It is divided into three chapters: Zermatt; Grachen, Randa and the Mattertal; and Saas-Fee and the Saastal. The routes are graded from 1 to 4 and range from 4 to 18km. They are best walked between mid June and mid September. Most are on well-made mountain paths, although a few are on steep and rocky trails with exposure. There are routes to suit all tastes, from easy strolls up to mountain restaurants, lakes and viewpoints through to serious mountain challenges. Zermatt and Saas-Fee offer superb walking in the shadow of the Matterhorn. Both villages have a full range of facilities and there is a plenty of accommodation throughout the Mattertal and Saastal. There is ample opportunity to make use of Switzerland's an excellent public transport infrastructure to give access to walks. Distance, walking time, ascent, descent and difficulty are shown for each route, and the route description is supported by clear mapping. An appendix of contacts list sources of information, helpful websites and apps, and there is a useful English-German glossary.
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
