Matterhorn Glacier Trail
In Zermatt, Switzerland
- Last Updated: December 9, 2024
The Matterhorn Glacier Trail in Zermatt is the perfect family hike in the area and it’s the closest you can get from the base of Matterhorn itself.
You can start and end the hike by cable car and it’s relatively easy to do.
Matterhorn Glacier Trail: General Details
The Matterhorn Glacier Trail can be done in both directions. The one i suggest here is best to be taken if you plan to hike to the Hörnlihütte (Basecamp of Matterhorn).
- Hike Distance: 6.5kms.
- Hike Duration: Around 2-3 hours of walking time. Counting with the gondola’s time, a lunch break or time to take some photos, 4-4.5 hours.
- Hike Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Not counting with the altitude of more than 2500m, the hike is quite short and has almost no exposed or steep parts. From Schwarzsee to the plateau where the Glacier Trail starts there’s a 100m height difference which can be a bit tiring. The path is a hiking path with some dirt and gravel so good shoes with some grip are recommended, especially for the inclined parts.
- Hike Incline: 490m of ascent and 140m of descent.
- Hike Altitude: 2570m (lowest point) and 2928m (highest point)
How To Get to the Matterhorn Glacier Trail?
You need to take a cable car from Zermatt to either Schwarzsee or Trockener Steg cable car station, it only depends on which direction you want to do the hike. In both cases, you can go and return with a cable car.
I advise you to make a Swiss Half-Fare Card if you have more than a weekend in Switzerland. It costs you CHF 120.00 and it gives you a 50% discount, for a month, on all the trains around Switzerland and sometimes even on cable cars and boats. With the cable cars between Zermatt and the Matterhorn Glacier Trail you would already be saving CHF 31.50.
Also if you want to do the hike to the Hörnlihütte, Matterhorn’s basecamp, it’s faster if you start in Schwarzsee since the detour starts already 1,3kms after the cable car station.
Pay attention to the working hours of the cable cars if you’re depending on them. They usually run between 8:30h and 16:30h but double check their official website to be sure.
How To Get to Zermatt?
Since Zermatt is a No-Car city, no cars are allowed here and you will have to come by train.
However if you come by car, you can park it in Täsch, outside Zermatt and then take a cute train ride until Zermatt.
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What to Bring to the Matterhorn Glacier Trail?
To ensure a safer and more comfortable journey in this mid-altitude mountain hike with some gravel sections, certain specific equipment is indispensable, especially if you’re staying overnight or doing it on a cold day:
Essentials:
- Breathable T-shirt (Tech or Merino)
- Waterproof Jacket (Gore-tex or H2O Technology)
- Puffer Jacket
- Shorts or Pants
- Hiking Shoes or Trekking Boots
- Backpack: 25-35 liters
- Gloves: One Layer (preferably merino wool for breathability and comfort)
- Sunglasses: Category 4 UV protection.
- Cap: Or a beanie and buff if it’s cold.
- Hiking Merino Socks: One Layer (preferably merino wool for breathability and comfort)
- Sunscreen: Ensure you have a minimum of SPF 50.
- Trekking Poles: For the entire hike.
- Low Gaiters: For peace of mind if there’s gravel.
- Swimming Clothes: (if you’re staying overnight or going for a swim)
Dry-fast Towel: (if you’re staying overnight or going for a swim)
Camping and Extras:
- Cooking, Camping Tent, Sleeping Mat, Sleeping Bag
- Headlamp
- Victorinox Swiss Multi-Tool or Victorinox Hiker Knife
- Change of Clothes
Other Things:
- First-Aid Kit
- Drinks, and Snacks: Bring enough of it especially if you’re doing it in two days.
- Thermos
Where to Stay in Zermatt?
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My Experience Hiking the Matterhorn Glacier Trail
I already did this hike in both directions and you can’t really go wrong on this one. You will always have a view to the Matterhorn and it’s always a blast to walk next to a glacier surrounded by beautiful snowy mountains.
If you have time and some hiking experience you can hike to the Hörnlihütte and even hike back down to Zermatt instead of taking the cable car.
To reach the Schwarzsee cable car station you need to head to the Zermatt cable car station first which is around 15mins walking time from the Zermatt train station.
Then you will have to buy a ticket to Schwarzsee. If i recall the cable car stops at the Furi station and you must change to the Schwarzsee one.
Once you arrive at the station you’ve to walk around 1.4kms to reach the plateau where you start seeing Matterhorn. It’s a 200m incline difference from the cable car station.
All that time you will be looking at the lake Schwarzsee (black lake) and at the distance you can see the Edelweissweg Trail.
Once you reach the plateau you can then choose to follow forward to the Matterhorn Glacier trail to Trockener Steg cable car station or go right to the Hörnlihütte hike. (Photo bellow)
There aren’t many other pitstops in the middle, it’s a pretty straightforward hike.
It’s a very dry hike and you will think sometimes you’re on another planet. You will cross a glacier river, and see many many different colored stones all the way around, perfect examples of the passing of times and the previous existing glaciers.
There are many information boards along the way explaining to you how the glaciers and the valleys you now see were formed.
Around Switzerland it’s a very typical sight to see people doing Mountain biking. You can bring your own or rent one at the main village before you go up. At winter time you can also rent snowshoes and other items for your hikes.
On the way to the Trockener Steg cable car station, with Matterhorn behind you, you will start seeing at the distance the Kleine Matterhorn mountain and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and left to it the Breithorn and the Monte Rosa mountains. If you like me have a tele-objective lens you’re gonna have a good time here, what a view!
And that’s it once you reach the cable car station the hike is finished. Totally advise it if you come with a group or a family.
What about you, have you already done the Matterhorn Glacier Trail in Zermatt? Leave me a comment down here if you did and after you did it with your impression.
Thanks for reading through and have fun hiking!
I’ll drop a couple of my other favourite photos from this hike down below, enjoy!
Photo Gallery
Matterhorn Glacier Trail:
From Schwarzee to Trockener Steg
