Majestic Five-Lake Hike in Zermatt, Switzerland

looking for the most unforgettable postcard-perfect moments from your time in switzerland? frank’s favorite hike in zermatt, the five-lake hike (fünf-seen-wanderung) is a must-do. this trail combines breathtaking alpine landscapes, pristine lakes perfect for a refreshing dip, and unparalleled views of the iconic matterhorn - switzerland’s very own ‘chocolate mountain’. whether you’re an experienced hiker or just starting out, this trail is one of the best ways to experience switerland’s natural beauty.

essential things to know about the zermatt five-lake hike

*best time to hike the zermatt five-lakes is in summer and during fall.*

when is the best time to hike the five-lakes trail?

frank’s favorite time to hike the zermatt five-lakes is in mid october on a sunny day! on such a day the air is crisp, the larch trees glow in the most magical golden complementing the blue tones of the iconic lakes.

nevertheless, the be sure to do the hike between june and october on a good weather day, and when there is no snow on the trails.

*while bringing a guitar is a must for frank, there might be more important things to think of, like a good picnic*

what to bring for the hike?

shoes are good, hiking boots are really recommended - you want to have sturdy and comfortable footwear
water and snacks. we pack for a lunch picnic and at least 1.5 liters per person
sun protection. especially in high summer, be sure to wear sunscreen and don’t forget your sunglasses
a good camera - this goes without saying on such a breathtaking hike

is the five-lake hike beginner friendly?

absolutely! we don’t hike to reach ‘the destination’; we hike to enjoy the time and the views in the mountains. along the way, we like to take lots of photos, pick blueberries, jump into a lake, have a picnic - and yes, even with all of that, we manage to complete the hike in a day. stick to the white-red-white markings, which are official hiking trail markings.

ℹ five lake hike (Sunnegga)

google maps - apple maps - openstreetmap

distance: 5.6 mi (9 km) · elevation gain: 1312 ft (400 m) · highest point: 7546 ft (2300 m)

how to get to the five-lake hike?

*the funicular takes you up from the town of zermatt to sunnegga*

if you are coming from zürich, luzern or bern, the spectacular lakes are the perfect day trip. zermatt is a picturesque car free town and by far best reachable by public transport. you will likely need to take a fast train to visp and change to the regional train, which takes you into the valley where zermatt is tucked inside.

traveling to zermatt by car is painful but possible. for this you need to leave your car in täsch and take the train to zermatt, which is one station away.

the hike starts at sunnegga. for this, you need to take the funicular from zermatt, which costs 9.50 chf both ways with a half-fare travelcard. it takes you in less than ten minutes from 1620 meters to a height of 2288 meters.

traveling in switzerland is really expensive. but if you know a few hacks, you can make it hurt your pocket less by a lot - like the SBB half-fare travelcard (halbtax). it cuts train prices by half, and very often it works on cable cars as well - for example also on the furnicular from zermatt to sunnegga. after a few trips it pays itself.

a map of the zermatt five-lake hike

leisee

moosjisee

grünsee

grindjisee

stellisee

What to expect on the five-lake hike?

the five-lake hike features five uniquely beautiful lakes: leisee, which is right next to the furnicular station with a great view to matterhorn, moosjisee, a turquoise reservoir surrounded by a dense larch forest, grünsee, the best lake to take a cold plunge, grindjisee, where you’ll find lush meadows and diverse flora and stellisee, the highest lake in a rugged moraine landscape.

train sections: a step-by-step guide

starting point (9-10 am): sunnegga and leisee.
we like to take the five-lake hike by hiking up, so the hike starts at sunnegga. follow the well-marked trails and you will miss none of the lakes. leisee is visible right after the furnicular. it is a popular family-friendly spot and wheelchair accessible
moosjisee (11 am) and grünsee (12 AM).
from leisee, you walk into a magical larch forest, which will glow in the most wonderful golden in mid-october. soon you will see moosjisee, a deeply turquoise reservoir. it is a great place for a picnic, a campfire, or you can continue to grünsee. that’s what we did. it is right where you are out of the woods, and the best place to swim in the ice-cold water and to have a picnic afterwards
midpoint grindjisee (2 pm).
the hike crosses from the larch forest into a moraine stream. then the trail winds up all the way to the other side. magically, a small green lake with lush vegetation appears - and arguably the nicest view with matterhorn in the background
stellisee and return (4 pm).
the highest lake on this hike is stellisee. while you enjoy the final ascend you will feel a dramatic change of landscape until you are rewarded with the clear alpine lake with an iconic view. from there, it’s 45 minutes to hike back to sunnegga from where you’ve started, and you can see some of the lakes you’ve been to from afar.

more to know about the five-lake hike

can you swim in the lakes on the zermatt five-lake hike?

yes! you can refresh yourself in all of the lakes except for moosjesee, which is an artificial reservoir.

what wildlife can you expect on the five-lake hike in zermatt?

keep an eye out for some of the animals you might spot along the way:

marmots: the animal to see in the mountains! whenever you hear a high-pitched whistle, one of the adorable and chubby rodents might just be near you!
ibex: these majestic mountain goats are often seen on rocky outcrops, effortlessly navigating steep terrain
golden eagles: look to the skies for these impressive birds of prey soaring high in the sky

*the riffelsee hike is located along the scenic gornergrat railway*

are there any other hikes nearby to explore in zermatt?

yes, plenty! on our second day in zermatt, we took the gornergrat bahn up to rotenboden to capture the iconic shot of the matterhorn reflected in the pristine waters of riffelsee. after soaking in the breathtaking views, we hiked down toward furi and continued all the way back to zermatt village. it was a long trek, but the scenery made every step worth it.

*a cozy stay for everyone: view into the town of zermatt*

where to stay in zermatt?

if you need a break after hiking, you can relax at one of the many hotels in zermatt. we stayed at hotel carina and highly recommend it - we had a sauna for unwinding, and you can use the professional espresso machine at anytime!

can you camp anywhere on the zermatt five-lake hike?

we’re huge fans of camping, so it’s disappointing to learn that camping in the wild is not allowed anywhere in the municipality of zermatt. however, the village has a campground that even offers tent rentals, making it an adventurous and budget friendly option to stay down the mountain in zermatt.

why the zermatt five-lake hike should be on your bucket list

whether you’re spending a summer in switzerland, seeking a getaway from the city or making most of your time time in switzerland - on the five-lake hike, it doesn’t get more swiss than this hike with incredible matterhorn views surrounded by pristine nature, wooden swiss chalets and a sense of tranquility.

with 🐝 and 🐿️ by frank.

useful information

feeling inspired? here are some resources you might find useful if you would like to follow our footsteps:

online booking of tickets from zermatt to sunnegga
live webcam of sunnegga (start of the hike)
weather forecast for zermatt