The Zermatt 5 Lakes Walk is a popular mountain trail known for its stunning lakes, where you can photograph the Matterhorn peak reflected in the water.

This hike is a great choice if you want those lake photos. But fyi, those carefully framed photos don't show you the busy crowds lining the lakeshores, water works infrastructure, or service roads and vehicles that occasionally cross the trail.

In our opinion, there are nicer trails in the Zermatt area, like the Riffelseeweg and Matterhorn Glacier Trail.

Trail Info

To reach this trail, ride a funicular train from Zermatt to Sunnegga, then a gondola to Blauherd. Then follow signs labeled "5 Seenweg," leading first to the Stellisee lake and ending back at Sunnegga where you can ride the funicular back down to Zermatt.

Trail: 11k • 4 hours • 250m up, 550m down
See trail map

If you have a little more time, we suggest hiking past the Stellisee to the Flühalp mountain hut (about 30 mins) for truffle fondue with a glacier view. We love it there!

Prices for the gondola vary by season. It will cost about CHF 45/adult. You get a discount with the Swiss Travel Pass, SBB GA and Half-fare.

Shorter version

If you want a much shorter hike, you can hike just to the first lake, Stellisee, in about 30 mins, then back the way you came. The photos from the far side of that lake are spectacular. You won't feel like you are missing out. See trail map.

We also like the 3 Lake Hike, which skips the first two lakes but is just as pretty and less busy.