Five Lakes Walk (Zermatt)

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Five Lakes Walk (Zermatt): Matterhorn Reflections Above Zermatt

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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Ranked #621 of 974

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HikeList Score

Five Lakes Walk (Zermatt) scored 78/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 71
Accommodation 57
Food & support 68
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 76

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Five Lakes Walk, or 5-Seenweg, is a 9.8 km point-to-point day hike above Zermatt in Valais, Switzerland. It runs from Blauherd to Sunnegga on the Sunnegga–Rothorn side of the valley, facing the Matterhorn. Allow 2.5–3 hours of walking, or around 4 hours with photos and a picnic. Officially moderate, it suits fit walkers who want a high-alpine half-day route with reliable waymarking, lake stops and lift access rather than a committing multi-day trek.

Route Overview

Start at Blauherd cable-car station, reached from Zermatt by the Sunnegga funicular and Blauherd gondola. From there the route descends overall via the five lakes in order: Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee, finishing at Sunnegga for the funicular back to Zermatt. It is a point-to-point walk, not a loop, with roughly +165 m / -454 m on the popular Blauherd-to-Sunnegga version. The surface mixes narrow alpine footpaths with wider gravel and farm tracks, including a broad gravel road after Stellisee. For bigger Swiss mountain days, compare the Aletsch Glacier Panorama Trail or the Davos to Arosa Panorama Trail.

How the Five Lakes Walk Became a Zermatt Classic

The route links five natural and partly man-made alpine lakes on the Sunnegga–Rothorn slopes above Zermatt. Its modern identity is as a themed Matterhorn-reflection walk, made easy to access by Zermatt’s lift system. The Sunnegga funicular, opened in 1980 as Switzerland’s first underground funicular, and the Blauherd gondola put walkers high above the valley, turning these lakes into a practical half-day hike rather than a long approach from town.

Notable highlights

Stellisee: The highest and best-known lake on the walk, close to Blauherd. On calm early mornings it gives the classic mirror image of the Matterhorn.
Grindjisee: A small, quiet lake edged by larch and alpenrose. It is one of the route’s more intimate reflection spots, with less of an open feel than Stellisee.
Grünsee: A larger lake among larches and rock, and one of the places where bathing is permitted. Its name means “green lake”.
Moosjisee: A small reservoir with a distinctive milky turquoise colour. The colour comes from glacial meltwater feeding the lake.
Leisee: A shallow, family-friendly lake beside Sunnegga where children can paddle and swim. It makes an easy final stop before the funicular back to Zermatt.

Challenges to expect

This is a moderate high-alpine walk, not a flat lakeside stroll. The route is well marked but reaches around 2,617 m, so sun, wind and quick weather changes matter. Expect uneven natural paths, rocky sections and gravel tracks, plus snow lingering outside the main summer season. Food is available en route, notably near Fluhalp, but check lift times before starting.

621

Ranked #621 of 974

See the Top 100 →