Julie France, Switzerland 4 Comments

Hiking the Walker’s Haute Route is more than putting one foot in front of the other on a hiking trail for panoramic views of the Alps. This journey takes you to remote mountain huts, to tiny hamlets on the mountainsides, and small villages in the valleys. We tried new foods (lots of cheese, meat, potatoes, and bread), did our best to speak basic French and German, hiked through farmlands and past alpine lakes, and at times felt like we were on top of the world.

Most of the time, we are on our own, on a quiet trail, but it’s nice mixing in with people at the end of day, whether it be at a restaurant or the common area of a mountain hut.

I love how each day is different than those before it and that you never really know what the next day will bring. Walking the Haute Route was wonderful experience for our family and one of our favorite travel adventures.

In this guide, journey along the Walker’s Haute Route in photos, from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. There is at least one photo from each of the 14 stages.

Enjoy!

For an overview of the Walker’s Haute Route, check out our guide to all 14 stages of the Haute Route. We have links to all of our articles about the Haute Route, including a guide for each stage, in our Guide to the Walker’s Haute Route.

Walker’s Haute Route Photos

Chamonix France | Walker's Haute Route Photos

The journey begins in Chamonix, France, at the foot of Mont Blanc.

 Trient Switzerland | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Stage 2 ends in Trient, Switzerland.

 

Trient Glacier | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Stage 3 is one of the toughest stages on the Walker’s Haute Route. Along the challenging, uphill hike to Fênetre d’Arpette, you have views of Trient Glacier.

 

Fenetre dArpette | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Fênetre d’Arpette

 Champex Lac | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Stage 3 ends beside lovely Champex-Lac.

 

La Garde Stage 4 | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Entering La Garde on Stage 4

 

Walkers Haute Route Sembrancher

Sembrancher, Stage 4

 Sembrancher

Sembrancher, Stage 4

 

Cabane du Mont Fort

Cabane du Mont Fort, Stage 5

 

Walkers Haute Route to Prafleuri

Stage 6, between Col Termin and Col de Louvie

 Lac de Louvie Walkers Haute Route

The view of Lac de Louvie from the trail, not far from the previous photo.

 

Cabane de Louvie Signs

Cabane de Louvie, which sits on Lac de Louvie, is an optional detour (and well worth it!)

 

Walkers Haute Route Lac de Louvie

Lac de Louvie

 Walkers Haute Route

Looking out over Lac de Louvie on Stage 6

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 6

Col de Prafleuri, Stage 6

 

Cabane de Praflueri

Cabane de Praflueri

 Col des Roux

Col des Roux, Stage 7

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 7 | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Lac des Dix, Stage 7

 

Cows on the Trail

Cows on the trail

 Lac des Dix | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Lac des Dix

 

Walkers Haute Route Ladders | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Climbing the ladders to Pas de Chèvres

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 8

Walking from Arolla to Les Haudères, stage 8

 Lac Bleu

Lac Bleu

 

Les Hauderes | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Les Haudères

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 9 | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Stage 8, between Les Haudères and Col du Tsaté

 Moiry Glacier | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Moiry Glacier

 

Lac de Moiry Haute Route

Lac de Moiry

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 10 | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Entering Zinal, Stage 10

 Walkers Haute Route Stage 11

Walking from Zinal to Forcletta, Stage 11

 

Walkers Haute Route Forcletta | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Forcletta

 

Walkers Haute Route Cow | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Cow along the trail, Stage 11

 Walkers Haute Route

First view of the Mattertal Valley, Stage 12

Walkers Haute Route Guide

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 13 | Walker's Haute Route Photos

On the Europaweg, Stage 13

 

Europahutte | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Europahütte

 Ibex at Europahutte | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Ibex at the Europahütte

 

Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, Stage 14

 

Walkers Haute Route Stage 14 | Walker's Haute Route Photos

Stage 14 and views of the Matterhorn

Hiking the Walker’s Haute Route is an extraordinary journey. To cross part of the French and Swiss Alps on foot is a challenging but very memorable experience.

If this looks like something you would like to do, take a look at our Guide to the Walker’s Haute Route, which has links to all of our articles. If you are wondering how to plan something like this, what to expect day to day, and how fit you need to be, read our Things to Know about the Walker’s Haute Route article. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask us at the comment section at the end of any of our Walker’s Haute Route articles, including this one.


If you have any questions about these Walker’s Haute Route photos or how to hike the Walker’s Haute Route, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information about the Walker’s Haute Route & Hiking in Europe

WALKER’S HAUTE ROUTE: The Walker’s Haute Route is a spectacular multi-day trek from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. Learn more about this amazing journey our our Guide to the Walker’s Haute Route. For a full list and overview of the stages, check out our article about the Walker’s Haute Route Stages.

ZERMATT: For ideas on what to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Zermatt and the best hikes in Zermatt. Don’t miss the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelberg, the hike to Hörnlihütte, and the Matterhorn Glacier Trail. For more alpine views, learn how to visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (and find out if it is worth it).

CHAMONIX: Get started with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Chamonix.  In our Guide to Aiguille du Midi, we cover how to visit Aiguille du Midi and ride the Panoramic Mont-Blanc cable car. Learn how to hike to Lac Blanc, how to hike the Grand Balcon Nord trail, and how to hike to spectacular viewpoints of the Argentiere Glacier.

MORE GREAT HIKES IN EUROPE: From thrilling trails in the Alps to easy walks along the coast, read our article 20 Best Hikes in Europe for some beautiful hiking trails to put on your travel wish list.

 

Walkers Haute Route Photos Switzerland

 

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Comments 4

  1. Avatar for Veronica Grinstein
    Veronica Grinstein

    Hi. I will be going to Switzerland for the first time in June and all this info is great,,! Thanks!!! Quick question. We have a week in April to go hiking where would you suggest we go ? I don’t mind the cold but I do not like rain or fog though. Thanks!!! Veronica

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Definitely go to the Jungfrau region. This area is gorgeous and filled with short trails, long trails, easy trails, hard trails, and they all have awesome views. A full week in this one area may seem like a lot but there is a lot to do, plus the extra time gives you some contingency time should it rain. If you wanted to see two areas, you could do 4 days in Jungfrau (click here for advice where to stay) and 2 days in Zermatt, with a day of travel in between. You can look at both of our hiking guides to decide which area looks more interesting. But if you can’t decide, the Jungfrau area gets my vote. Cheers, Julie

      1. Avatar for Veronica Grinstein
        Veronica Grinstein

        Thanks so much!!
        On another note, where would you go hiking in early April ? I find the rainy weather might be an issue both on the norther and southern hemisphere. Thanks.

        1. Avatar for Julie Post
          Author
          Julie

          There are a bunch of national parks in the USA, such as Zion, Arches, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon (basically, the American Southwest) that are great to visit and go hiking in April. Here is a list of great national parks to visit in April. But much of Europe still isn’t warm enough and the trails still have snow on them. We’ve been to Peru at the end of April/early May and that was wonderful and you can go hiking there. Cheers, Julie

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