The Gorner Glacier
The third longest glacier in Switzerland
With a length of about 12.9 kms, the Gorner glacier is the third longest glacier in the Alps. It lies to the south-east of Zermatt in the Monte-Rosa massif, at the foot of several well-known 4,000 metre summits such as the Dufourspitze, Nordend, Liskamm, Castor, Pollux and the Zermatt Breithorn.
The Gorner glacier for your excursion destination
A trip to the Gornergrat is a ‘must’ for visitors to Zermatt. The ride by train up to the Gornergrat takes around 35 minutes and when you get to the top you have an amazing, 360° panoramic view in the midst of the Alps: the Matterhorn, Liskamm and the Monte-Rosa group plus a vista of the glaciers. On the route to the Monte-Rosa hut walkers must cross the Gorner glacier. It is advised to have a mountain guide when you take this route. A seldom frequented hiking trail leads from the Hohtälli ridge almost down to the glacier. From here, the hike continues through some of the most beautiful scenery towards the Riffelsee lake.
The glacier area on the Gornergrat
In addition to the Gorner Glacier and the Grenz Glacier, there are numerous other glaciers to be seen from the Gornergrat. Around 7 larger and smaller glaciers are visible from the Gornergrat. Take a few minutes on the Gornergrat to enjoy the view of all the surrounding glaciers.
Gornergletscher
Grenzgletscher
Zwillinggletscher
Schwärzgletscher
Breithorngletscher
Unterer Theodulgletscher
Oberer Theodulgletscher