Pointe de Zinal, Mountain summit in Valais, Switzerland

Pointe de Zinal is a mountain peak in the Valais Alps standing at 3,789 meters elevation, positioned between the Zinal and Zmutt valleys. The pointed summit rises sharply from surrounding terrain and forms a natural vantage point over the surrounding rock formations and glaciers.

The sources record no first ascent or dated climbing history for Pointe de Zinal. Its documented topography is a double summit: the higher north summit at 3,789 m and a south summit at 3,778 m, joined by a roughly 300-metre connecting ridge. The usual route reaches the north summit from the Col Durand (3,438 m) over the north-east ridge, alternating firn and rock with block climbing on the final metres.

The mountain's French name, Pointe de Zinal, is the usual form, while German speakers call it Zinalspitze. Its two summits, the higher north top at 3,789 m and the south top at 3,778 m, are joined by a roughly 300-metre connecting ridge that climbers traverse at difficulty grade III, crossing two gendarmes.

The usual route starts from the Schönbielhütte, reached over the Oberer Blausatz (3,209 m) between the Schönbielhorn and the Gemsspitz and across the Hohwänggletscher; allow about 3 hours to the Col Durand (3,438 m) and 1½ hours more for the northeast ridge, which alternates firn and rock and ends in blocky scrambling. The south summit (3,778 m) is gained from the same saddle in about 4 hours, and the traverse to the higher north summit needs grade III climbing over two gendarmes, about 1 hour more.

Pointe de Zinal is a double summit: the main north top at 3,789 m is separated from the 3,778 m south top by a roughly 300-metre connecting ridge. Crossing between the two requires grade III climbing over two gendarmes on the ridge.