Hiking the AHV Weg trail in Zermatt

25 July 2018

After doing several long hikes in the first few days of our stay in Zermatt, we spent a day of rest and relaxation within the town that ended with a relatively easy hike.  The AHV Weg (Trail 4a) is a 2.2 km path that is flat and hence also known as the “Pension Path”, suitable for the elderly and also the young ones.

This path offers a chance to have a peaceful and tranquil walk through a forest on the mountain side, overlooking the village of Zermatt.

Walking up from Winkelmatten to the start of the AHV Weg trail. A Gornergrat Bahn cog-wheel train was seen passing above us.

The start of this trail is at Winkelmatten, a residential area at the southern end of Zermatt. From the Winkelmatten Chapel, a gradual uphill path led us to the tracks of the Gornergrat Bahn. Here we could see the working mechanism of the rack-and-pinion railway up close.

Tracks of the cog-wheel railway on our left.

After crossing the railway track, we entered the forest. At this point, the path became flat and level. We had glimpse of Zermatt below us and also the Matterhorn through the trees.

There are things along the trail that would interest the young ones or those that are “young-at-heart”. These include a metallophone (like a xylophone of metal) and a swinging rope bridge.

Trying out the metallophone, hung from a tree.

Although the walk was generally easy, relaxing and peaceful, my wife was a little concerned about some trees that seemed to be on the verge of toppling over. Her fear was not unfounded as we saw signs of fallen trees.

One of the “risky” trees that could topple over anytime.

Fallen tree along the trail.

This is a job for “Superman”.

As we proceed down the trail, we could see hotels and houses of Zermatt on our left and forest on our right.

The “Young-at-heart” trying out a rope bridge meant for kids.

There were plenty of wild flowers along the side of the trail and forest floor. We also spotted squirrels scurrying from tree to roof to tree, some sheep and even a deer.

Wild deer keeping a watchful eye on us from the forest.

Towards the end of the trail, we walked through a tunnel that looked to be newly constructed and came to a lookout point over Zermatt.

From this lookout point, we had a clear view of the whole of Zermatt, with the Matterhorn in the back. This is one of the recommended photo spots along the Riedweg trail near Zermatt. Unfortunately, the Matterhorn was covered in clouds and the afternoon sun was behind the mountain.

View of Zermatt with the cloud-covered Matterhorn in the back.

Further down the trail, there was a downhill zigzag path through the forest heading towards Mürini. At the edge of the forest, just above Mürini, is another excellent lookout point and photo-spot.

Another excellent photo spot at the edge of the forest, just above Mürini.

Beautiful vista of Zermatt and the Matterhorn at Mürini.

A metal staircase led downwards from Mürini towards the Zermatt. Our apartment is just below Mürini, a short walk down.

Walking down from Mürini to Zermatt.

Old and new chalets in Zermatt.

Typical wild flowers and chalets seen around Zermatt.

Back to our apartment at Zermatt, next to the river that cuts across town.

I made a note that I should hike up from my apartment to the Mürini photo-spot before dawn on a clear day to shoot a picture of Zermatt with the rays of the morning sun lighting up the tip of the Matterhorn.