The Cabane du Grand Mountet lies at the base of a magnificent amphitheater with glaciers and snow capped peaks all around. The hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet is long and strenuous: it's about 24 km round trip with an elevation gain of more than 1,200 meters. This was my third attempt and I'm glad I finally made it to the hut. I wish I had started just a little bit earlier so that I would have had more time to explore the area around the hut.

The Val d'Anniviers is often overlooked, but it is really beautiful. I stayed in Zinal, which lies at the end of the valley. It's a lot less touristy than Zermatt or Saas-Fee. The hike to the Cabane de Moiry in Grimentz, overlooking the Moiry Glacier, is really cool and relatively easy. The hike to the Cabane d'Arpitettaz is also quite nice. It partially overlaps with the Roc de la Vache trail, but if you're up to it and get an early start, you can combine both. The crown jewel is of course the hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet, which is one of the best hikes in the Swiss Alps, and the hike to the Cabane du Tracuit, which is still on my list.

On the way to the Cabane du Grand Mountet in Zinal, Switzerland
The hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet starts in Zinal but the proper starting point is at the bridge which crosses the La Navisence river.
Hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet in Zinal, Switzerland
For much of the trail the views stay more or less the same as you climb higher and higher along the slope underneath the west face of the Besso.
Along the hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet in Zinal, Switzerland
There are some exposed sections secured with ropes or chains with very steep drops. This is NOT one of them. It was safe to stop and take out my camera here.
On the way to the Cabane du Grand Mountet in Zinal, Switzerland
Rock field on the hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet
The first of two large boulder fields. At this point I thought I was almost there and that the hut was around the corner. Not so. It took me another hour or so to reach the hut.
Hike to the Cabane du Grand Mountet
But the views get better and better
The view from the Cabane du Grand Mountet in Switzerland

Looking up (left) and looking down (right) from the same spot

And another boulder field to cross... But I really wanted to see what's around the corner.
View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet in Zinal, Switzerland
This...
View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet
It doesn't get any better than this. Or does it? There's a trail that leads from the hut...
View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet
... to this view of the Wellenkuppe and the Ober Gabelhorn
View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet

It all looks so easy when I look back at these photos. Why didn't I walk further down? There's a trail that leads towards the glacier. Yes, but in this case what goes down must come up again...

View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet
Once more the view from the Cabane du Grand Mountet
View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet
One more view from the Cabane du Grand Mountet
View from the Cabane du Grand Mountet

One more photo before I turn the corner and make my way down to Zinal again where I enjoyed a delicious dinner at restaurant La Ferme.

Related Posts

More awesome hikes in the Swiss Alps! The Glacier Trail Felskinn Mattmark, the hike to the Schreckhornhütte, the hike from Schynige Platte to Faulhorn to First, the Matterhorn Glacier Trail, the hike to the Schönbielhütte, the hike to the Chamanna da Boval and the Chamanna Coaz, the UNESCO Höhenweg along the Aletschgletscher.

All photos are available for licensing. INQUIRE about pricing.