Hiking the 5-Lake Trail in Zermatt in May
A traveler is planning a trip to Zermatt, Switzerland, for three nights in May and wants to hike the 5 Lakes Trail while catching the sunrise from Sunnegga. They need guidance on how to proceed given the conditions at that time of year.
- The 5 Lakes Trail is usually accessible from June to late September, not in May when snow may cover the trail.
- For sunrise photos of the Matterhorn, consider booking a hotel with a view, as that might be the easiest way to capture the moment.
- Contact the Tourist Office in Zermatt for current hiking conditions and alternative trail suggestions upon arrival.
AI-generated summary-
Hi ! I am planning to visit Switzerland this May. I intend to stay in Zermatt for 3 nights. I wish to do 5 lake hike watching sun rise from Sunnegga. How can I do that ? Pls guide me . please direct from from Zermatt station
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Hi SPS,
When exactly in May? The mountain transport Zermatt – Sunnegga – Blauherd doesn’t open for the summer season until 24 May 2025. The first trip up from Zermatt is at 8:30 am. Sunrise in late May will be about 5:45 am.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/sunnegga-rothorn/
However, at the altitude for the 5 Lakes Walk (2,130-2,584 m), the snow doesn’t usually clear until about the second half of June (but can vary from year to year).
The recommended season for this hike is June to September. In May, the trail is likely to be under snow, at least in parts. Lakes are likely to be frozen or partly thawed, and they won’t look like lakes, rather more like flat snowfields. If the hike is open (which it may not be, due to unsuitable trail conditions), you would need to be properly dressed and equipped for the prevailing conditions.
I suggest you contact the Tourist Office in Zermatt on arrival to get advice for suitable hikes at the time you will be there.
If your main goal is to get a photo of the Matterhorn at sunrise, getting a hotel room with a good view of the Matterhorn might be the easiest way to achieve this.
Sunrise trips to the Gornergrat and Riffelsee are offered, but only on Sundays between July and September:
https://zermatt.swiss/en/p/sunrise-trips-at-riffelsee-gornergrat-01tVj000004sJmiIAE
I hope this helps you refine your plans for Zermatt.
Alpenrose
Thanks a lot for the feedback…and in that case I may change my plan also and visit later. But yes my intension is mainly to see sunrise and also enjoy the beautiful hike.
Hi SPS,
The 5-Lake Trail in Zermatt is usually accessible in the summer months from June to late September. The trail starts at the summit station of Blauherd and ends at Sunnegga: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/sunnegga-rothorn/
You can find more information about possible hiking options in the Swiss Alps according to different seasons here: https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/hiking/
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
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