Dom

4,546 m

Switzerland

Also known as Мишабел (масив), Dom des Mischabel, +3

Мишабел (масив) · Dom des Mischabel · monte Dom · დომი · Дом

Elevation: 4,546 m
Prominence: 1,057 m
Difficulty: 5/10; Easy alpine
Best Season: Jul
Routes: 2

AdvisoryReported 6 Oct 2026 · until 17 Jun 2027
Domhütte unstaffed after the 2026 summer season until 16 June 2027; the 9-place winter room is open but must be reserved (email only during winter). Summer 2027 staffed season announced as 17 June–12 September.
domhuette.ch

Routes

3D Preview

Open 3D

AlpinePD+GlacierNormal route

Sources differ: PD (Camptocamp (ski/snow route 45290)) · WS+ (rock step to the Festijoch, 3a) (SAC route portal)

The normal route to the highest mountain entirely in Switzerland: 1,530 m up a steep alpine path from Randa to the Domhütte, then 1,640 m over the crevassed Festi glacier, a rockfall-prone step to the Festijoch, a long arc on the Hohberg glacier below seracs and the snow slopes of the north flank to the summit. Not hard, but very long: 6–7 hours from the hut.

Elevation Profile

Distance: 10.5 km; one way
Ascent: +3,205 m; −66 m lost on the way up
High Point: 4,546 m
Time Up: 12h 07m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 7h 56m; DIN 33466 · same way back

Day one: from Randa station (1,409 m) walk through the village and up through meadows and larch forest past the Charles Kuonen suspension bridge (crossing it adds about 20 minutes), then zig-zag up to the foot of a steep rock band. The alpine path (T4) climbs it with fixed cables, iron pegs and steps, then crosses scree to the Domhütte (2,940 m): 4.5 hours and 1,530 m. Day two: from the hut follow the path along the north lateral moraine of the Festi glacier and step onto the heavily crevassed glacier at about 3,300 m. Climb it near the rocks below point 3,529 m towards the Festijoch. Glacier retreat has exposed a cliff on the old line: climb a little further, cross rocks into the fall line and go up a steep firn field and rock step with fixed ropes, bolts and reflective 'cat's eyes' that show the way by headlamp (WS+, 3a). There is quite some rockfall risk here. From the Festijoch (3,723 m) descend a little onto the Hohberg glacier and make a wide arc below the ice falls, keeping a respectful distance from the seracs and watching for big crevasses running parallel to the track. At about 3,950 m turn right (south) and climb the north-flank snow slopes (up to about 40°) to the saddle called the Gabel between the summit and point 4,479, then a short snow ridge to the iron cross. A large cornice hangs over the east face just below the summit and is hard to see from the top: stay well away from it during the summit rest; accidents happen there again and again. Descend the same way, with a 70 m reascent to the Festijoch, then 2.5–3 hours from the hut to Randa. The second day involves about 3,100 m of descent.

Start

Randa1,407 m

Train to Randa on the Visp–Zermatt line (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn).
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Randa → Domhütte	5.0	1,530	0	5h 44m
2	Domhütte → Dom	5.4	1,674	66	6h 23m

Waypoints

Station:
Randa1,407 m
Hut:
Domhütte2,939 m
Col:
Festijoch3,723 m
Rockfall-prone rock step with fixed ropes, bolts and reflective markers
Summit:
Dom4,546 m

Key Passages

Equipped rock band on the hut path (cables, pegs, steps)
Crevassed Festi glacier
Rock step and firn field to the Festijoch (WS+, 3a; rockfall)
Hohberg glacier below the seracs
North-flank slopes to the Gabel
Summit cornice over the east face

Equipment

0/10 packed

Downloads

Route confidence 85%

Download GPX Download KML

Overview

At 4,545 m the Dom is the highest mountain entirely in Switzerland and the central summit of the Mischabel group above Randa and Saas-Fee. Its normal route is technically moderate (PD+) but one of the biggest days among the Alpine 4,000ers: about 3,100 m of ascent from Randa over two days.

The Dom rises between the Mattertal and the Saastal as the highest point of the Mischabel chain, a ridge of eight 4,000 m peaks running from the Täschhorn north to the Dürrenhorn. Its west side above Randa is a long staircase of glaciers and rock bands, its east face drops steeply to the Saas side, and the summit gives a view over most of the Valais 4,000ers.

The normal route over the Festijoch and the north flank is graded PD+ by the SAC: no hard climbing beyond a short rock step (3a) below the Festijoch, but a 4.5-hour, 1,530 m hut walk with equipped rock bands, then 1,640 m from the hut to the summit and some 3,100 m of descent on the second day. The main hazards are rockfall on the approach to the Festijoch, crevasses on the Festi and Hohberg glaciers, seracs above the route, and a large cornice over the east face just below the summit that has caused repeated accidents. The Festigrat, the first-ascent ridge, is a more direct but steeper alternative whose 45° slope is often icy late in the season.

The Dom is also a classic, demanding spring ski tour from the Domhütte. In summer, settled cold conditions after a refreeze are best; in hot spells the glacier approaches and the Festijoch become noticeably more dangerous.

Climbing Notes

You need sound glacier skills, cramponing on slopes up to about 40–45°, easy rock scrambling with a pack in the dark, and above all endurance for two big days: 1,530 m to the hut, then 1,640 m up and about 3,100 m down on summit day. Acclimatise beforehand with nights above 3,000 m and an easier 4,000 m peak (the Allalinhorn, Weissmies or the Breithorn are typical). Many parties hire a guide.

Typical itinerary: train to Randa, 4.5 hours to the Domhütte (reservation mandatory), a very early start so that the rockfall-prone Festijoch step is passed in the cold of the night, summit in 6–7 hours, back to the hut in 3–4 hours and down to Randa in 2.5–3 hours. Choose the Festigrat only if the 45° slope is in good snow. On the summit keep well away from the east-face cornice.

History

The name comes from Canon (Domherr) Berchtold of Sion cathedral, who carried out the first survey measurements of the Dom and the Täschhorn; Dom is also German for cathedral. The first ascent was made on 11 September 1858 by the English clergyman John Llewelyn Davies with the guides Johann Zumtaugwald, Johann Kronig and Hieronymus Brantschen, by the Festigrat. The Domhütte of the SAC was rebuilt and reopened in 2013. In 2023 researchers reported a saxifrage growing near the summit, believed to be the coldest location where a flowering plant has been found.

Season

Best Jul

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Possible
April: Good
May: Good
June: Possible
July: Best (best window)
August: Good
September: Good
October: Not advisable
November: Not advisable
December: Not advisable

Jan: Winter; hut unstaffed (9-place winter room, booking required)
Feb: Winter conditions
Mar: Ski ascents possible in stable conditions; hut unstaffed
Apr: Spring ski-touring season; hut unstaffed, winter room only
May: Ski-touring; the hut path's rock band can be awkward with snow
Jun: Hut staffed from mid-June (2027: 17 June)
Jul: Main season
Aug: Main season; rockfall at the Festijoch and icy Festigrat in heat
Sep: Hut staffed until about 12 September; colder, firmer conditions
Oct: Hut unstaffed; early winter conditions
Nov: Winter conditions
Dec: Winter conditions

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

Domhütte: +41 27 967 26 34 (staffed season) or info@domhuette.ch; online reservation via domhuette.ch.

Fees

Domhütte (SAC members): CHF 35 overnight, CHF 80 half board; non-members CHF 50 / CHF 95; plus tourist tax CHF 4
Domhütte cancellations free until 18:00 two days before; later cancellations or no-shows may be charged up to the full booked amount

Rules

Domhütte: reservation mandatory for overnight stays, including in the unstaffed winter room
Winter room (9 places): bring sleeping bag and cooking equipment

Getting There

Randa (Mattertal); Zermatt and Täsch nearby

Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH) or Milan Malpensa (MXP)

Train on the Visp–Zermatt line (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn) to Randa station
By car: road from Visp up the Mattertal to Randa; parking in Randa

Hazards

Glacier
Crevasses
Rockfall
Cornices
Altitude
Avalanche
Weather

Huts & Shelters

DomhütteHutStaffedBooking required
75 beds · Staffed mid-June to mid-September (2027: 17 June–12 September); 9-place winter room otherwise
Website of Domhütte
2,940 m