Hohbalmen Circuit: Trift and Alterhaupt: hiking in Switzerland
TrailTrack route Hiking Switzerland One-day
Waiting for the first trip report

Hohbalmen Circuit: Trift and Alterhaupt

Distance
7.0 km
Time
3 h 24 min
Elevation gain
818 m
Difficulty
Hard
Open on map
Download route
GPXFor navigation apps KMLFor Google Earth and maps

Route description

This mountain circuit links Hohbalmen, Trift and Alterhaupt above western Zermatt. On the open slopes, the Matterhorn presents its north face and Zmutt ridge before the path leads toward Trift mountain inn. The house makes a useful named pause; meals or an overnight stay require seasonal confirmation. At Alterhaupt, the valley appears from another angle beside the Edelweiss building. The circuit then returns toward Hohbalmen. Its start is high above the village, so it belongs in a mountain day with a planned approach, rather than a short walk directly from the station.

Route status

Проверяем свежесть данных по треку и учитываем сообщения сообщества

Запретов на посещение и пожаров рядом нет

Проверяем спутниковые данные о пожарах и предупреждения по региону.

Следить за маршрутом
Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Added from a track

This route was added from a track. Individual sections have not been checked in the field.

Last updated Update date not provided

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

Current conditions No recent trail condition reports

Conditions may have changed. Share a report after completing the route.

Community experience

Recent completions

0

Be the first to confirm a completion and help other travellers.

Elevation profile

gentle climb steep

Surface

Dirt / grass 1% · Unknown 100%

Surface data covers 0.01 km of 6.96 km; the rest of the track is not yet classified.

Dirt / grass 1% · 0.01 km
Unknown 100% · 6.95 km

Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
Two named mountain houses and Hohbalmen give the circuit clear focal points. Moving between the open slope and Trift reveals different heights of the western Zermatt valley.
Length
7.0 km
Elevation gain
818 m
Surface
Dirt / grass 1%
Hohbalmen Circuit: Trift and Alterhaupt: route photo 2 in Switzerland

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
The circuit starts on the Hohbalmen mountainside. The approach from Zermatt and descent are substantial; children need experience of longer mountain walks. Complete bicycle access is unverified.

Nearby

The complete Edelweissweg returns to Zermatt over other sections and via Zmutt; it is a separate longer route. An ascent toward Platthorn is also outside this circuit.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
Reach Zermatt by rail via Visp. No direct public transport to Hohbalmen is confirmed: allow for the uphill walk from the village and the descent after the circuit.
By car
Ordinary car arrival ends in Tasch. After the train to Zermatt, the approach to the start is on foot; a visitor road to Hohbalmen is unconfirmed.
Parking
Use covered parking at Matterhorn Terminal Tasch before the train to Zermatt and check storage terms. There is no visitor parking on this mountain circuit.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Trift mountain inn the mountain house on the approach to Trift valley, operating seasonally.
Hohbalmen a named mountain outlook toward the Matterhorn north face and Zmutt ridge.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainСуммарный набор высоты — 818 м.
SurfaceDirt / grass 1%, Unknown 100%.
Риски The rises and descents between the mountain houses need confident footing. Snow, ice and thunderstorms prevent an ordinary walking outing. Edelweiss is protected: observe it from the path without picking plants.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Time for the route 3–4 h
With stops | 4–5 h This covers the Hohbalmen–Trift–Alterhaupt–Hohbalmen circuit itself. Add the ascent from Zermatt and the descent; allow a full day, roughly six to eight hours with a margin, when setting out from the village.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
Choose snow-free summer weather. At either end of the season check the approaches and the opening of Trift and Edelweiss; food and beds are not guaranteed out of season. After snowfall the summer time estimate no longer applies.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
Mountain boots and poles for descending.
Water and food for the full day, a warm layer and rain protection.
Sun protection, an offline approach map and a charged phone.

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

Reach Zermatt by rail via Visp. No direct public transport to Hohbalmen is confirmed: allow for the uphill walk from the village and the descent after the circuit

Is this route suitable for children?

Possible with caution: review the surface, difficult sections, and extra time for stops in advance.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 7.0 km, hard.

Discussion

Comments 0

Log in to read the discussion and leave comments.

Ask about the route or its surface, or share your experience.

Log in Sign up