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Breithorn (4168), the 4000er for tourists

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Klein Matterhorn, 3880m Highest point: Breithorn, 4168m Total elevation gain: 380m Total distance: ~8km Total time: 3h40 Technical difficulty: Easy 4000er, but glacier travel with crampons and crevasses Download GPS file The Breithorn (4168m) is known to be one of the easiest 4000ers in the Alps. The reason is that you can go all the way up to 3880m at Klein Matterhorn and start from there. You can go up from Italy or Switzerland. I chose to do it from Italy because it is my country of origin and because it is cheaper. So, at Cervinia, I met my guide and we got the ticket to Klein Matterhorn. If you want, it is even cheaper to stop at Plateau Rosà, at 3480m. However, the first part is not the most interesting, as you go across the summer ski slopes. Overall, I recommend starting at Klein Matterhorn, even though it is €50 more expensive (for a total of €117 to go up to 3800m and come back from 3400m). The last part is also the super-new and fancy cabin...
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Iffighorn

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Parking area near the road to Iffigenalp Highest point: Iffighore, 2378 m Total elevation gain: 1100 m Total distance: 12 km Total time: 5h30 Technical difficulty: Moderate Download GPS file As I was preparing for the Breithorn, I did this hike in an extended version. Otherwise, in its normal form, it is also ideal for families. Above Lenk, on the left side of the valley, there is a little road that leads you to a panel indicating that the continuation to Iffigenalp is a timed road that you can take uphill between 30 and 45 minutes past every hour, and downhill between 00 and 15. So you have to time your arrival. But we did not have to, as for the extended version we just left the car in the small parking area next to the panel and continued on foot. You start along the road and, after a few minutes, reach the Iffigfall, which is worth a detour. Then a path acts as a shortcut across the switchbacks the road makes. After crossing the road 2 or 3 times,...
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Location: Iffighore, 3775 Lenk im Simmental, Switzerland
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Sasseneire 3254m above Barrage de Moiry

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Moiry Dam (2,250 m) Highest point: Sasseneire (3,253 m) Total elevation gain: ~1,000 m Total distance: ~13 km Total time: 5–6 hours Technical difficulty: T3 (steep mountain trail with a short easy scrambling section) Download GPS file After exploring most of the 3000ers in the Moiry Valley, I needed to climb the Sasseneire to complete the series. The hike starts at the Moiry Dam. Don't stop at the parking area at the bottom of the dam—drive a little further. A tunnel brings you to the top of the dam (2,250 m), where there is also a restaurant. There is ample parking there. Cross the dam and continue following the large gravel road along the lake. The marked hiking path branches off soon after, but you can also stay on the road. I recommend doing both: take one uphill and the other downhill. The path offers fantastic views of the lake, whose water is an almost unreal shade of blue, while the road is gentler. I followed the road uphill until Alpage ...
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Location: Lac de Moiry, 3961 Anniviers, Switzerland
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Horneggli to Rinderberg Family Hike near Gstaad With Suprise

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Horneggli (reached by chairlift from Schönried) Highest point: Horneggli – 1,760 m Total elevation gain: +300 m Total distance: 6 km Total time: 2–2.5 hours (we took around 4 hours with lots of stops) Technical difficulty: Easy – suitable for families and children Download GPS file The Horneggli to Rinderberg hike, near Gstaad, is a beautiful family hike that is perfect for kids but still enjoyable for adults. I did it with my 5-year-old daughter. We started in Schönried, where a chairlift takes you up to Horneggli at 1,760 m. From there, the path is always wide, easy to follow, and well marked. The sign indicates 2 hours 10 minutes to Rinderberg. We actually took almost 4 hours with many, many stops, but I think adults could comfortably complete it in about 1½ hours. The first section passes through a sort of wild flower garden, with small panels identifying the different flowers. Shortly after the start, the trail splits. The main path continues to ...
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Arnensee: An Easy Family Walk Around a Stunning Alpine Lake

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Arnensee dam parking Highest point: Approx. 1,550 m Total elevation gain: 30 m Total distance: 3.2 km Total time: 1 hour (without stops) Technical difficulty: Easy – suitable for families and strollers Download GPS file The tour of Lake Arnensee near Gstaad, in the canton of Bern, is a perfect family hike. It goes around the artificial lake on a path that is accessible with strollers, even though you'll struggle a little in a few places. I went with my 5-year-old, Gaia. To get there, turn onto the small road in Feutersoey. Just beyond the village you'll find a toll booth where you have to pay CHF 7 to reach the lake. You can pay either by card or with coins. Once you arrive at the dam, there is plenty of parking, but the area is popular, so it's better not to arrive too late. We got there at 10 a.m. and had no problem finding a space. You can walk around the lake in either direction. We started to the right, going clockwise. There is a bea...
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