Hike to the Schönbiel Hut (Nr. 29a)
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

Track types
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
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Schwarzsee - Innerer Stafel (reservoir) - Schönbiel Hut - Arbenbach - Stafelalp - Furi
Note
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
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
We recommend:
- Good footwear
- Hiking poles (optional)
- Clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof)
Statistics
- 12 Waypoints
- 12 Waypoints
Questions and answers
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