7 Easy Hikes in ZERMATT | Hiking in Switzerland | 5 Lakes, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Trail

See the Matterhorn from these 7 easy hikes in Zermatt, each less than 2 hours long! Plus, you’ll get to see alpine lakes, gaze at glaciers, and look down on Zermatt village along the trails. Lace up your boots and let’s go!
Want to fit these hikes into your Zermatt itinerary? Here’s how!
➡️ aplinsinthealp...
--
// ABOUT THIS VIDEO //
You don’t have to be a serious hiker to enjoy the natural beauty of the Matterhorn. In fact, there are countless trails and walks for ALL ability levels.
So here are our top easy hikes in Zermatt, each less than 2 hours long.
🥾1 | THE ONE WITH ENDLESS ALPINE LAKES 🗺️ 4.6km, 1hr 20mins
If you want to see the Matterhorn reflected in a lake, then this is the hike for you! You’ll follow an easy trail to multiple lakes, snapping plenty of pics along the way. This is also family-friendly because it ends at “Zermatt’s Beach” with a playground.
🥾2 | THE ONE FOR EVERYONE 🗺️ 0.5km, 20 mins
If we could only pick one excursion from Zermatt, we’d pick this place! Along this super easy trail, you’ll see some of the best scenery: the Matterhorn, glaciers, Switzerland’s highest peak, and beyond! The hike ends at an overlook where you’ll want to have your camera ready!
🥾3 | THE ONE AT THE BASE OF THE MATTERHORN 🗺️ 6.6km, 2hrs
This path winds along what used to be glaciers (since the Little Ice Age ended in 1850). Along the way you’ll see glacier streams, rocks of almost every color, and of course imposing views of the Matterhorn!
Note: This is the hardest hike on our list because of the high elevation, rocky terrain, and steep uphill/downhill sections.
📍READY TO HIKE IN ZERMATT?
If you’re ready to lace up your boots for a hike in Zermatt, then hit that like button, and comment below to let us know which of these hikes you’re most excited for!
🥾4 | THE ONE FOR FOODIES 🗺️ 2.8km, 1hour (plus stops for eating)
Did you know that Zermatt is known as the best culinary village of the Alps? And this hike will take you to the foodie heaven above Zermatt village! I mean, what’s better than hiking to a car-free village for out-of-this-world food?! If you’re up for it, plan a progressive meal with appetizers at one stop, then lunch at another, followed by dessert or drinks somewhere else.
🥾5 | THE ONE WITH THE BLACKNOSE SHEEP 🗺️ 3.1km, 55mins
This hike crosses yet another alpine lake with Matterhorn reflections, but also lets you pet the famous blacknose sheep of Zermatt! Follow our suggested route, then detour based on where the sheep are grazing in real-time: sheep.gornergr...
🥾6 | THE ONE FOR A CLOUDY DAY 🗺️ 6.1km, 1hr 45m (plus stops along the way)
Hopefully you have sunny skies to see the Matterhorn, but even if the weather doesn’t fully cooperate, you still have options to make the most of your time with this hike across a suspension bridge, through a Glacier Garden, to a great restaurant, an herb garden, and even through a gorge.
🥾7 | THE ONE ON AN ALPINE RIDGE 🗺️ 3.7km, 1hr 15mins
This might be Brett’s favorite hike in Zermatt, because you’re walking along an alpine ridge with stunning views below! Although it’s a bit rocky, the trail itself is unique and enjoyable. After this hike, why not keep on adventuring with the Mountain Carts from Blauherd to Sunnegga!
📍READY TO FIT THESE HIKES INTO YOUR ZERMATT ITINERARY?
We’ve got you covered with our 3-Day Guide to Zermatt! Many of these hikes are featured with custom hiking maps so you know exactly how to get there and where to go.
SHOP HERE:
➡️ aplinsinthealp...
--
// WATCH NEXT //
Gornergrat
▶️ • GORNERGRAT, ZERMATT: 1...
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
▶️ • MATTERHORN GLACIER PAR...
--
// SWISS TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES //
Traveling to Switzerland soon?
👉Buy a done-for-you SWISS TRAVEL GUIDE
▶️ www.aplinsinth...
Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Jungfraujoch, Lucerne, Zermatt, and beyond!
--
// LET’S BE FRIENDS //
SUBSCRIBE to travel Switzerland with confidence!
🔔Stay updated with notifications
🇨🇭SWISS TRAVEL GUIDES
/ aplinsinthealps
➡️ FREE RESOURCES
aplinsinthealp...
📬 WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER
www.aplinsinth...
--
// GET TO KNOW US //
If you love traveling Switzerland, getting off-the-beaten-path, or having foodie experiences, then you're in the right place!
🙋🏻‍♀️🙋‍♂️We're Jana and Brett - Aplins in the Alps.
We help you TRAVEL SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭WITH CONFIDENCE to maximize your experiences while minimizing your budget and planning time.
Oh, and we live in Switzerland too!
▶️ Get to know us better by watching our channel from episode 1!
• Flying to Europe in 20...
➡️ SWISS TRAVEL GUIDES & SWITZERLAND ITINERARIES
www.aplinsinth...
--
#zermatt #matterhorn #swissalps #switzerland #easyhike

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Get a done-for-you Zermatt itinerary - filled with our best recommendations! aplinsinthealps.com/guides/3-day-guide-to-zermatt-switzerland/

[@AlpineFeet]

Thanks for sharing, I missed a couple due to the bad weather but probably another reason revisit 😉

[@AplinsintheAlps]

It's always good to have a reason to return!!

[@manoni75]

Thank you for this video! I saw at the moment there are no trains to Zermatt because there are floodings. The river looked so wild in Zermatt! We are going there in three weeks and I hope everything will be back to normal soon.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Yes we’ve had way more rain than usual so there has been some flooding and landslides. They’ve already opened the transport routes back up, and they seem pretty efficient at cleaning up these kind of things so we hope it’s cleared up quickly and safely too!

[@ishikadhuria]

@manoni75- Have things gotten back to normalto? I will be there in a week

[@jflafond5583]

Another great and super useful video. Leaving for Switzerland in just a few weeks now and your work has been a huge help in my planning. Thanks very much !

[@AplinsintheAlps]

That’s awesome! We’re so happy our resources have been helpful! Enjoy your trip 😊

[@ervinslens]

Breathtaking storytelling and filming guys, your content is always appreciated! 👏👏

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Thanks for your compliments 😊😊😊 We’re grateful you enjoyed it. And we enjoy creating these kind of videos too!!

[@Fan652w]

Thank you for an extremely informative video! I have been to most parts of Switzerland, and I would rate the Gornergrat as the number one mountain excursion in the whole of Switzerland. It is certainly in terms of value for money way ahead of a certain fiendishly expensive line near interlaken. And, as you explain, the intermediate stations on the Gornergrat line offer a wide range of hiking opportunities. Thanks, too, for showing the tiny Riffelalp tram linking the hotel to the station.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Wow, what a huge compliment for Gornergrat!! It’s one of our favorite destinations too, particularly for the fantastic views and for the reasons you shared. 😊

[@nancysheinberg8824]

We are looking forward to our trip. Thanks for sharing this information

[@AplinsintheAlps]

We’re happy to help! Enjoy your time in Zermatt 😊

[@MikeRogers-gt9vj]

This is a Great Video. Thank you.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching 😊

[@NewCastleIndiana]

Flying over today. Thanks for inspiring me.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Have a great trip!!

[@momplaygroupfouz4946]

I watched your other video and was sure of my itinerary.. Lucerne, murren, Lausanne (near lake Geneva)… now I watch this one and I have to add Zermatt 😅

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Maybe you'll have to plan multiple trips! :)

[@mountainlover830]

My trips for this year are already fully planned and I’m now working on 2025. Figured a longer visit to Zermatt was in order to do some hiking. Thanks for this great video to help me with my choices.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Wonderful! That sounds like a great trip for 2025. If you especially want to hike in Zermatt, plan to visit in July-September for the best weather and clearest trails.

[@nicolaward1034]

Super, thank you! Hopefully we’ll get to do some of these hikes when we arrive in July 😆!! xx

[@AplinsintheAlps]

July is usually a great time for hiking in Zermatt. We hope you have a great trip!!

[@dinaable8763]

Great content as always! How much Swiss francs should I bring with me. I don’t plan to do outrageous luxurious things. I want a simple relaxing trip. I’m from the US for reference.

[@debmattingly6553]

Great videos, we've leaving in 5 days, can't wait to try the trails you've suggested. Question, what kind of backpack dose Jana have, I'm looking for something lightweight.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Hi there! Jana has the Deuter Race EXP Air 14 + 3. It's actually made for biking, but she loves the way it fits her!

[@MrGreatplum]

I love that if Jana sees a swing or slide, she’s on it! At 5:39, what is that? A cable car on a funicular? I need more details 😂 Some great walks here and I hope to enjoy some of them one day :) (my wife would demand to see those sheep!)

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Haha, you’re so right about Jana on the playgrounds! 🤣And that’s the Sunnegga-Rothorn funicular (underground)! By the way, don’t let your wife miss those sheep. They’re adorable - and one of Jana’s favorite memories in Zermatt!

[@beachmom19]

Hello again. I was just watching your video again. Our trip is just over a week away, I really want to do the meet the sheep trail. I know it is recommended to get off at Riffelsee to get the reflections in the lake before going up to Gornergrat. I guess my question is, after seeing the lake should be go back up to Gornergrat and then hike to see the sheep from there or take the train back down from the top and hike from the lake. We are early 70's, just trying not to back track too much. Thanks for all your help with planning,

[@AplinsintheAlps]

It’s best to use the live GPS tracking to see where the sheep are and then make a plan from there! They can be anywhere along the trails from Gornergrat to Riffelalp.

[@manoni75]

Hi Jana and Brett! I was taking a look at your shorter version of the 5 lakes trail, but how do we get back to Zermatt? Do we have to go from Leisee to Sunnega and how did you do this? Thanks for all your awesome videos!

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Hi there! From Leisee, there's a shuttle that takes you back up to Sunnegga, and then you can ride the funicular down to Zermatt from there. Enjoy!

[@chooowl1754]

Superb! Can these be done in early May?

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Unfortunately these are usually available starting in June. But of course it just depends on how snowy the winter and spring was!

[@Beamer_i4_M50]

We will be in Zermatt the first time in September. Thanks for these videos. Anything you would say is an ABSOLUT must do?

[@AplinsintheAlps]

How fun! We’d say don’t skip Gornergrat!

[@philamongthehills501]

Thanks for the info. I will be there in three weeks in preparation for hiking the TMB and have been planning this since late last summer. I was shocked when I read of the recent weather. The Matterhorn Glacier Trail sounds most interesting to me but find it interesting I still read of that trail being closed on the Zermatt website. Was there more snow than normal last winter.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

How neat! Yes, we had a very wet spring and there was probably fresh snow on the Matterhorn Glacier Trail within the last week or 2. But the weather is warming so it should clear up soon! (There were also flooding and landslides in Zermatt last weekend, but they are working hard to clean up for the summer tourism season, so I think you’ll be okay in 3 weeks…although of course we can’t predict the weather 🙃)

[@BrandenPrestney-ef9os]

These videos are so helpful! My wife and I are heading to the Jungfrau region late July based on your videos and recommendations. The weather seems really bad at the moment for June checking the webcams.. do you think the weather will improve soon? Thank you

[@AplinsintheAlps]

We have had more rain than usual in June! But it should (we hope!) feel more like summer in July!

[@CameronJohnBrice]

For the first lakes trail. Is the 1hr 20min time round trip or one way?

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Hi there! That's one-way. But it's meant to start at one station and end at the other. Hope that helps!

[@cllcyc5403]

Your channel is amazing and very helpful. I am from Hong Kong and plan to reach Swiss in 2025 mid-May. I read your comment and you said the five lake hiking trail will open in June. However, I got the timetable of the cable car which start open on May 18 this year. Is it mean that, the five lake trail also can be reached from the same day May 18？ Or the trail will close even the cable car work？ Or the trail is better be walked since June after the snow melted？

[@AplinsintheAlps]

The time table depends on the scheduled maintenance season. However, the trail may not be open that early. Either it still has snow and can be accessed as a winter walking trail, or it’s not open due to avalanche risk. But it totally depends on the weather! (For example, we had fresh snow in the first week of June this summer, but the last snow was mid May last year).

[@cllcyc5403]

thank you

[@backpacker5988]

Will the hiking trails be closed in mid of November?

[@AplinsintheAlps]

It's really hard to say because it will depend on the weather/snowfall. The larger issue will be the cable cars, some of which are closed for maintenance during this time.

[@ttaytay28]

Hii! What is the best way to book the Interlaken Canyon Swing in advance? For October this year 🙏🏽

[@philamongthehills501]

With the train currently not going to zermatt can you tell me if a ticket for the train from the Geneva airport to Zermatt includes the bus ticket from Tasch or must that somehow be purchased separately. I will be there next week.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

The bus is a replacement for the train, so a ticket from Geneva to Zermatt will cover the replacement bus!

[@philamongthehills501]

@@AplinsintheAlps I learned from the Zermatt tourist office you actually ride a bus from Visp to Tasch and then catch a train into Zermatt. Thanks

[@arzoo468]

Is there any inch of Switzerland that u guys haven't explored? I think even the locals might want to learn more😂

[@AplinsintheAlps]

There are still so many more places in this tiny country that we want to explore! (Maybe the locals can tell us about their favorite spots?! 🙃)

[@nitiponsupanitinun8091]

Is the April a good time to hiking like this video?

[@AplinsintheAlps]

No, these trails are summer trails (mid-June through October, depending on weather). April will likely have some winter hiking trails open though!

[@nitiponsupanitinun8091]

​@@AplinsintheAlps 🙏🙏 thanks a lot for answer. Any winter hiking trails you recommend in Zermatt and Jungfrau Region

[@jose_eh_eh]

[@AplinsintheAlps]

😊

[@jUsTaFrIeN]

Hi! How can I reach you for a consultation?

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Unfortunately we no longer offer one on one consultations. But you can find our best advice in our travel guides! www.aplinsinthealps.com/guides

[@martenlau513]

This week there’s nothing but rain and floods in Zermatt😅

[@AplinsintheAlps]

True! We’ve had a very rainy spring in Switzerland this year. But summer should be on its way soon for nice hiking weather!