The water of the Gornervispe has been washing out the gorge since the last ice age. The tourist development took place already in the years 1886 and 1887. The rock, the greenish serpentinite, is around 220 million years old. A natural spectacle, reachable from Zermatt in 15 minutes walking distance.

In the old part of the village, right next to the Unique Hotel Post, there are around 30 ancient buildings that bear witness to the traditional building culture of the Walsers. The barns and granaries, some up to 500 years old, breathe history and show how the mountain farmers of Zermatt used to live. If you are interested in the former way of life of the People of Zermatt, visit the Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis.

Directions

Bahnhofplatz - Sportplatz Obere Matten - Brücke Zum Steg - Hinterdorf - Kirchplatz - Kirchbrücke - Kirchplatz - Beim Grampi's die Strasse hoch - Englisches Viertel - Bodmenstrasse - Bahnhofplatz

Play of light in the mountain sky

If you take the time early in the morning to see the sunrise on the Matterhorn, you will witness a unique light spectacle. Because the Matterhorn is illuminated from the top by the first rays of sunshine, which slowly climb down the Matterhorn east face with the awakening day.

• Promenade Bahnhofstrasse
• Photo point: Church square (church stairs, old wooden houses with the Matterhorn in the background)
• Foto-Point Kirchbrücke: Matterhorn alone and mighty on the horizon
• old part of the village
• English Church
• Mountaineering cemetery
• Mountain guide monument
• Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis

From Furi a road leads down to Zermatt. If you want to move a little in the shady world of larches, you may see something completely surprising.

From Zermatt it goes on a leisurely hiking trail up to Zmutt, where time seems to stand still.

Ascent

330 m

Descent

2 m

Lowest point

1614 m

Highest point

1931 m

The Matterhorn is surrounded by stories of all kinds. Legends, legends, circumstances to smile at. On the way, which shows the fascinating mountain from quite close, you can learn more about the Phenomenon Matterhorn on information boards.

Who knows that the Matterhorn was created by the giant from Valtournenche? And that there were once plans for a railway to the summit of the Matterhorn (see literature references)? Carved wooden sculptures reflect facets and stories in an artistic way.

idyllic chapels at the Schwarzsee and in Zmutt

Good view of the Matterhorn north face

Information boards in German, English, French, Japanese

From Furi it goes first through the hamlet, then up into the pioneer landscape with larches. Above a small stream there is a wooden walkway. This is followed by shrubs, a small moor area, rocks and rock debris.

Stepping grids lead on the 100 m long steel cable suspension bridge from one side of the valley to the other. The crossing is safe. But it takes some courage and a pinch of vertigo. Those who have made the bridge suddenly find themselves in an idyllic mountain forest, with larches, Swiss stone pines, squirrels.

In the Dossen Glacier Garden you can see what the glacier usually hides on its underside: sanded rock slabs, glacier pots, bizarre rock shapes.

Further information on the "Furi World of Experience" is also available online

Glacier garden Dossen with glacier pots and information boards

Suitable for children from 4 years

Playground and barbecue areas nearby

Suspension bridge closed in winter

Directions

Blauherd - Tufteren - Sunnegga

(Approximate hiking time for the opposite direction 1h35)

Description

This hike brings flower lovers who are interested in the alpine flora into raptures. Numerous themed panels provide information about the alpine flowers that grow within sight of the panels. They answer questions that you may never have asked yourself as a layman. For example: Why does the Edelweiss have fluffy hairs? The answers on the boards are surprising. The Edelweiss, for example, protects itself with the hairs from too intense sunlight, frost and dehydration.

• Suitable for children from 4 years
• the many flowers are ideal as a photo subject
• Information boards in German, English, French, Japanese

This leisurely hike through the larch and pine forest area of Zermatt is an experience for the eyes, ears and nose.

Start at the station Riffelalp (Gornergratbahn).

1h30

Ascent

26 m

Descent

562 m

Lowest point

1664 m

Highest point

2226 m

The area of the "Vorderi Forests" is a wildlife sanctuary where numerous deer live. The Arve, the "Queen of the Alps", is as much a part of Zermatt's landscape as the Matterhorn and the glaciers. Wood, resin and needles of Swiss stone pine contain the volatile active ingredient pinosylvin. Its smell promotes well-being in humans. If the Swiss stone pine forest is under strong sunlight, the fragrance of this substance spoils the nose.

But the eye is also spoiled: in the Swiss stone pine and larch forest, different shades of green shine. The ground is copper-colored because the tree needles cover the trail. And it surprises the waterfall, which plunges into the Findelbach in a bend along the way.

Swiss stone pine is also called Swiss stone pine or Swiss stone pine

Swiss stone pines can be up to 1,000 years old and 25 m high

Swiss stone pines have tufts of needles with five needles

On the Riffelalp: europe's highest tram in summer

The path leads from the Riffelberg, where the tree line also passes, into the rocky landscape on the former edge of the Gorner Glacier. But first you can enjoy the view of the Matterhorn. Then it goes down into the massive world of glacier forces. In the Dossen Glacier Garden you can see what the glacier hides on its underside: sanded rock slabs, glacier pots, bizarre rock shapes.

Further information on the "Furi World of Experience" is also available online

July and August: Edelweiss

In the Dossen Glacier Garden: information boards

Variant from Furi: through the Gorner Gorge to Zermatt (chargeable)

at the Glacier Garden Dossen picnic areas, fire pits and children's playground nearby

Gnarled Swiss stone pines stand along the way, larches rustle in the wind. This path first follows the tree line. Later, he immerses himself in a fascinating pioneer landscape. Since the retreat of the Findel Glacier more than 100 years ago, new vegetation species have been fighting to become native here.

View of many four-thousanders, including the Matterhorn

Suitable for children from 6 years

Quiet ones recommended for families: beach, play raft on the lake, playground, barbecue areas

The Matterhorn is reflected in three of these mountain lakes. The view of the many mountain giants is unique and the hiking route is highly varied.

Description

The trail leads to the lakes Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee. They are all mountain lakes that are not easy to forget. Different in shape, color, character and size, there is something completely different to discover at each lake. The Leisee is about bathing, about having fun for the children. At the Grünsee, the landscape shows itself from the barren side, where Swiss stone pines remain their location despite the scree and sand. Rare flowers grow on Lake Grindji. And so on. Who discovers more?

Suitable for children from 6 years

Matterhorn reflection in Stellisee, Grindjisee and Leisee

Findel Glacier Moraine

Swimming in the Leisee and Grünsee

Picnic area and children's playground at Leisee

More information about hikes is available at reception

Description

The AHV path is by far not only intended for older people. It leads from the chapel Winkelmatten a little upwards, to the track of the Gornergrat Railway. If you have never looked at the metal teeth of a rack railway up close, you will get the opportunity here. After that, it continues relatively flat. For example, with a metallophone. On the left, the hotels and houses of Zermatt, which sometimes also provide a little insight. Finally, the path plunges completely into the forest, where the pleasant blanket of security is placed over the hiker. Zermatt's young people have designed an adventure trail here. If you look around this forest carefully, you will come to unexpected experiences.

Suitable for children from 4 years

For strollers with large wheels possible

Trail

Beautiful larch stands

Stairs or path lead back to the village

There is hardly a path in Zermatt that is more exposed to the sun in winter. It goes quite constantly at 2,500 m first along the path, then along the path towards Fluhalp. Suitable for children from 4 years to observe chamois on the slope while grazing

Description

The path leads through areas with and without forest, over hill and dale, meadows and pastures. Mostly in view: the compositions of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway. Shortly before 9 a.m. and shortly after 5 p.m. also the panoramic cars of the Glacier Express. In the large colony of marmots, the marmots only whistle when people approach. The sounds of the train do not bother them. If you sit down motionless, you will soon see the cute animals again.

At the Air Zermatt heliport at the exit of Zermatt, the activities of the helicopters can be watched, depending on the weather. The rapid take-offs and landings are sometimes a matter of life and death. Then, for example, when the helicopters come back from their mission and the mountain rescuer is still balancing on the blade of the helicopter.

• Depending on the season, alpine acelia and other mountain flowers
• Marmots
• Fire pit with picnic area
• Suitable for children from 4 years

The trail introduces the phenomena of glacier retreat. It shows what the glacier leaves behind when it retreats. What conditions it creates for the flora and fauna and how humans use the legacies of the glacier. From time to time you can feel a wind blowing down from the glacier. A cold kiss of the eternal ice. It smells of snow, ice, stone, water and the purest mountain air.

Since the Little Ice Age around 1850, the Furgg and Theodul glaciers have receded by more than three kilometres. Boards provide information about interesting facts at interesting places on site.

Information boards in German, English, French and Japanese

Numerous mini lakes to see

Gravel and rocky terrain characterized by the former glacier

Anyone who finds historical objects is obliged to hand them in at the tourist office. They are passed on to the cantonal archaeologists.