Matterhorn views and mild terrain make this snowshoe trail the best choice in the Zermatt area for families or any casual hiker. This easy trail is mostly downhill, easy, short and can even be split in half if you need something shorter.
If you don’t have snowshoes, there is a winter trail parallel to the snowshoe trail. There’s also a sled run near the trail, to add some excitement before or after your walk. Just like the summer trail along this same route, we loved this snowshoe trail and would definitely do again.
| Location: | Zermatt, Switzerland |
| Address: | Gornergratbahn mountain train – Bahnhofpl. 1, 3920 Zermatt |
| Car: | parking at Matterhorn Terminal Täsch – Bahnhofstrasse 1, 3929 Täsch then 12 min train to Zermatt 3hr40 from Zurich to Tasch |
| Transit: | Zermatt train station 3hr15 from Zürich |
| Trail: | 4.5 km one way, about 1.5-2 hrs |
| Condition: | marked trail, snow not groomed |
| Skill: | easy |
| Open: | Dec through early April, assuming snow |
| Prices 2021: | mountain train CHF 72 Adult Discounts for SBB GA and Half-fare. Junior card accepted. |
| More info: | gornergrat.com • webcam |
See also How to snowshoe in Switzerland for beginners and What to pack & wear on a winter hike
Overview
This snowshoe trail is in Zermatt in southern Switzerland. See Zermatt on Google Maps.
Trail map
The trail starts at the top of the Gornergrat mountain train and hikes down Rotenboden, then to Riffelberg. At both stations, you can catch the train back down to Zermatt, allowing you to customize the trail as needed.
The trail I’ve marked out below combines the Challenge Trail #141 (1.7 km from Gornergrat – Rotenboden) and Panorama Trail #142 (2.5 km from Rotenboden – Riffelberg). If you want a shorter outing, just do one of these trails instead of both. If you don’t have snowshoes, you can do the groomed winter hiking path that is parallel to the snowshoe trail, Rotenboden – Riffelberg Trail #113.
The trail is mostly all downhill and pretty easy. On the Challenge trail, there are a couple steep downhill sections that require some steady footing, but not super difficult. The Panorama trail is a bit easier. Some of the trail is a groomed winter walk but with snowshoes you can wander off a bit and cut your own trail. We did this trail in 1hr15 but we were hurrying a bit to catch the train. I would take your time and plan for about 2hrs with breaks.
From Rotenboden to Riffelberg, there is a sled run. We did this before we did our hike, but you could do it after as well as a reward for a good hike. You can rent sleds at Rotenboden.
Getting to Zermatt
By car: Drive to Täsch and park at Matterhorn Terminal Täsch (Bahnhofstrasse 1, 3929 Täsch), a large parking structure at the train station. Then you need to ride the train from Täsch to Zermatt. It runs every 20 mins and takes about 12 mins. You need a train ticket for this. When you arrive in Zermatt, the Gornergrat mountain train station is directly across the street.
By public transport: Take a train to Zermatt. The Gornergrat mountain train station is directly across the street from the Zermatt train station.
Gornergrat train & operating times
The Gornergrat train station is directly across the street from the Zermatt train station, you can’t miss it. This mountain train runs year round, except for brief scheduled breaks for revisions (check website for details). In winter, this area is also a ski resort, but tourists and winter hikers also use the train to access viewpoints and winter trails.
In winter from Dec through mid-April, the train generally runs about every 24 minutes. In 2021, the first train is at 8:24, last train down at 19:18 (later in high season). After 16:38, the train runs less frequently, about every hour. See current schedule.
Winter hiking tickets
Technically, you need a one-way ticket to Gornergrat, where the trail starts and a one-way ticket down from Riffelberg, where the trail ends. In 2021, this costs CHF 72.
However, in winter, for CHF 80, you can get a “SchneeSpassPass” which includes round trip to Gornergrat and unlimited trips between Riffelberg and Rotenboden, which is where the sled run is. So it’s just a bit more money to include all-day use of the sled run. See current Gornergrat train prices.
Happily, you get a 50% discount for SBB Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass, GA and children aged 6 to 15 without Junior cards. No discount with a GA one-day pass. Children with a SBB Junior Card and those under 9 ride free. See all reductions.
You can purchase tickets online beforehand, but if you are using discount cards, you must buy them in person at the desk (not the ticket machines). And make sure to check the webcam before going up.
Equipment rental (and sledding)
You can rent snowshoes for CHF 10 on the mountain at the Rotenboden station, one station before you reach Gornergrat. They have a limited supply so you might try calling ahead to make sure they have enough. Alternatively you could rent snowshoes at one of the many sport shops in town, like Bayard Sport, which is next door to the Gornergratbahn.
At Rotenboden, you can also rent sleds for the sled run that goes between Rotenboden and Riffelberg. If you bought the SchneeSpassPass ticket, you can ride the train back up unlimited times to do the sled run over and over, at the start, middle or end of your hike.
Here’s the sled run at Rotenboden. We did this twice before riding up to Gornergrat to start our hike. It was a nice bit of fun for the kids before the hike.
Riding up the Gornergrat train
This train runs about every 24 mins. It takes about 33 mins to get from Zermatt to Gornergrat. If you need snowshoes, make sure to get off at Rotenboden and rent your snowshoes. Then get back on the train and ride up to Gornergrat. Or if you wanted a shorter hike, just start at Rotenboden instead.
At the top of Gornergrat, you’ll find a nice viewpoint as well as a big complex that has a cafe, hotel, WC and other services.
The snowshoe trail starts on the ski run below the Gornergrat station. Stay on the left side. Your trail will branch off the ski piste soon.
Going down the ski piste for a few meters.
Now on the trail. It hadn’t snowed in several days, so the snow was very stomped down by other hikers.
Everyone smile for the camera.
The trail is easy to see, just follow the dark pink sticks and other footprints.
On the first half of the trail, there is one steep section with some switchbacks. It wasn’t super challenging, we just had to walk slowly and carefully on this part.
Our kids managed to sled down this section instead of walk.
Looking back at the “steep” section we just came down. It doesn’t look so steep from this direction.
Reaching Rotenboden, the half-way point
Here we are walking past the Rotenboden train stop on the right, the half-way point. You could shorten your trail by stopping or starting here. But the full trail is pretty short, so I think you should do the whole thing.
Looking back on the trail. We started the trail late, a bit after 16:00 in February, so the shadows were long.
Always keeping the Matterhorn in view as we go up and down these little hills.
That sun made it warm enough that we were taking off our coats. But it got super cold as the sun went down.
Ending at Riffelberg
Now we have the Riffelberg station in view. Just a few minutes more.
I was worried about missing our train because after 17:30, the train only comes once an hour. So we hurried at the end, almost running with our snowshoes. Happily we made it with time to spare.
And time to watch the sunset over the Matterhorn before catching the train back down to Zermatt.
I hope you like this trail! See more Swiss snowshoe trails we recommend.
See also Winter Walks in Switzerland
2 responses
Hehehe, small world, judging from the snow conditions it seems that we’ve been more or less at the same time as you, was it during the last Sportferien? We’ve been there on 25th of Feb https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnSI-rh_Ce/
Yes, we went end of Feb during the sport ferien. We’re going again for Easter. Snow will probably be the same. Will have go again next year with better snow.