A tough climb from a classic alpine village to a classic alpine hut.

Statistics

4 - 5

hrs

1,603

m

18

m

17

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

There's no getting around the fact that this is a tough old ascent that requires a bit of grunt, not to mention determination.

The reward for your efforts is that once you've done this hike you'll be at a real high mountain hut, well positioned for several mountaineering objectives and in a stunning position. The walk begins from Zermatt's high street so you can go straight from your hotel to the start of the hike.

Go to the southern end of Zermatt centre and the branch off westwards, following signposts to the Trift Hotel and Rothorn Hut. The path initially climbs quite steeply through trees to reach the upper section of the deep cut Triftbach valley.

Follow the valley as it leads more gently to the Trift Hotel.

The hotel is a mountain hut in all but name and is home to a lovely terrace which enjoys an epic view of the peaks on the eastern side of the Mattertal.

Refreshed from your stop at the hotel, carry on grinding uphill up much wilder terrain than what came before.

Once you get past the hotel you are in the high mountains and the terrain changes accordingly - most of the upper part of the walk is on glacial moraine and it's tough going! When you do finally make it up to the hut you'll have earned a drink so enjoy sipping it while looking at the panorama.

The view is basically the same one you saw from the Trift hotel...but on steroids!