Riffelsee Trail, from Rotenboden to Riffelberg

What it is

The Riffelsee is the small lake in which the Matterhorn is reflected in so many photos of Zermatt. It lies beside the Gornergrat railway line, about 10 minutes' walk from the Rotenboden stop, and the Riffelseeweg, trail number 21, skirts it and keeps descending to Riffelberg station. It is the easiest walk in the high part of Zermatt and the one that gives the most view for the least effort.

Route facts

According to Zermatt Tourismus it is 2.9 km and around an hour, almost all downhill: 13 m of ascent and 267 m of descent. It starts at Rotenboden, at 2,815 m, and ends at Riffelberg, at 2,582 m. The difficulty is moderate (T2), but the path is well marked and Zermatt Tourismus considers it suitable for children from age 4. In the opposite direction, from Riffelberg to Rotenboden, it takes about 15 minutes longer.

Getting there

You go up on the Gornergrat Bahn, the cogwheel train that leaves about 50 m from Zermatt station, and get off at Rotenboden, the stop before the summit. At the end, at Riffelberg, you catch the train back to Zermatt. Zermatt does not allow petrol or diesel cars: if you come by car, leave it in Täsch.

The most common plan is to combine it with the Gornergrat: you go up to the summit, take the train down to Rotenboden, do the walk and catch the train at Riffelberg. If you only want the lake, the return ticket from Zermatt to Rotenboden costs CHF 114 from May to October and CHF 96 from November to April; with a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass, half, and children with a Junior Card travel free.

The path

1. Rotenboden. You leave the platform and follow the Riffelseeweg signs towards the lake.
2. Riffelsee. In 10 minutes you are on the shore. This is the long stop: if there is no wind, the Matterhorn appears reflected in full. Beside it rises the Riffelhorn, a rock needle with climbing routes for experts.
3. Towards Riffelberg. The path keeps descending along the hillside, with the Matterhorn ahead and alpine flowers in summer. Depending on the season, ibex can be seen around Gaggenhaupt.
4. Riffelberg. You reach the station and catch the train back.

If you still have energy, from Riffelberg you can extend the walk along the Mark Twain Weg or the Swiss Topwalk, two signposted routes from Zermatt Tourismus.

When to go

In summer, when the path is free of snow; in spring, patches of snow can make it impassable. For the reflection, go first thing, before the wind picks up. In summer the Gornergrat Bahn runs a sunrise outing to the Riffelsee with an optional breakfast at the summit.

In winter the lake is frozen, but the company marks out a route between Rotenboden and Riffelberg for walking in the snow or on snowshoes.

With children

It is the best high-altitude walk in Zermatt for small children: short, almost all downhill, with a lake at the start and the train at the end. Not with a pushchair: it is a mountain path. Bring warm clothes, because at 2,800 m it is cold even when Zermatt is warm, and sunglasses.

If the weather changes

If clouds cover the Matterhorn, the reflection disappears and the walk loses much of its appeal. Check the forecast and the Gornergrat webcams before paying for the ticket. In a storm, do not stay at the lake: it is open terrain at high altitude, and at Riffelberg you have the station.