The Five Lakes Walk or Five Seenweg is likely the most scenic walk in Switzerland I’ve been to, with amazing views of the Matterhorn. The walk starts at about 3,500 ft above the town of Zermatt (about 8,500 ft above sea level) and is quite easy to get to. I took a funicular from Zermatt for Sunnegga and then a gondola from there to Blauherd. The magic happens when you get out of the gondola.
When I started the walk, I felt like I was instantly teleported to heaven, leaving behind the “immense pile of filth” as one fatherly figure would like to put it.
Stellisee is the first of the five lakes I got to. It was a beautiful day with a gentle breeze and the overhead sun shining brightly. And the best part … there was no cloud cover over the Matterhorn.
The great thing about Stellisee is that when it’s still, it reflects the Matterhorn like a mirror. However, due to the gentle breeze that kissed my face and the surface of the lake, the mirror had ripples on it. So I waited, a long time, for Stellisee to get still. But it didn’t happen. I think it’s OK to be disappointed once in a while—that way you have something to look forward to. 🙂
I moved on, this time downhill, to Grindjisee. When I got there it seemed like one of the prettiest place I’ve ever been to … like a place from a fairytale … a place where you’d love to get lost.
The lake was still like glass and for the first time I saw the reflection of Matterhorn—peeping between the reflections of a couple of larches with rare flowers adorning the shores of the lake. It is one of those sights that stay in your memory for a long time. It is one of those sights that you go back to on a lazy afternoon, when you might have read the last page of a good book and have no idea what you would want to do next.
Soon, a couple of boys and a girl jumped into the lake and the stillness was gone. However, they swam around quietly, seemingly mindful of not disturbing the peace and quiet of the heavenly place.
The next lake on the list was Grünsee. As I moved away from Grindjisee and closer toward Grünsee I noticed the landscape turning more rugged. It was quite a long hike.
The Grünsee, literally meaning “Green Lake,” was all blue when I got there. I could see the Matterhorn peeping from my left. I could have moved to the right and to a higher ground to get more of the Matterhorn in the frame. But for the first time I felt it didn’t matter. The way Grünsee reflected the sky, the clouds, the trees, and mountains looked picture perfect … like a postcard from Switzerland.
After spending sometime going around the lake, I headed toward Moosjisee. It was quite a steep descent through the woods but I enjoyed that a lot as it brought back sweet memories of Arkansas—the beautiful place which inspired me to take long hikes and create art using hunks of metal and glass.
The Moosjisee (also known as the Mosjesee) is an artificial reservoir. The water is used to generate electricity and for snowmaking along the pistes. It’s fed by “glacial milk” (sediment-rich glacial meltwater) from the Findel Glacier and hence has a typical milky hue.
The last leg of the hike seemed comparatively tougher with a steep climb of about 500 ft (though not much difficult if you are used to hiking). However, as I ascended, the landscape opened up with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn.
Leisee, the last lake in the itinerary and close to Sunnegga, is Zermatt’s beach with children’s playground, barbecue areas, picnic spots, and a glorious view of the Matterhorn.
As the lake is not deep, the water temperature is suitable for a dip, despite the high altitude. Some of my fellow hikers took a dip. I settled with washing my face as I wasn’t carrying my swimwear. It was quite refreshing.
By all means do this hike if you are in Switzerland. It’ll leave a bright spot in the deep recesses of your memory.
