[Anonymous]

30 May 2019 at 3:37:47 #821922

Hi – coming to Switzerland for first time in June. Hoping to do some mountain hikes. Will most trails be open around Zermatt Eg 5 Lakes in mid June? And around Brienzer Rothorn?

thanks. Simon

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[User]

Reply 1 of 7 • 30 May 2019 at 23:17:35 #913663

Should be, although there has been some unusual late heavy snow this year. Zermatt reopened some skiing that would normally have closed for the summer

[User]

Reply 2 of 7 • 31 May 2019 at 0:48:14 #913664

Hi Simon –

<<“Zermatt reopened some skiing that would normally have closed for the summer”>>

That does not augur well for good hiking……

Rule of thumb…….at or above 2000 meters, trails don’t open for hiking until late June. That means after the 15th. Might work for you.

Spend some time with webcams and local tourist offices.

Vague memories recall a website for the 5 lakes with an opening date….search the internet.

This map will give you altitudes:

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&layers=ch.swisst opo.swisstlm3d-wanderwege&zoom=5&E=26 45610.00&N=1182180.00

and:

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&layers=ch.swisst opo.swisstlm3d-wanderwege&zoom=6&E=26 24183.47&N=1097111.59

Slowpoke

[Mark]

Reply 3 of 7 • 31 May 2019 at 3:08:15 #913665

Hi Simon

As I recall the 5 lakes hike is mostly mid mountain and if so it has a good chance of being open. Another option is Zermatt to Zmutt which is a restored old Swiss town with nice views of the Matterhorn as you hike along the trail. It is along the valley floor and should be clear of snow. From Zmutt you can continue on to Riffelalp and return by train to Zermatt or return from Zmutt directly to Zermatt by cable car after a short 20 min walk from Zmutt.

We also enjoyed the hike from Riffelalp to Riffelsee which is also mostly lower to mid mountain with good Matterhorn views.

Still it’s impossible to predict if these trails will be passable for sure. I would expect the local tourist office would be able to give a reliable report of trail conditions when you arrive. Your hotel concierge may be very helpful as well in advising you on which hikes are doable.

Mark

[User]

Reply 4 of 7 • 31 May 2019 at 7:03:36 #913666

Hi Mark-

This website has all the details:

http://www.zermatt.ch/en/Medi a/Planning-hikes-tours/5-Seenweg :

<<“Lowest point2124 m

Highest point2578 m”>>

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 5 of 7 • 31 May 2019 at 7:08:08 #913667

HI Simon-

I found the website that I was thinking of:

http://www.zermatt.ch/en/Medi a/Planning-hikes-tours/5-Seenweg

It notes that the recommended times are from June to September. There are lots of details.

At the upper left of the first page, there is an indication of “open” or “closed”

status.

It is currently closed.

Slowpoke

[Mark]

Reply 6 of 7 • 31 May 2019 at 11:31:56 #913668

Hi Slowpoke

Thanks, good to know.

I went back and looked at my hiking map I used to hike to Hidden Valley. We passed Mosjisee, Grindisee, and Grunsee and they seemed more or less mid mountain as we were looking up toward Fluhalp and Rothorn. But Zermatt is exceptionally high and it looks like almost everything on my map is 2000 meters or higher.

I would opine that June is a cruel month for mountain hikers. It can tease you with some warm weather but not quite consistently enough to reliably clear the higher trails. Hopefully Simon will have good luck with the weather but I would recommend he check out the Zmutt hike as well.

Mark

[User]

Reply 7 of 7 • 31 May 2019 at 12:08:31 #913669

Hi Mark –

<<“I would opine that June is a cruel month for mountain hikers.”>>

Many, many years ago, when there was some kind of date based complexity with using frequent flyer miles on Swiss Air, we would go over in June. At the end of that month, the wildflowers would be spectacular. But, in mid-June, once we ran into 2 meter high snow on the trail as it left Kleine Scheidegg for Männlichen. And, once we had two weeks of solid rain everywhere but in the Ticino.

So, these days, late May and early June is reserved for the Mittelland….the Emmental, Dreiseenland, Luzern, the Bodensee……..and, the Alps get early September.

One June we did fit in a climb to Chinzig Kulm, following Suvorov’s route. Took the cableway from Bürglen, then climbed. Free of other tourist, and some nice views down to the Muotathal and the Uri Alps.

Slowpoke