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North Face Trail (Nr. 144)
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/ Along the north face of the MatterhornPhoto: Zermatt Tourismus, Zermatt Tourismus -
/ Past the frozen, snow-covered Schwarzsee and the "Maria zum Schnee" chapelPhoto: Zermatt Tourismus, Zermatt Tourismus
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/ SchneeschuhwandernVideo: Zermatt Tourismus
The trail leads from Schwarzsee, at the foot of the north face of the Matterhorn, through the gorgeous landscape around Stafelalp. It’s hard to believe that mountaineers have scaled the north face of the Matterhorn in winter: such as Walter Bonatti in 1965, climbing alone. The cold at the north face is almost tangible.
- Choose time of day carefully, because the sun disappears very early here in winter
- Palpable cold descends after sunset
- Pink markers approx. every 100 m along the route
- Caution: check details of current avalanche risk at lift station
- Guided tours bookable through the Zermatters
Author’s recommendation
Do not forget your camera, because getting a picture of the steep north wall of the Matterhorn is worth it in any case.
Rest Stop
SchwarzseeStafelalp 2200m
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.
- It is forbidden to walk on the ski pistes.
- Please be considerate to other walkers and to plants and animals.
The snowshoe trails can be tackled without a mountain guide. Beware: they are not prepared in any way and are not controlled daily; nor are they secured from natural hazards such as avalanches or rockfalls. For safety, check the weather forecast and current avalanche bulletin.
All snowshoeing is at one’s own risk.
Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.
Tips and hints
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Schwarzsee - Stafelalp
The last part of the walk follows the winter hiking trail back to Furi - snowshoes no longer required.
(Hiking time in reverse direction: approx. 1h 30 - 2h)
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
Equipment
We recommend:
- Good, waterproof footwear
- Snowshoes
- Hiking poles
- Warm winter clothing appropriate for the weather
Questions and answers
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