Zermatt 2 Day Tour: Beneath the Matterhorn
A big loop high above Zermatt with non-stop Matterhorn views
This Run is featured in Run the Alps Switzerland: 30 Must-Do Trail Runs
→ 45km
↑ 3476m
Δ 3094M
♦ Medium
Θ Clockwise
People flock to Zermatt from all over the world for a view of the Matterhorn. This unmistakable icon of the Swiss Alps often hides in the clouds, and plenty leave having never seen the pointed summit. My first time in Zermatt was like this. We ran into town after finishing the Glacier Haute Route. By the time we looped toward Zermatt, it was buried behind low, thick cloud. "Look! There's the Matterhorn!" Dan found pleasure in exclaiming and pointing towards lower, non-Matterhorn shaped peaks. And I fell for it more times than I should admit. Not this time. Back in Zermatt just two weeks later, we ran this tour. With blue sky and sunshine we didn't stop staring at the perfect pointed peak during two long days of running.
Smooth, high running always in view of the Matterhorn...what more could you want from a trail?
Detailed GPX Track
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LOCATION
Town: Zermatt
Canton: Valais
Country: Switzerland
Guided and self-guided trips. Come run with us.
Starting the first kilometers in the larch forest.
Big views waiting above the tree line and above the clouds.
A big new view of the Breithorn when you roll over the Gornergrat.
Smooth, fast trail beside the Gornergletscher with views to Monte Rosa.
Location. Location. Location. Hotel Schwarzsee, your overnight location.
You can't get much more efficient than sliding down the steep, smooth descent from the Hörnliweg.
Heading to Trift, you trade Matterhorn views for the Zinalrothorn.
A short glacier detour to tag the Mettelhorn.
All downhill to Zermatt, now. Sweeping switchbacks tighten as you drop further into the forest, and right back to the main station.
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Comments 6
Just great photos and helpful information. Thank you!
Beautiful trail with a perfect panoramic view. We included a few extra km and altitude difference to the Hörnli Hütte – its recommendable and definitely worth it. The Hörnli Hütte is the nearest place to the Matterhorn before you start the climbing to the top.
The trail to the Gornergrat was closed, so we missed this point but found a good alternative way to Riffelberg and then up to the Schwarzsee Hütte.
This run is spectacular and, if you are really (mountain ultra distance) fit, can be done in a single long day. The summit of Mettelhorn is not to be missed and is worth the extra push. The gpx files created by Dan and Kim are really helpful for the entire route. Zermatt compares favorably to the great mountain running towns of the world. If you plan to visit Chamonix or Courmayeur, I highly recommend taking a two hour detour for a few days in the Valais.
Hi! Amazing photos and views!
I am wondering if this run is possible in the beginning of October (in 2 weeks)?
Hi Ben, It’s cutting it close, maybe, probably – it’ll depend on the weather and if it snows or not. You’ll have to check in closer to the date you’d like to go.
Hi!
This run looks amazing, the photos are amazing! I was wondering if this run with an extra day to the Mettelhorn was possible in the second week of this October? I would love to do it, but I’m not sure if the weather is still good enough…
Do you have tips or other suggestions?
Thanks!
Kind regards,
Benjamin