recommended route
Hike to the Schönbiel Hut (Nr. 29a)
Hikes
· Switzerland
-
Schönbiel hut (2,694 m), run by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC)Photo: Zermatt Tourismus, Schönbielhütte SAC
The trail to the Schönbiel Hut is full of variety; the view from the hut of the north face of the Matterhorn is breathtaking.
difficult
Distance 20 km
6:18 h
559 m
1,285 m
2,694 m
1,859 m
The name says it all. In the Zermatt dialect, Schönbiel means “beautiful small plateau on a mound". From the mound on which the Schönbiel hut stands, the view of the Matterhorn is unforgettable, like in a dream. And as happens in dreams, the mood can change dramatically: depending on weather, the mighty Matterhorn with its soaring north face can suddenly seem distinctly scary.
The path to the hut leads across a great variety of mountain landscapes: tended alpine pastures, the gravelly terrain of the former tongue of the Zmutt Glacier, terminal moraine lakes, a reservoir with a hydroelectric power plant, large lateral moraines. On the way back to Furi, the path leads across alpine pastures with cows and through mixed forest of larch and Swiss stone pine.
- Waterfall: Arbenbach falls
- Chance to see wild animals
Author’s recommendation
You must take along your camera to make a picture of the impressive, steep Matterhorn north wall.
Author
Zermatt Tourismus
Update: May 12, 2021
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,694 m
Lowest point
1,859 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt
2.2 km
Dirt road
0.8 km
Forested/wild trail
5.2 km
Path
11.7 km
Rest stops
FarmerhausFurri
Gitz-Gädi
Schönbielhütte
Schwarzsee
Safety information
- Plan every mountain tour carefully and adapt to participants’ fitness level as well as the weather and season.
- Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Appropriate clothing is therefore essential, along with adequate supplies of food and water. In uncertain weather, turn back in good time.
- Inform others of planned route, and whenever possible avoid going alone.
- Do not leave the marked routes; do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.
- Please be considerate to other walkers and to plants and animals.
- Take note of the warning signs drawing attention to the constant danger in river beds and along watercourses below dams and reservoirs.
Start
Schwarzsee (2,583 m) (2,586 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'620'959E 1'093'397N
DD
45.991815, 7.709139
DMS
45°59'30.5"N 7°42'32.9"E
UTM
32T 400031 5093948
w3w
///quoted.outings.mute
Destination
Furi (1,867 m)
Turn-by-turn directions
Schwarzsee - Innerer Stafel (reservoir) - Schönbiel Hut - Arbenbach - Stafelalp - Furi
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
By train to the Matterhorn village: 3½ hours from Zürich airport or 4 hours from Geneva airport. Change at Visp onto the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (Matterhorn Gotthard Railway). From Visp, the railway leads through the Mattertal valley past idyllic small villages to Zermatt.Zermatt is also the start and finish point for the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (Zermatt to St. Moritz or Davos).
Getting there
Zermatt is car-free. Private vehicles are permitted only as far as Täsch (5 km before Zermatt). The Täsch–Zermatt road is closed to the public.Onward travel to Zermatt is either by private taxi or shuttle train. Trains depart every 20 minutes; the journey takes about 12 minutes, and ends at the Bahnhofplatz in Zermatt.
Parking
Täsch has car parks with both covered and open-air parking – e.g. at the Matterhorn Terminal or privately operated facilities.Onward travel: see “Getting there”.
Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'620'959E 1'093'397N
DD
45.991815, 7.709139
DMS
45°59'30.5"N 7°42'32.9"E
UTM
32T 400031 5093948
w3w
///quoted.outings.mute
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
"Orts- und Flurnamen der Gemeinde Zermatt", Klaus Julen und weitere, 1995. Erhältlich in der Buchhandlung ZAP in Zermatt.
"Zermatter Sagen und Legenden", Karl Lehner, Neuauflage von 1982, ZAP CH-3900 Brig, ohne ISBN-Nummer
"Der Wächter des Matterhorns – mein Leben auf der Hörnlihütte", Kurt Lauber. Droemer Verlag 2012. Deutsch, evtl. Japanisch. ISBN 978-3-426-27573-3.
Author’s map recommendations
A walking map (1:25,000) is available from Zermatt Tourism’s guest information centre, along with brochures containing tips and recommendations.
Equipment
We recommend:
- Good footwear
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof)
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
20 km
Duration
6:18 h
Ascent
559 m
Descent
1,285 m
Highest point
2,694 m
Lowest point
1,859 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 12 Waypoints
- 12 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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Photos from others