Hiking the Five Lakes is one of the options to reach Matterhorn from Zermatt other than the cog train ride from Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car. It’s considered to be an easy hike that takes up to five hours to complete with an elevation gain of 165 meters.
Starting from Blauherd, the final station of the funicular ride, you will begin to see the first lake Stellisee and end the route at Leisee lake. In this article, I’m gonna show you how to get to the starting point of the hike from Zermatt, the cost, and what to see along the way.
Read More: Get Ready for the Best Summer Trip of Your Life: Your Comprehensive Guide to Zermatt!
The Zermatt Five-Lake Route: How to Get There & Starting Point
Getting to Blauherd from the Zermatt city center is simple. Get on the ride at Zermatt ZBAG-zsb to Sunnegga first. Once you’re there, follow the signs to get to the main cable car to reach Blauherd station in the next seven minutes. Along the way uphill, the gorgeous Matterhorn slowly looms out from afar.
Get off at the Blauherd station, head out of the exit and follow the signpost for 20 minutes walking to the first lake, Stellisee.
How Much Is the Five-Lake Hike?
The hike to the lakes itself is free of charge but you need to pay for the funicular and lift tickets to get you to the starting point. Make sure to obtain the Swiss Travel Pass for a 50% discount on top of the original price. If you get the pass online as I did, the final cost is a lot cheaper which is about 20% on top of the price you pay on the site.
The Five-Lake Hike Route: What to See & Difficulty Level
The 5 Lakes Hike trail meanders through the majestic mountain range wrapping around Zermatt, which includes:
- Lake #1: Stellisee
- Lake #2: Grindjisee
- Lake #3: Grunsee
- Lake #4: Moosjisee
- Lake #5: Leisee
Upon your arrival, there is a signpost with directions to different routes in the area. Make sure to follow the 5-Lake hiking route or else you’ll end up getting lost in other parts of this massive mountain region.
Despite being an easy hike, note that you’ll encounter gravel sections other than well-paved trails.
Blauherd to Stellisee
Walk for 20 minutes from Blauherd to Stellisee. People like to hang around by the lake which is in the middle of the sun-kissed meadow. Meander to the left side of the lake to find some benches to soak up the view and rest your legs.
Stellisee to Grindjisee
Get back to the first intersection to continue your hike to Grindjisee lake. This section is filled with plenty of small waterfalls cascading down the cliff of the mountains. Some herds of sheep hang around with the hikers near the trail.
The route to Grindjisee is mostly downhill which is not too stressful on the cores but make sure to follow the right direction. The sign that tells you to turn right is actually wrong. I saw other hikers taking a left turn which is supposed to be the accurate direction to follow. Along the way, there were fantastic views of the surrounding valley, Matterhorn, and distant glaciers.
Grindjisee to Grunsee
Keep beating the gravel road up the third lake of Grunsee. This section unveils marvelous views of the far-flung Matterhorn and glacier-capped mountains. The Grunsee lake is surrounded by a wide sandy shore nestled by some rocky parts.
Grunsee to Mossjisee
From Grunsee to Moosjisee, head down a switchback trail. There is a small lodge mid-way where you can recharge with some snacks. Mossjisee is one of my favorite lakes out of the five, filled with an eye-pleasing milky blue-turquoise water albeit lacking the Matterhorn reflection.
Moosjisee to Leisee
The last segment of the hike is the most challenging. It’s way steeper but the spectacular view towards the Matterhorn peak compensates for the stress I put on my core.
You will also come across a lot more people and children hanging by a playground and a beach.
Conclusion
Once you’re done, get back on the funicular from Sunnegga to Zermatt to end your day hiking the trail. I got in touch with some other hikers on the way back. Some decided to finish the five lakes while others wanted to have fun swimming in the lakes.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Zermatt and Switzerland, check out my travel guide below:
- Carlton – Europe Vintage Adults Hotel- A Comprehensive Review
- Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Viewing Platform- Peak Pass, Getting Around, And Things To Do
- A Summer Travel Guide to Zermatt: Swiss Travel Pass | Transportation | Best Restaurants | Packing Tips and Things to Do
- Is Gornergrat Worth Visiting? A One-Day Itinerary, Travel Passes, and Tips
Everything You Need to Know about Switzerland
Explore more of our adventures around Switzerland:
- Travel Guide: A Pocket Switzerland Travel Guide
- Tours: Top Switzerland Tours & Excursions
Simplify Your Switzerland Trip