Where dogs feel great!

Zermatt Dog Guide
Where dogs
feel great!
DOGS – why we love them so much Woof-woof – it‘s great to be a dog around here!
A vacation in Zermatt is a wonderful experience for my master and mistress and
for me, too. My favorite morning walk takes us up the mountain right behind
Hotel Simi. Once we are past the Zayeta house, I can run free without a leash.
There are many animals in the wild around here: deer, chamois, marmots, to
name just a few, and also sheep. I make sure that I don‘t scare them up. My master and mistress always carry a little plastic bag with them in case I need to do my
business. Thus we keep the trails clean.
While we are within the village I always walk on a leash (as required by law in
the canton of Valais). That is actually a good thing because there are quite a few
people on the street, and since they don‘t know me they might be scared of me.
Outside the village there is enough space for me to run free. Yet I always stay
near my master and mistress on the trail.
In most restaurants in Zermatt, I am welcome. I enjoy lying quietly in a corner
and observing the scene. The team at the front desk of Hotel Simi knows which
restaurants welcome dogs, and they are happy to make a reservation for us.
… because they are the best therapy.
Arrival
I feel completely at home in the Hotel Simi. After a nice long walk I can use the
special dog shower to wash and dry myself off. A feeding bowl and my own
little bed await me in the room the perfect place to recover after a long hike. The
only thing we have to bring ourselves is dog food.
I also like to spend time in the hotel lobby or in the lounge, where there‘s always
something going on. In those public rooms I stay on the leash. I remain in the
room while my master and mistress are having breakfast. There tend to be a lot
of people in the breakfast room, and I am not too fond of that.
A lot of my human friends have told me that Zermatt is a great village for
vacationing. I as a dog really love the village at the foot of the Matterhorn, too. Especially in the Hotel Simi with Nadja and Arno Liebenstein and their two dogs, Billy Boy and Khy Chu, I feel absolutely
marvelous. I hope my master and mistress will take me along again
next time!
Love to all my friends,
Spike
We usually travel by car to Zermatt.
Since the village is car-free, we have
to take either the train or a cab from
Täsch to Zermatt. Things tend to get
a bit hectic as we unload and reload
our baggage; therefore I am glad if
my master and mistress turn right at
the junction just before we get to
Täsch, where the parking lot is.
Taking the exit towards Parkplatz 2/
Schalisee, we go for a short walk
and I can do my business. After that
we can tackle the last part of our
journey completely relaxed.
The following restaurants in Zermatt welcome dogs:
A short excerpt from the Zermatt
Restaurant Guide shows where
you are welcome to bring your
dog.
Arvenstube and Pinte
Bahnhofstrasse Phone 027 966 40 00
Barbecue, à la carte
Vieux Valais
Hofmattstrasse 16
Phone 027 967 20 95
Pizza
Le Gitan
Bahnhofstrasse 64
Phone 027 968 19 40
Barbecue
Chez Heini
Mr. Urs Biner
Wiestistrasse 65
Phone 027 967 16 30
Specialty: Lamb
La Ferme
Hofmattstrasse 38
Phone 027 966 35 00
Barbecue, à la carte
Restaurant Helvetia
Hauptstrasse 72
Phone 027 967 10 20
Local dishes
Whymper Stube
Bahnhofstrasse 80
Phone 027 967 22 96
Fondue
Chez Max
Kirchstrasse 44
Phone 027 967 40 44
Specialty: meat and fish
Swiss Chalet
Bahnhofstrasse 18
Phone 027 967 58 55
Traditional dishes
Note:
Dog laws in the canton of Wallis are
stringent. Regulations are constantly
changing. Our front desk will be happy
to inform you on the regulations currently in force.
… because they save human lives.
The following mountain restaurants welcome dogs:
In the Klein Matterhorn area:
Simi mountain restaurant
Renate Biner & Family
Furi
Phone 027 967 26 95
Gitz – Gädi
Phone 027 966 28 00
Blatten
Phone 027 967 20 96
Ritti
Phone 027 967 14 82
Veterinarian in Zermatt:
In the Gornergrat area
Alphitta on Riffelalp
Phone 027 967 21 14
Chämi – Hitta, Riffelalp
Phone 027 967 10 96
In the Sunnegga area
Adler at Findeln
Phone 027 967 10 58
Fluhalp
Phone 027 967 25 97
Natascha Biner-Wunderlich
Hofmattstrasse 3
3920 Zermatt
Phone 076 440 43 55
… because they are brilliant buddies.
… because they have character.
Hiking
Suggestions for hiking with your dog in winter
The Zermatt region boasts an extensive and well signposted network of hiking
trails. Countless paths invite you to discover our gorgeous mountains on foot
(or paw). Our Dog Guide names only a few out of a multitude of options.
Our front desk will be happy to present the whole range of possibilities to you.
Winter hiking trails around Zermatt
107 Zermatt – Ried
1.1 km, 0.7 mi
approx. 45 min.
109 AHV-Weg Winkelmatten – Schönegg
2.1 km, 1.3 mi
approx. 60 min.
110 Blauherd – Fluhalp
3.3 km, 2.1 mi
approx. 60 min.
111 Sunnegga – Tuftern
1.7 km, 1.1 mi
approx. 45 min.
112 Zermatt – Findeln – Sunnegga
3.6 km, 2.2 mi
approx. 120 min.
113 Rotenboden – Riffelberg
2.5 km, 1.6 mi
approx. 45 min.
114 Zermatt – Ritti – Riffelalp
5.0 km, 3.1 mi
approx. 120 min.
116 Road Winkelmatten – Furi
3.3 km, 2.1 mi
approx. 60 min.
117 Zermatt – Moos – Blatten – Zum See – Furi
2.6 km, 1.6 mi
approx. 90 min.
118 Zermatt – Blatten – Zum See – Furi
2.1 km, 1.3 mi
approx. 60 min.
119 Zermatt – Zum See – Furi
2.1 km, 1.3 mi
approx. 60 min.
120 Zermatt – Blatten – Zum See – Bietli
2.1 km, 1.3 mi
approx. 75 min.
121 Zermatt – Zmutt
2.9 km, 1.8 mi
approx. 90 min.
122 Road Furi – Stafel
4.4 km, 2.7 mi
approx. 90 min.
The winter hiking trails are regularly
groomed. However, due to daily temperature fluctuations, ice may form
locally at any time on the trails.
Therefore we recommend that you
wear good shoes with anti-skid attachments for walking on the trails. Our
front desk can provide you with a daily
report on open/closed winter hiking
trails.
Zermatt (1620m, 5315 ft.) – Blatten – Zum See – Furi (1864m, 6115 ft.)
Length: Difference in altitude:
Approx. hiking time: Restaurants: 4 km, 2.5 miles
244 m, 800 ft.
1 ½ hours
Blatten, Zum See, Furi
From the village, walk to the base station of the Klein Matterhorn cable car.
Go past the bus stop. After about 100 m or 330 ft., you will cross a wooden bridge,
from where the trail leads you towards Blatten and Zum See, a little hamlet with
ancient Valais houses, barns and stables. From here, the way leads uphill to
Furi.
Extension possibilities and return path to Zermatt
Length: Difference in altitude:
Approx. hiking time: 4 km, 2.5 miles
244 m, 800 ft.
1 hour
Follow the road downhill past the Restaurant Simi and to the village.
If you don‘t feel like walking any further, take the gondola lift down to Zermatt.
Sunnegga (2288m, 7506 ft.) – Tuftern (2215m, 7267 ft.)
Length:
Difference in altitude:
Approx. hiking time:
Restaurants:
2 km, 1.2 miles
73 m, 240 ft.
40 min.
Sunnegga, Tuftern
It only takes 5 min. from Zermatt to Sunnegga on the underground funicular railway, which virtually shoots up the mountain. The view from Sunnegga is absolutely breathtaking.
There are two exits from the station, take the lower one. To your right, a trail
remaining more or less at the same altitude leads to Tuftern. We recommend you
to choose the same way back to Sunnegga as skiers run down the direct trail to
Zermatt.
… because they are loyal.
Hiking and climbing
Summer ideas for hiking
with dogs
Zermatt offers endless hiking possibilities. Well signposted promenades
and hiking trails stretch far (400 km,
250 miles) through fragrant mountain
forests to quiet alpine lakes and up to
glaciers. Cable cars facilitate the climb
to higher grounds. Countless mountain lodges and restaurants invite you
to linger.
Surrounded by 38 peaks that are over
4000 m/13 000 ft. high, Zermatt has
always been paradise for anyone who
loves mountains.
15 mountain railways, cable cars, and ski-lifts in summer
» 1 electrical cog railway with 21 railcars (Gornergrat)
» 1 underground funicular railway (Zermatt–Sunnegga)
» 3 cable cars
» Third-highest cable car in Europe:
Klein Matterhorn (3820 m, 12 533 ft. above sea level)
Summit lift and observation deck (3883 m, 12 740 ft. above sea level),
glacier palace and panoramic restaurant
» 3 gondola lifts
» Summer skiing: 6 ski-lifts, 1 chair lift
Dogs travel free on Zermatt‘s mountain railways.
(Subject to change)
Length:
2.9 km, 1.8 miles
Difference in altitude:
233 m, 765 ft.
Approx. hiking time:
1 hour; also suited for children
Restaurants:
Gornergrat, Riffelberg
Hiking down to Riffelalp is possible,
but caution: extremely steep trail.
Gornergrat (3089m, 10 134ft. ) from Rotenboden (2818m, 9245 ft.)
via Riffelsee to Riffelberg (2582m, 8471 ft.)
Take the electrical cog railway up to Gornergrat. Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view on 29 four-thousand meter high mountain peaks. You get the best view
from the observation desk behind the Kulm Hotel.
Standing on Gornergrat, you can easily recognize the individual summits and
glaciers. To your very right are Klein Matterhorn (3883 m, 12 739 ft.) and Breithorn (4164 m, 13 661 ft.). The Breithorn glacier spans the ridge down between
Breithorn and Ostspitze (4159 m, 13 645 ft.). Next are the Breithorn twins and
Roccia Nera and below that, the broad shape of the Schwärze glacier.
Between the Monte Rosa and Liskamm mountain ranges, both of which are over
4500 m/14 700 ft. high, the Gorner glacier flows down the valley and ends in a
glacier snout. You can take the railway back to Rotenboden station. From there a
short descent of about 15 min. takes you to Riffelsee. Alternatively, you can hike
directly from Gornergrat to Riffelsee. After a 45 min. walk, you reach the idyllic
Riffelsee lake, in which you can see an impressive reflection of the Matterhorn
pyramid if the weather is fine and the air is still. Chances for this are best in the
morning.
From the lake, the trail leads west across alpine pastures and in a wide curve
down to Riffelberg station (45 min.).
Sunnegga (2288m, 7506 ft.) – Leisee (2280m, 7480 ft.) –
Grünsee (2296m, 7533 ft.) – Riffelalp (2211 m, 7253 ft.)
From Zermatt, you reach Sunnegga within 5 min. by Sunnegga Express. The funicular railway virtually shoots up the mountain underground. Sunnegga offers
a stunning view, and the place is renowned for marmot sightings. A few steps
below the station is a marmot observation post. From the station, go downhill in
the direction of Findeln to Leisee (approx. 15 min.). If the air is still, Matterhorn,
Obergabelhorn and Wellenkuppe will be reflected in the lake.
After walking along the lake shore, you can tackle the short descent to Findeln.
At the next junction, go uphill in the direction of Fluhalp (approx. 45 min.). A
short, steep descent to Grindjisee comes next. This lake also reflects the Matterhorn, but the whole atmosphere is entirely different due to the surrounding trees.
You may then descend on the trail along the glacier moraine, past the base station
of the Hohtälli cable car. A minor ascent to Grünsee follows. A few steps below
the Grünsee lake, you will find the Grünsee restaurant.
The trail then leads through gorgeous pine forests to the Riffelalp station of the
Gornergrat railway (90 min), which will take you back to Zermatt.
Length:
6.5 km, 4 miles
Difference in altitude:
397 m, 1302 ft.
Approx. hiking time:
3.5 hours, also suited for children.
Restaurants:
Sunnegga, Grünsee, Riffelalp
… because they are such cool guys!
Note our special offers for vacations
with dogs!
Hotel Simi
Brantschenhaus
P.O. Box 93
CH-3920 Zermatt
Switzerland
Telefon ++41(0)27966 45 00
Telefax ++41(0)27966 45 05
E-Mail [email protected]
Internet www.hotelsimi.ch
Ausgabe 01/09