Zermatt - walking tour to Schwarzsee

This tour on foot, an alternative to the cableway trip, lasts about three hours. The route follows the left bank of the Vispa and then the Zmuttbach, in 15minutes it crosses the stream (magnificent view of the Matterhorn), and continues by way of the Sum See (1,763 m/5,784ft) and Hermettji huts to the Schwarzsee hotel (2,583 m/8,475ft) from which there are superb panoramic views. A few minutes' walk below the hotel is the little Schwarzsee (2,552 m/8,373ft), with the guides' chapel of Maria zum See (18th C.). 2.5 hours higher up are the Belvédère mountain inn (3,263 m/10,706ft) and the Hörnli hut (3,260 m/10,696ft: 50 sleeping places), starting-point for the ascent of the Matterhorn. An hour's walk to the northwest is the Staffelalp.