Gorner Gorge
On Gingerguide's self-guided Zermatt audio tour, Gorner Gorge is a stop worth about ~40 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~40 min
- Zermatt Zermatt guide
About Gorner Gorge
A deep cleft of green serpentine rock at the edge of Zermatt, where wooden walkways cling to the cliffs above a rushing glacier river; a summer-season walk opened to visitors in the 1880s.
The Gorner Gorge, the Gornerschlucht, is a narrow, deep ravine on the Gornera river at the southern edge of Zermatt, about a fifteen-minute walk from the village. The river, carrying meltwater from the Gorner Glacier, has cut the gorge through greenish serpentine rock some 220 million years old. Wooden walkways and short tunnels, first built in 1886 and 1887, let visitors follow the cliffs high above the rushing water, through a cool, mossy world of smoothed stone.
The lower part can be walked by anyone with sturdy shoes; an upper section can be crossed on a guided, fixed-rope adventure route. Because of snow and winter conditions, the gorge is a warm-season attraction, open roughly from late spring to mid-October, so it should be checked before a visit. From mid-October the low afternoon light makes the water glow turquoise. The gorge is also a stage on the walk between Zermatt and Furi.
Did you know? The gorge is cut through greenish serpentine rock some 220 million years old by the Gornera, a river carrying meltwater straight from the Gorner Glacier.
How much time do you need at Gorner Gorge?
Around ~40 min works well for Gorner Gorge — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Gorner Gorge?
Yes — Gorner Gorge made the cut as one of 13 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Zermatt. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Zermatt
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Gorner Gorge and read more:
Day 1 of the Zermatt in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Gorner Gorge
Preview the Zermatt tour free in the Gingerguide app.