Where will you find this route?

• Walker’s Haute Route (main trail)

• Tour of Monte Rosa (main trail)

Trail Description: From Zermatt, the main route climbs up onto the Europaweg balcony trail that follows the upper Mattertal valley section. It features the best views of the Matterhorn as you wave goodbye and mountains such as the Weisshorn that line the opposite side of the valley, a suspension bridge crossing of almost 500m, and some breathtaking exposure.

A new Europaweg section was opened at the beginning of 2021 to take hikers between the Europaweg balcony trail and Herbriggen. Previously, the trail continued along the balcony to Galenburg before the descent to the valley but it now diverts closer to Europahutte on a safer route.

The lower valley section connects Herbriggen with Grachen on a route mostly through the forest. This is a revised route that has only been in place for a few years since the permanent closure of the original trail via Grat due to ongoing rockfalls. If you stay in St Niklaus, most people will hike along the Mattertal valley and join/leave the Europaweg trail at Herbriggen.

The Europaweg trail is a standalone highlight and popular with weekend hikers as it can be completed in two days.

*Please note that the description is written from a

• Westward hiking perspective for the Walker’s Haute Route

• Clockwise hiking perspective for the Tour of Monte Rosa

Difficulty: Mountain Trail. It is a well maintained trail but there are still narrow sections and cables at times, boulder crossings, exposure and an increased risk of avalanche impact.

Are there any other route options? Yes, there is one;

1. The Mattertal Valley Trail diverts at Zermatt and rejoins at either Herbriggen or Grachen

Transport Shortcuts:

• Train between Zermatt and Herbriggen (where you can join the lower valley Europaweg trail )

• Train and bus between Herbriggen and Grachen

• Funicular between Zermatt and Findeln Junction

Considerations: The bridges that allow passage along the Europaweg trail are installed at the end of June (typically last weekend) so this section is impassable until this time.