38 The Britanniahutte
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 Weissmieshutte
Walk 43 The Gspon Hoehenweg
Walk 44 The descent of the Saastal - Mattmark to Saas-Balen
Walk 45 Almagelleralp and the Almagellerhutte
Walk 46 The hoehenweg from Saas-Almagell to Kreuzboden
Walk 47 Furggstalden and the Furggtalli
Walk 48 Schwarzbergalp and circuit of the Mattmark
Walk 49 The Monte Moro Pass
Walk 50 The Ofental, Jazzilucke and Antronapass
Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B 4000m peaks
Appendix C English-German terms
Author Description
Jonathan Williams has been Cicerone's publisher and managing director for over 20 years, and Lesley Williams is Cicerone's marketing director. Although they met at sea, they quickly gravitated to the mountains and trekking, before taking on Cicerone to communicate their passion for mountains, wild places and other journeys on foot or by bike.