Five Lakes Walk (5-Seenweg)
Zermatt · Switzerland
Zermatt's signature scenic walk — 9.8 km past five high-alpine lakes with the Matterhorn reflected in three of them on a still morning, reached via the Sunnegga–Blauherd cable cars.
- Distance
- 9.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 165 m
- Duration
- 3 h
- Type
- One way
What you’re getting into
The Five Lakes Walk (5-Seenweg) is Zermatt's most-walked high-alpine path — 9.8 km descending from the Blauherd cable-car station at 2,571 m down past five mountain lakes to Sunnegga at 2,288 m, with the Matterhorn (4,478 m) filling the southern horizon for the entire route. Three of the five lakes (Stellisee, Grindjisee, Leisee) reflect the Matterhorn cleanly on a still morning, which is why the trail's most-photographed image is the perfect Toblerone-shaped peak doubled in the water at Stellisee.
The walking is easy by Swiss standards — gravelled paths, gentle descent (the 165 m of total climb is split across a few small rises), no exposure. From Blauherd the first 1.5 km drops gently to Stellisee, the largest of the lakes and the famous reflection point. The path then traces a contour line west past Grindjisee (a smaller, marshier lake), Grünsee (green-tinted), and Moosjisee (a reservoir with a different colour palette of glacial silt), before climbing slightly back to Leisee — a popular swimming lake with a small beach, café, and adventure playground above Sunnegga. From Sunnegga an underground funicular returns to Zermatt in 4 minutes.
The walking season is roughly mid-June to mid-October, depending on snowmelt. Cable cars run reliably in summer; buy combined tickets at the Zermatt valley station (around CHF 70 for the round trip including Sunnegga and Blauherd). The reverse direction (Sunnegga to Blauherd) involves a 280 m climb and reverses the famous photo lighting — most walkers go downhill. Carry water in summer; the lake shores have no drinking-water taps. Start early (8–10 AM) to catch the Matterhorn before clouds form on the south face, and to beat the cruise-bus crowds arriving on the 11 AM cable car.
Where it goes
7 stops connecting Blauherd (2,571 m) to Sunnegga (2,288 m). Click a marker for details.
Standard Blauherd → Sunnegga descent
Walked downhill from Blauherd to Sunnegga. The Stellisee section (km 0-2) is the headline view — the Matterhorn reflects perfectly in the lake on a still morning. Leisee at the end is a swimmable lake with a small beach.
- 1Blauherd (2,571 m)Sunnegga (2,288 m)9.8 km9.8 km