We leave for the Hörnli hut at the mountain station of the Schwarzsee-Gondola. You sit in the saddle for a short while, then the bike lies on your shoulders. The path up to the Hörnligrat is easy on foot, but only a few sections can be ridden on the bike. Once the ridge is reached, an excellent, largely flat trail section follows to the turnoff, where the path becomes steeper again. From here it looks as if the trail is not rideable downhill later – too steep, too stony, too dangerous. Novices deposit their bikes here – but regret it later. In the ascent to the Hörnli hut the bike remains on the shoulders. When the destination is reached, an extensive break is advisable. The hut lies directly at the foot of the Matterhorn with a fantastic sight.
Then the descent is imminent. The path is very technical, but in the first part it is good for experienced mountain bikers. As soon as you change to the northern part, it gets even more difficult, there are always some places to be covered on foot. But in general it's worth carrying the bike up to the Hörnli hut. The highlight follows, however, with the north-side descent to Stafel. The path through the huge scree field is fun to ride and gets even better after crossing a small gravel road. In Stafel, the valley side of the Zmuttbach stream is changed and a wonderful singletrail via Zmutt and Herbrigg takes you back to Zermatt.
Attention: There are many hikers along the whole route. Especially in the main season the tour should be tackled with restraint.
Tip: The tour becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience if you combine it with the ascent of the Matterhorn. For this you book a local mountain guide and drag the bike to the hut the evening before. In the early hours of the morning, you will go to the summit and then back to Zermatt by bike.
Deutsch