I go to the Zermatt area at least once a year. Usually it is in autumn, and this month can be capricious. However, this time everything worked out, the weather, the dates and a free room in a small hotel. So I packed my rucksack and boarded the train on Friday evening.

Although the suggested route is about 18 km and the elevation is over 1’000 m, it is not steep and goes quite smoothly, without any major difficulties. The path itself may even be too quiet for some, as it leads among other things through a ski slope and forests. But these views…. I mainly go there for them.

Around Zermatt is the largest concentration of the highest peaks in Switzerland, such as the Dufourspitze (4’634 m), which is the highest mountain in the country, or the Nordend at 4’609 m. I can’t help but also mention the biggest celebrity, the Matterhorn (4’478 m). These peaks are surrounded by large glaciers such as Gornergletscher, Findelgletscher and Zmuttgletscher. There is definitely something to see.

The start and end of the route are at the train station in Zermatt. From the station, head left and walk a short distance through the town. After a few minutes walk, the trail continues through the forest and higher up towards the Sunnegga lift station.

You can of course drive to the station and thus shorten the hike by about 2 hours. However, you should check beforehand whether the Zermatt – Sunnegga cable car is open. During my stay, i.e. at the end of October, the station and the restaurant were closed.

Actually, all mountain restaurants on this route were already closed. So, it is better to stock up on provisions and water, unless you save this route for the summer. I also recommend taking warm clothes with you. In the sun it is nice and pleasant, but in the shade your ears get cold.

Last but not least, my route partly overlaps with the well-known Five Lakes Trail (5-Seenweg in Zermatt), which means there are plenty of mountain lakes too.