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Home , Findeln, Gornergrat, Gornergrat Railway, Gorner Glacier, Riffelalp, Winkelmatten

Zermatt Dog Guide Where dogs feel great! DOGS – why we love them so much … because they are the best therapy.

Woof-woof – it‘s great to be a dog around here!

A vacation in 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 mas- ter 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 ). 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. DOGS – why we love them so much … 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 We usually travel by car to Zermatt. special dog shower to wash and dry myself off. A feeding bowl and my own Since the village is car-free, we have little bed await me in the room the perfect place to recover after a long hike. The to take either the train or a cab from only thing we have to bring ourselves is dog food. Täsch to Zermatt. Things tend to get a bit hectic as we unload and reload I also like to spend time in the hotel lobby or in the lounge, where there‘s always our baggage; therefore I am glad if something going on. In those public rooms I stay on the leash. I remain in the my master and mistress turn right at room while my master and mistress are having breakfast. There tend to be a lot the junction just before we get to of people in the breakfast room, and I am not too fond of that. Täsch, where the parking lot is. Taking the exit towards Parkplatz 2/ A lot of my human friends have told me that Zermatt is a great village for Schalisee, we go for a short walk vacationing. I as a dog really love the village at the foot of the Matter- and I can do my business. After that horn, too. Especially in the Hotel Simi with Nadja and Arno Lieben- we can tackle the last part of our stein and their two dogs, Billy Boy and Khy Chu, I feel absolutely journey completely relaxed. marvelous. I hope my master and mistress will take me along again next time!

Love to all my friends, Spike The following restaurants in Zermatt welcome dogs:

A short excerpt from the Zermatt Arvenstube and Pinte Vieux Valais Restaurant Guide shows where Bahnhofstrasse Hofmattstrasse 16 you are welcome to bring your Phone 027 966 40 00 Phone 027 967 20 95 dog. Barbecue, à la carte Pizza

Le Gitan Chez Heini La Ferme Bahnhofstrasse 64 Mr. Urs Biner Hofmattstrasse 38 Phone 027 968 19 40 Wiestistrasse 65 Phone 027 966 35 00 Barbecue Phone 027 967 16 30 Barbecue, à la carte Specialty: Lamb Restaurant Helvetia Hauptstrasse 72 Chez Max Phone 027 967 10 20 Kirchstrasse 44 Local dishes Phone 027 967 40 44 Specialty: meat and fish Whymper Stube Note: Bahnhofstrasse 80 Swiss Chalet Dog laws in the canton of Wallis are Phone 027 967 22 96 Bahnhofstrasse 18 Phone 027 967 58 55 stringent. Regulations are constantly Fondue changing. Our front desk will be happy Traditional dishes to inform you on the regulations cur- rently in force. … because they save human lives.

The following mountain restaurants welcome dogs:

In the Klein area: In the area Simi mountain restaurant Alphitta on Renate Biner & Family Phone 027 967 21 14 Furi Phone 027 967 26 95 Chämi – Hitta, Riffelalp Phone 027 967 10 96 Gitz – Gädi In the Sunnegga area Phone 027 966 28 00 Adler at Blatten Phone 027 967 10 58 Phone 027 967 20 96 Fluhalp Ritti Phone 027 967 25 97 Phone 027 967 14 82

Veterinarian in Zermatt: 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. The winter hiking trails are regularly 109 AHV-Weg – Schönegg 2.1 km, 1.3 mi approx. 60 min. groomed. However, due to daily tem- 110 Blauherd – Fluhalp 3.3 km, 2.1 mi approx. 60 min. perature fl uctuations, ice may form 111 Sunnegga – Tuftern 1.7 km, 1.1 mi approx. 45 min. locally at any time on the trails. 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. Therefore we recommend that you 114 Zermatt – Ritti – Riffelalp 5.0 km, 3.1 mi approx. 120 min. wear good shoes with anti-skid attach- 116 Road Winkelmatten – Furi 3.3 km, 2.1 mi approx. 60 min. ments for walking on the trails. Our 117 Zermatt – Moos – Blatten – – Furi 2.6 km, 1.6 mi approx. 90 min. front desk can provide you with a daily 118 Zermatt – Blatten – Zum See – Furi 2.1 km, 1.3 mi approx. 60 min. report on open/closed winter hiking 119 Zermatt – Zum See – Furi 2.1 km, 1.3 mi approx. 60 min. trails. 120 Zermatt – Blatten – Zum See – Bietli 2.1 km, 1.3 mi approx. 75 min. 121 Zermatt – 2.9 km, 1.8 mi approx. 90 min. 122 Road Furi – Stafel 4.4 km, 2.7 mi approx. 90 min. Zermatt (1620m, 5315 ft.) – Blatten – Zum See – Furi (1864m, 6115 ft.)

Length: 4 km, 2.5 miles Difference in altitude: 244 m, 800 ft. Approx. hiking time: 1 ½ hours Restaurants: Blatten, Zum See, Furi

From the village, walk to the base station of the 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: 4 km, 2.5 miles Difference in altitude: 244 m, 800 ft. Approx. hiking time: 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: 2 km, 1.2 miles Difference in altitude: 73 m, 240 ft. Approx. hiking time: 40 min. Restaurants: Sunnegga, Tuftern

It only takes 5 min. from Zermatt to Sunnegga on the underground funicular rail- way, which virtually shoots up the mountain. The view from Sunnegga is abso- lutely 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 15 mountain railways, cable cars, and ski-lifts in summer with dogs » 1 electrical cog railway with 21 railcars (Gornergrat) Zermatt offers endless hiking possibi- » 1 underground funicular railway (Zermatt–Sunnegga) lities. Well signposted promenades » 3 cable cars and hiking trails stretch far (400 km, » Third-highest cable car in Europe: 250 miles) through fragrant mountain Klein Matterhorn (3820 m, 12 533 ft. above sea level) forests to quiet alpine lakes and up to Summit lift and observation deck (3883 m, 12 740 ft. above sea level), . Cable cars facilitate the climb palace and panoramic restaurant to higher grounds. Countless moun- » 3 gondola lifts tain lodges and restaurants invite you » Summer skiing: 6 ski-lifts, 1 chair lift to linger. Dogs travel free on Zermatt‘s mountain railways. Surrounded by 38 peaks that are over (Subject to change) 4000 m/13 000 ft. high, Zermatt has always been paradise for anyone who loves mountains. Length: Gornergrat (3089m, 10 134ft. ) from Rotenboden (2818m, 9245 ft.) 2.9 km, 1.8 miles via Riffelsee to Riffelberg (2582m, 8471 ft.) Difference in altitude: 233 m, 765 ft. Take the electrical cog railway up to Gornergrat. Enjoy the breathtaking panora- Approx. hiking time: mic view on 29 four-thousand meter high mountain peaks. You get the best view 1 hour; also suited for children from the observation desk behind the Kulm Hotel. Restaurants: Standing on Gornergrat, you can easily recognize the individual summits and Gornergrat, Riffelberg glaciers. To your very right are Klein Matterhorn (3883 m, 12 739 ft.) and Breit- horn (4164 m, 13 661 ft.). The 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 and Liskamm mountain ranges, both of which are over 4500 m/14 700 ft. high, the fl ows 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 refl ection of the Matterhorn pyramid if the weather is fi ne and the air is still. Chances for this are best in the morning. Hiking down to Riffelalp is possible, From the lake, the trail leads west across alpine pastures and in a wide curve but caution: extremely steep trail. down to Riffelberg station (45 min.). Sunnegga (2288m, 7506 ft.) – Leisee (2280m, 7480 ft.) – Length: Grünsee (2296m, 7533 ft.) – Riffelalp (2211 m, 7253 ft.) 6.5 km, 4 miles Difference in altitude: 397 m, 1302 ft. From Zermatt, you reach Sunnegga within 5 min. by Sunnegga Express. The fu- Approx. hiking time: nicular railway virtually shoots up the mountain underground. Sunnegga offers 3.5 hours, also suited for children. a stunning view, and the place is renowned for marmot sightings. A few steps Restaurants: below the station is a marmot observation post. From the station, go downhill in Sunnegga, Grünsee, Riffelalp the direction of Findeln to Leisee (approx. 15 min.). If the air is still, Matterhorn, Obergabelhorn and will be refl ected 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 refl ects the Matter- horn, but the whole atmosphere is entirely different due to the surrounding trees. You may then descend on the trail along the glacier , past the base station of the Hohtälli cable car. A minor ascent to Grünsee follows. A few steps below the Grünsee lake, you will fi nd the Grünsee restaurant. The trail then leads through gorgeous pine forests to the Riffelalp station of the (90 min), which will take you back to Zermatt. … because they are such cool guys!

Note our special offers for vacations with dogs!

Hotel Simi Brantschenhaus P.O. Box 93 CH-3920 Zermatt

Telefon ++41(0)27966 45 00 Telefax ++41(0)27966 45 05 E-Mail [email protected] Internet www.hotelsimi.ch

Ausgabe 01/09