Belvedere Zinal

Distance: 9.4 miles (round trip)

The Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn and Besso

A stiff climb to a high belvedere features dramatic, nonstop views of the summits rising above the east side and the head of the Zinal Valley. Along the way the path visits the Petit Mountet hut and travels through beautiful meadows with see-forever views.
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Distance: 9.4 miles (round trip) to Belvedere Zinal
Elevation: 5,450-ft. at Trailhead
8,345-ft. at Belvedere Zinal
Elevation Gain: 2,971-ft. to Belvedere Zinal
Difficulty: strenuous
More Hikes in:
Zinal / The Valais

Why Hike Belvedere Zinal

The Belevedere de Zinal (Zinal Overlook) trail boasts jaw dropping views of the high peaks towering above the east side of Zinal and the cirque at the head of the Zinal Valley. The initial leg of the hike follows the path to the Petit Mountet. Beyond the hut the path ascends along a trail and then climbs steeply up a short section of the route to Sorbois, ending at a stunning overlook. The trail back to Zinal takes a steeper path that shortens the return by 1.2 miles (1.9-km).

This trail replaces what use to be one of my favorite hikes in Zinal, a high path between the top of the lift at Sorbois and the Petit Mountet. Over the years rock slides and avalanches have made a mess of upper sections of the trail, turning a great hike into a route. Both the trail and the narrow, exposed route feature fantastic views of the high peaks towering above Zinal. Hikers making the stiff climb to the overlook are rewards with the stunning views without the exposure and the unstable/shifting terrain along several sections of the route.

For experienced, sure-footed hikers with experience on crossing unstable terrain, the description of the route between Sorbois and the Petit Mountet is provided below the description of the Belevedere de Zinal hike. Before attempting this route it is imperative that you check on current conditions at the Zinal Tourist Office.

See Trail Detail/Full Description