recommended route
Dufourspitze
-
On the way to the Dufourspitze. It's well worth looking back at the Gorner Glacier and the MatterhornPhoto: Denis Gruber, Zermatt Tourismus
Start in the early morning when it's still dark. Steep at first, the terrain gradually flattens out slightly. At Sattel (4,355 m), you leave your skis and ascend the ridge. It is likely that crampons will be needed for this stage. The enjoyable ridge climb over snow, ice and rock takes you to the highest peak in Switzerland.
The ascent route to the hut now becomes your descent route. You then head over the snow-covered Gorner Glacier back to Zermatt.
- Dufourspitze – Switzerland's highest point.
- Since summer 2020, the Dufourspitze has a new summit cross
- Long descent covering almost 20 km and 3,000 metres of elevation
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Rest stops
Monte Rosa HütteAroleid Restaurant
Furri
Farmerhaus
Blatten
Hennu Stall
Safety information
- Always go with a mountain guide on a tour
- Stay up-to-date with the weather and avalanche status: Snow Report
More information is available in the Swiss avalanche bulletins (www.slf.ch) - Always maintain visual contact with accompanying persons
- Use key sections and extremely steep slopes individually
- Never go into a wild game protection zone (these are marked and one will be fined)
- Always switch the avalanche transceiver (LVS device) unit to transmission
- Always carry a shovel and a probe
- Pay close attention to daily atmospheric warming and continually re-evaluate the situation
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
Further information & mountain guide agencyStart
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Monte Rosa Hut SAC – Obere Plattje – Satteltole – Sattel (Skidepot) – Dufourspitze
Descent and downhill: Same as the ascent and from Monte Rosa Hut SAC back over the Gorner Glacier to Furi and Zermatt
We recommend to book a mountain guide who knows well the place.
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 recommendations for this region:
Equipment
We recommend:
- Ski touring equipment: touring ski-boots, touring skis with touring bindings, ski poles, skins, crampons
- Climbing harness
- Backpack, shovel, probe
- Avalanche transeiver
- Warm weatherproof clothing
- Warm gloves and warm hat
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Warm drinks
- Snack (high energy foods such as chocolate, dried fruit etc.)
- Bring everything you need for an overnight stay in a hut
Important! Requirement: very good skiing skills and abilities, ski touring experience, surefooted with no fear of heights
Avalanche conditions
Statistics
- 11 Waypoints
- 11 Waypoints
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Photos from others