The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Zermatt - Breuil-Cervinia

Traverse to the left onto this pitch from the last open pitch of the Garten red run (64), past the small ridge to your right. The pitch then opens out and you have a wide open face to descend....

Half way down the open section of Weisse Perle there is a right turn to access this line. The slope is flat and open at the top, and you work your way down and to the right....

From the Garten off piste route (67) traverse further to the left to find another, more secluded pitch, with a variety of gullies and rollers and ridges to play on. Watch the snow cover on some of the ridges and the cliffs above you to the left but follow the fall line down and enjoy some relatively underused terrain....

Almost at the end of the Weisse Perle run (51) there is a little sign to the right for this short yellow run. You drop off the side of the piste and immediately enter a short steep gully....

On track 42, just before you hit the bottom station of the Riffelberg bubble to take you back to Furi, there is a right hand turn onto a track towards the Alm restaurant....

Starting along the piste from Riffelberg to Riffelalp, drop away to the left as soon as you can and the snow allows and track back gradually to the left, taking in a few turns first down the face....

This line requires a 10 minute walk on the Furggen ridge, to reach the top of a small peak. From there you will be treated with an incredible view of the Matterhorn....

This line lies close to the start of the Aroleid piste. Get on the piste then turn left almost straight away, follow the flowing contours down until you cross the Kuhbodmen piste and head slowly left....

Take a hard right after you have put your skis at the top of the lift station. Steep slopes follow; keep left to avoid the cliffs. This is a fantastic descent which joins up with the Gandegg piste....

From the Weisse Perle piste take a right and traverse around to the right before committing to the wide gully that takes you back to the Weisse Perle piste and eventually Furi....

From the Furi-Schwarzee bubble mid station, follow the yellow poles over the roll at the top and around the side of the rocks to your right. The slope then drops away in front of you, with any line possible, including a small gully in front of you....

Exiting the Hirli lift start down the black piste and turn immediately left and traverse as far as you like before dropping back down and enjoying the wide open faces. The face eventually hits the Stafelalp piste....

This line traverse in first part the Gobba di Rollin then you will enter a wide face that sits in front of the Matterhorn- it's really aesthetic but remember you are on a glacier....

It could be called the "Vallee Blanche" of Zermatt but in reality it is considerably more serious. The glacier is more complicated, it is much steeper and it involves a small amount skinning to access the line....

Using one of the highest lifts in Europe, Trockener Steg- Klein Matterhorn, you can access one of the easier 4000m peaks in the Alps. This is a popular summit but is an optional one if the weather is poor....

The view from the Schonbiel Hut, your destination, is life-enhancing. Steeped in history and Alpine folklore, the N Face of the Matterhorn, opposite you, is truly awe inspiring. Only the purists will shun the opportunity to use lift assistance on this approach day from Zermatt....

Heading down Momatt after the first little gully stick to the right and follow the narrow but slightly open tree-lined section down parallel to the Mommat 60 run, rejoining the piste at the bottom....

Heading down the Weisse Perle red piste, turn off to the left onto the Stafelalp piste and pass the junction with the Hörmli black piste from above. Drop off to the right towards the tree-lined transition and down into the trees, bearing slightly right for the easier trek....

This line will take you skiing under an enormous serac, the terrain is very steep and it also full of crevasses- be extra careful! From the Klein Matterhorn lift just go on your right, following the slope staying on your right for 400m....

The North face of Klein Matterhorn in the right conditions can be skied via 3 different couloirs. All are extremely steep and exposed over the void. Those couloirs are easily accessible thanks to the Klein Matterhorn lift but not so easy to ski - they offer extreme terrain and are not often in condition! To approach this line go around the Klein Matterhorn, trying not to lose height, staying on your right....