How to Visit Riffelsee: Zermatt’s Famous Lake (+ The Gornergrat to Riffelsee Hike!)
If you’re looking for one of the most iconic views of the Matterhorn, then head to Riffelsee Lake in Zermatt! This small lake famously reflects the Matterhorn on clear and calm days, making it one of the most popular places in Zermatt. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to visit Riffelsee Lake, including how to get from Zermatt to Riffelsee, the best time to go, hikes around Riffelsee, plus all our best tips for visiting this epic spot in Zermatt!
If you’ve done any research at all yet on Zermatt, or if you’ve ever casually browsed pictures of the famous Matterhorn, I’m willing to bet you’ve come across pictures of the Matterhorn from Riffelsee Lake. It’s one of the most iconic and famous shots of the Matterhorn, and one that attracts lots of people to Zermatt hoping to get a similar view.
Riffelsee is a small lake that sits in a subalpine meadow above the picturesque town of Zermatt, Switzerland. The lake is most easily accessed by the famous cogwheel train that connects Zermatt to the high mountain station of Gornergrat. This mountain station is known for its views of the Matterhorn and of the breathtakingly beautiful Gorner Glacier and Monte Rosa massif, as well as panoramic views of the surrounding Alps.
Sitting just below the Gornergrat mountain station is Riffelsee, and while this small lake might not look like much at first glance, it’s one of the most famous places in Zermatt, and totally worth the visit.
And why is that? Well, the views of the Matterhorn from the shore of Riffelsee are some of the best you can get. It’s as if nature knew exactly where to sculpt this lake to get the perfect backdrop of the famous mountain. And what’s even better is that if you visit Riffelsee on a super clear and calm day, the reflections of the Matterhorn on the surface of Riffelsee are stunning.
Although Riffelsee Lake sits at, 2770 meters (9,100 feet) in elevation in a subalpine environment, the fantastic news is that Riffelsee is actually super simple to get to! Surprisingly, there’s very little hiking required. A cogwheel train will take you right from downtown Zermatt up to a high mountain station that sits just an easy ten- minute walk away from the famous lake.
Sounds too good to be true, right?
Usually at this point, I feel like I’d mention some sort of catch, but there really isn’t in this case- it’s that easy!
But if you are up for more of a hike, of course there are plenty of hikes around Riffelsee, and we highly recommend spending some time on the trails while you’re up here to enjoy more of the scenery. Riffelsee itself lies along a series of hiking trails that stretch from the top mountain station at Gornergrat all the way down to Zermatt and connects all of the train stations as it goes. Hiking this series of trails is a great way to visit Riffelsee- you can basically start and end your hike at any of the stations you’d like to make the hike as short or as long as you want, it’s filled with epic mountain views (and non-stop views of the Matterhorn), and it’s a good way to avoid the crowds that concentrate at Gornergrat and Riffelsee.
So a visit to Riffelsee can be as easy or as challenging as you’d like!
In this guide, we go over everything you need to know about how to visit Riffelsee Lake in Zermatt. We’ll cover how to get from Zermatt to Riffelsee (including costs and what passes you’ll need), the best time to visit Riffelsee (and the best ways to avoid the crowds at Riffelsee), and tips for visiting Riffelsee at sunrise (hint: this is one of the best times to go!).
And if you’re up for hiking, we’ll also go over in detail the complete hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee and beyond, including what to expect at each section of the trail, how long each section takes, and more.
And to top it all off, we’ll share what we think is the best way to plan your time at Riffelsee and Gornergrat.
We have a lot to cover, so let’s get to it!
In this Riffelsee Lake guide:
How to Get to Riffelsee From Zermatt
Riffelsee Lake in Zermatt is found right along the famous Gornergrat Railway (also called the Gornergrat Bahn). This railway is the highest openair cogwheel train in Europe, and is famous for its views over Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
The Gornergrat Bahn near Riffelsee
The Gornergrat Railway travels from Zermatt all the way to the top mountain station of Gornergrat in about a half hour. From here, there are amazing views of the Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa massif, and the beautiful and massive Gorner Glacier. Along the way, the cogwheel train stops at four other mountain stations, each with their own collection of hikes, sights, and views of the famous Matterhorn.
These mountain stations include the following (in the order that they are as you go up from Zermatt- they will become important to know for later when we talk about hiking to and from Riffelsee):
Findelbach (elevation: 1774 m)
Riffelalp (elevation: 2211 m)
Riffelberg (elevation: 2582 m)
Rotenboden (elevation: 2815 m)
Gornergrat (elevation: 3089 m)
The bottom station for the Gornergrat Bahn is found right in Zermatt, just across from the main train station (called the Gornergrat Bahn on Google Maps). It will be hard to miss.
It’s easy to walk to from anywhere in town (or you could always grab an e-taxi which are found zooming throughout the town).
The bottom station in Zermatt for the Gornergrat Bahn
Rotenboden to Riffelsee: The easiest way to get to Riffelsee
Of course, one of the most popular reasons to ride the Gornergrat Railway is to see the famous Riffelsee Lake.
Riffelsee Lake lies just next to the Rotenboden Station. This is the second to last station on the Gornergrat Railway (the one just before Gornergrat). Taking the Gornergrat Railway to Rotenboden and walking to the lake is by far the quickest and easiest way to get to Riffelsee in Zermatt.
From the Rotenboden Station, it’s about a 5 minute or so walk to Riffelsee (we’d barely call this a hike). At the station, you’ll see a signed gate to enter the Alpine Garden trail- take this trail down to the lake. It’s an easy and well-marked downhill path past some interpretive signs about the area’s unique landscape, and shortly after starting, Riffelsee will start to come into view below.
The start of the hike from Rotenboden to Riffelsee
The view of Stellisee from the Alpine Garden Trail
More views of the surrounding mountains on the trail to Riffelsee
Once you exit the Alpine Garden path, you’ll be standing at an overlook of the lake and the Matterhorn. Take any of the herd paths down to the shore for the best views and, with any luck, the best reflection shots!
Looking back up the Alpine Garden Trail to give you an idea of how short the path is
The view of Riffelsee and the Matterhorn from the overlook
Once at the shore of Riffelsee, the view of the Matterhorn really seems in your face. If the water surface is calm, you can get picture-perfect reflections of the mountain, just know that you may have to walk along the shore a bit to find just the right place to see them.
Riffelsee Lake
Matterhorn reflections on Riffelsee
And one of our best tips for visiting Riffelsee? Be sure to take the herd path on either side of the lake to continue just a little bit further beyond Riffelsee! It’s a short flat walk that will bring you to another lake.
This second lake was a bit smaller, but we actually liked it a lot more than Riffelsee! The lake had a cleaner look to it (Riffelsee was filled with a bit of dead grass and goop at its shore), and it seemed like it was better sheltered from any wind, which meant stiller water and clearer reflections!
It definitely also seemed to be less visited than Riffelsee itself, so the small amount of extra effort to get here was really well spent.
Hiking past Riffelsee
Heading to the second lake beneath Riffelsee
Evening Matterhorn reflections at Riffelsee!
Loving these Matterhorn reflections!
When you’re done at the lakes, simply retrace your steps back up to the Rotenboden Station (it will be a short uphill walk) and take the train to either continue up to Gornergrat or head back down to Zermatt.
Gornergrat to Riffelsee (and beyond): The scenic way to get to Riffelsee
As we mentioned above, while you don’t have to do really any hiking to get to Riffelsee, you certainly can if you want to! A series of hiking trails connects all the railway stations of the Gornergrat Bahn, and you can get to Riffelsee from any one of them. Which station you start and end your hike at just depends on how long you want to be on the trails.
We will say that the most popular way to hike to Riffelsee is to start at Gornergrat- the station above Riffelsee. Doing it this way means you can enjoy the amazing views from Gornergrat first (they aren’t to be missed!), and then hike to Riffelsee on a trail that’s entirely downhill and has non-stop views of the Matterhorn in front of you the entire time.
Gornergrat views
Hiking from Gornergrat to Riffelsee
From Riffelsee, you can end your hike at Rotenboden (the nearest train station), or you can continue hiking down towards Zermatt as far as you want. You can stop at any of the rail stations along the way to end your hike (like Riffelberg or Riffelalp) and take the cogwheel train the rest of the way back to Zermatt.
You could always hike up to Riffelsee from Zermatt or any of the train stations below the lake (such as from Riffelalp or Riffelberg), but this means your entire hike will be uphill (and pretty strenuous), and most of the time, the views of the Matterhorn will be behind you. And I don’t know about anyone else, but when it comes to choosing between strenuous uphill or easy downhill, I’d take the easy downhill any day! So, of course, we definitely recommend riding the train up the mountain, and then hiking back down.
Before we talk more about these hikes near Riffelsee, let’s first go over a little bit more about the Gornergrat Railway and everything you need to know about how to get to Riffelsee using this famous cogwheel train route…
Riffelsee Trail Map
This map of Riffelsee and the surrounding area shows the location of Riffelsee along the Gornergrat Rail. We highlight the different rail stations, and the best hikes near Riffelsee that we talk about below.
This Riffelsee trail map shows the Gornergrat Rail line in purple, with the relevant station stops labelled. In red are the hiking trails around Riffelsee that stretch between each of the different stations. We’ll talk about each of these trails below.
How Much Does the Gornergrat Railway Cost From Zermatt to Riffelsee?
You can buy one-way or roundtrip train tickets from Zermatt to any of the stations along the Gornergrat Railway.
If all you want to do is visit Riffelsee to sightsee and not do any hiking, then you can simply buy a roundtrip ticket between Zermatt and Rotenboden. Take the train to Rotenboden, do the short roundtrip hike to Riffelsee, and then take the train back to Zermatt from Rotenboden.
The Gornergrat Bahn near Riffelsee
However, we do recommend buying a ticket to Gornergrat. It’s a little more expensive, but it’s definitely worth going all the way to the top of this mountain even if Riffelsee is what you’re most interested in. The views from Gornergrat are stunning, and there are a few other things to do up here, like eat at a mountain restaurant or explore the ZOOOM the Matterhorn exhibit (check out our Gornergrat Guide for more info!).
If you buy a ticket from Zermatt to Gornergrat, the ticket allows you to get on and off at any station along the way. So, on the way up or down from Gornergrat, you can hop off at Rotenboden to visit Riffelsee.
If you’re interested in doing some of the hikes near Riffelsee that we’ll talk about below, then we’d recommend buying a one-way ticket from Zermatt to Gornergrat to save some money. From Gornergrat, instead of taking the train down, hike down the mountain as far as you’d like and take the train down at whatever station you end your hike at. Many of the stations have ticket kiosks where you can buy a one-way ticket back down to Zermatt, but if there isn’t one, you can simply buy a ticket from the conductor on the railway (and they take credit card! It’s a very convenient system.).
Buying the one-way ticket up and then hiking down will save you some money on the pricey train tickets and will allow you to enjoy more of the scenery from the trails and away from the bigger crowds, so it’s a win-win!
To get the most up-to-date prices for the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Rotenboden and Zermatt to Gornergrat, head to the Gornergrat website (scroll down and click on the “Price List”). Prices change depending on the season, with May to October being more expensive and November to April being a bit cheaper.
How to get tickets for the Gornergrat Railway to Riffelsee
You buy tickets for the Gornergrat Railway in advance online here, however we personally found this wasn’t necessary.
We took the Gornergrat Railway to visit Riffelsee twice while in Zermatt, and each time we were able to simply buy tickets either at the ticket counter or self-service kiosk right in the Gornergrat station in Zermatt without a problem and hop on the next train. There were no lines or wait times for anything. We will say that each time we did this, it was in the afternoon when the Gornergrat becomes less busy, so midday might be a little busier. But we think if you just get there a bit early before the next train departs, you shouldn’t have an issue.
In general, we wouldn’t recommend buying Gornergrat tickets too far in advance. Weather in Zermatt is quite unpredictable, and the forecasts change often leading up to the actual day. For visiting Riffelsee, you really want to make sure you have a clear day and the views of the Matterhorn are out. So we’d recommend waiting at least a day out (two at most) to check weather and make any concrete plans. The Gornergrat Railway is quite pricey, and such a high ticket price wouldn’t be worth it if the weather is terrible and the views aren’t out.
We always looked at the weather the night before, and double checked when we woke up in the morning, and then made our plans from there.
How to save money on tickets to Riffelsee in Zermatt
Tickets for the Gornergrat Bahn can get quite expensive, but luckily there are a few money-saving passes that might be worth looking into.
The Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card
If you plan on visiting a few different regions of Switzerland other than Zermatt, it’s a good idea to purchase either a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card. These travel passes get you discounts on pretty much all train and bus travel throughout the country. For more info on each of these passes and whether or not they might be worth it for you, check out our Zermatt Guide. But here’s the general gist…
The Swiss Travel Pass is a one-time purchase that gets you free and unlimited travel on trains and buses throughout the country. You buy the pass based on the number of days you plan on spending in Switzerland. While it sounds like a good deal, this pass is quite pricey, so it might not be totally worth the cost.
The Swiss Half Fare Card is a one-time purchase that is good for one month and gets you half off all train and bus travel in Switzerland. It’s much cheaper than the Swiss Travel Pass, so this is the card that is often more worth getting.
Both passes get you 50% off most of the mountain lifts around Switzerland- including those in Zermatt! So with either the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card, the Gornergrat Bahn is half off- quite a big savings!
To decide which of these passes would be more worth it for you, it’s really good to have a rough itinerary for your Switzerland trip. Figure out what trains, buses, and mountain lifts you’ll likely be taking and add the ticket costs up. Then compare that total to the discounted prices, plus the cost of the travel pass. This will give you a rough idea of whether one of these passes would be worth the purchase (it usually is!).
The Peak Pass
The Peak Pass is a local Zermatt pass that gets you unlimited rides on all the mountain lifts in Zermatt, including the Gornergrat Bahn. It’s a one-time purchase based on the number of days you plan on using it. And if you have the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, the Peak Pass is 25% off.
While this seems like a no-brainer, it may not be the most cost-effective travel pass to get in Zermatt. If you didn’t buy a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, then the Peak Pass is definitely worth it, but if you already have one of these other travel passes, then the Peak Pass might not be the most cost-effective way to buy Zermatt lift tickets.
We planned to only ride up to each of Zermatt’s three peaks (Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and Rothorn) once. When we added up the cost of each of the individual roundtrip tickets with the discounted half off rates (from our Half Fare Card) and compared it to the cost of the 3 Day Peak Pass, the individual tickets were actually cheaper.
In this case, the Peak Pass really only becomes worth it if you plan on visiting some of the peaks more than once or in a really short time frame, or you really want or need a lot of flexibility to ride and re-ride each of the lifts.
The Peak 2 Peak Pass
This is a good money-saving pass if you have a limited time in Zermatt. This pass allows you to visit two of Zermatt’s peaks (Gornergrat and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise) on the same day by giving a discounted price on all the necessary lifts.
If you get a particularly nice clear day out, visiting both on the same day could be worth it so you can see the Matterhorn from both spots! Check out our Zermatt itinerary for more information and details on how to do this!
If visiting in the summer, note that this pass is only available in July and August.
When is the train to Riffelsee open?
The Gornergrat Railway actually runs all year, but the timetables change based on the season. You can find the Gornergrat Bahn timetables here, just be sure you are looking at the right schedule for when you plan on going.
Something we did really love about the Gornergrat Bahn is that it starts quite early and runs pretty late into the evening, unlike a lot of lifts in the Alps. So you can spend a lot of time on the mountain and make the most of your day, or it makes it easy to combine a visit to Riffelsee and Gornergrat with something else in Zermatt (such as the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise).
In the summer months, the Gornergrat Bahn has the most trains running every day, and it runs earlier and later in the day. The first train up to Gornergrat starts at 7 am and the last one gets back to Zermatt just before 8 pm, and there is a train about every 24 minutes. Outside of these months, fewer daily trains run and they may start later in the day and end earlier in the evening. So just be sure to check these timetables carefully when planning out your day on Gornergrat!
Hikes Near Riffelsee in Zermatt
We highly recommend a hike near Riffelsee!
While you can simply take the train to Rotenboden, snap a few pictures of Riffelsee, and hop back on the train, we definitely recommend spending a bit more time in the area and hiking the trails around Riffelsee! It will allow you to enjoy more of the views and escape the crowds for a bit- we loved hiking around Riffelsee!
The best way to include Riffelsee on a hike is to take the cogwheel train up the mountain and then hike the series of trails back down. Since these trails pretty much follow the railway back down the mountain, you can end your hike at any of the stations and then ride the rest of the way back to Zermatt.
So, you can choose to start from the very top station at Gornergrat and hike down to Riffelsee. From there, you can end your hike at the Rotenboden Station, or you can continue down to the next station (Riffelberg). From there, you can take the train or continue your hike down to Riffelalp. And then from there, you can take the train or continue even further down all the way back to Zermatt.
We hiked most of the trails between Gornergrat, Riffelsee, Riffelberg, and Riffelalp, and will share our experience below to help you decide what hikes near Riffelsee you might want to do!
Our experience hiking to Riffelsee in Zermatt
Here we just wanted to share a quick note on our experiences hiking to Riffelsee before we share the trail details and pictures below.
When we visted Zermatt (in September), we hit a streak of not-so-great weather. On the day we arrived to Zermatt mid-morning, the weather was clear and the mountain was out. Bad weather was forecast for the next several days, so we wanted to take advantage of this clear window. We immediately dropped our bags off and headed up to Gornergrat to hike to Riffelsee, and as we took the train up the mountain, we watched in frustration as the Matterhorn quickly disappeared behind a wall of clouds- and it stayed that way for the rest of the day.
The wall of clouds forming around the Matterhorn before the mountain completely disappeared for the rest of the day
We were totally bummed, but we decided to hike anyway. We hiked from Gornergrat to Riffelsee, and then all the way to Riffelalp, and while the Matterhorn itself wasn’t out, the weather was still beautiful and all the other views were crystal clear- and they were amazing. So we were still happy with our hike.
About three days later, and after two days of non-stop rain and clouds, we had another good weather day. We used that day to visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and hike the Matterhorn Glacier Trail and to the Hornlihutte. But after finishing those hikes, we still had a few hours of daylight left. The Matterhorn was amazingly still out, so we decided to head back up the Gornergrat Bahn to see Riffelsee with the mountain out. We took the train to Rotenboden, hiked to Riffelsee in the evening, and then hiked to Riffelberg to get the last train back to Zermatt.
So, you’ll see below that we’ll have a mix of conditions and views in our pictures depending on the day we visited Riffelsee. We’ll talk more about weather in Zerrmatt and the best time to visit Riffelsee later in this guide!
Gornergrat to Riffelsee and Rotenboden
The hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee is super scenic and not to be missed while in Zermatt!
Distance: 2.4 km (1.5 miles) from Gornergrat to Riffelsee (plus a short 5 minute walk from the lake up to Rotenboden)
Time: About one hour (this is how long it took us while going at a slow pace with lots of time for pictures and admiring the awesome views! But it could definitely be done much faster.)
Our map of the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee
Of all the hikes to Riffelsee, this is the one we recommend the most. Gornergrat is a must-visit when in Zermatt. The views of the Matterhorn from up here are great, but you also get stunning panoramic views of the Alps, as well as the Monte Rosa massif (which has the highest mountain in Switzerland), and the gorgeous Gorner Glacier.
Matterhorn views from the Gornergrat train station
From here, you can hike a short but steep and rugged trail down to Riffelsee, with continuous views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding glaciers.
To do this hike, take the Gornergrat Bahn all the way to the top. Make sure to spend some time at Gornergrat taking in the views and activities before hitting the trail.
When you’re ready to hike to Riffelsee, look for the trail signs next to the train station. There are a lot so it can seem confusing, but just simply follow the ones that point to Riffelsee.
The trail sign near the Gornergrat train station- follow the signs to Riffelsee!
The first part of the trail from Gornergrat follows a short steep gravel path down alongside the train tracks with epic views of the Matterhorn. The trail is a bit busy here as lots of people simply visiting Gornergrat are exploring the area and heading to different viewpoints, but the further along the trail you walk, you’ll lose a bit of the crowds.
Heading down the gravel path from Gornergrat
Epic views on the hike to Riffelsee!
A look back up the path towards Gornergrat (to give you an idea of the steepness of the trail)
At the bottom of this short descent, you’ll have some great viewpoints of the mountains and glaciers. There’s an option to climb up the short hill ahead for great panoramic views, but since the Matterhorn wasn’t out when we hiked this, we opted to skip this.
From here, continue to follow the signs to Riffelsee.
The hill ahead is an optional climb for more panoramic views. We skipped this short detour as the Matterhorn was hiding (it’s behind the veil of clouds to the left).
Epic views of the Gorner Glacier from the hike to Riffelsee
Even though the Matterhorn wasn’t out, there were still plenty of epic views all around!
The trail skirts around the small hill, staying flat for a bit on a wide gravel path.
Then, the trail narrows as it starts to head down towards the lake. From here, you can already see Riffelsee in the distance. From up here, it really doesn’t look like much (especially when the Matterhorn wasn’t out!)- kind of just like a puddle in the landscape. It’s pretty deceiving until you get up close to see the awesome views it hides at its shore.
Riffelsee is in sight! The Matterhorn is hiding behind the thick wall of clouds on the left.
Looking pack up the trail to Gornergrat
From here, the trail now goes steadily downhill, and the path gets slick with a bit of loose rock. Despite how busy the trails around Riffelsee can get- don’t be fooled…these trails aren’t simple walks in the park. They aren’t technical or overly challenging, but they aren’t totally easy either. Be sure to wear proper footwear for rocky and slick terrain, and watch your footing as you head down (which can be hard since the views are so amazing and you’ll want to keep your head up!). On a semi-related side note, on our way down this trail to Riffelsee, we even saw a helicopter rescue of an injured mountain biker right along the trail…yikes!
The rocky descent to Riffelsee
As you continue to hike down alongside the train tracks, Riffelsee will get closer and closer. The final descent to Riffelsee is very rocky and a bit steep. Be sure to follow the trail markings (which are now red and white blazes on the rocks) to help guide you through the rocky terrain and stay on track.
A look back up the rocky path to Riffelsee. You can see a white and red blaze on the rock ahead.
Mountain views and rocky trails on the Gornergrat to Riffelsee hike
Even though the Matterhorn wasn’t out, the rest of the views of the mountains and glaciers all along this trail were stunning and we couldn’t stop taking pictures. Don’t get me wrong- not seeing the Matterhorn here after waiting so long to come to Zermatt and hike this trail was definitely pretty upsetting, but I like to think that it allowed us to focus on all the other gorgeous views of the trail that would have been less of a focus for us if the mountain had been out (look, I’m just trying to stay positive here, okay?). But honestly, there’s so much more to the views up here than just the Matterhorn, so even if it is out, be sure to remember to take in and appreciate everything else!
Views from the Riffelsee hike
The final part of the trail is a steep dirt trail towards the lake. On the way, you’ll pass by some herd paths that will take you up to Rotenboden Station just above, including the Alpine Garden Trail we mentioned above. But of course, before heading up there, you’ll want to continue the short way down to Riffelsee’s shore.
The final descent to Riffelsee as the trail follows the train tracks
On the right, you’ll pass by a few paths that lead up to the Rotenboden station. But be sure to continue just the short distance to Riffelsee first!
Just past the trail up to Rotenboden, you can enjoy a nice viewpoint overlooking Riffelsee and the Matterhorn. From here, take any of the herd paths down to the lake’s shore to enjoy the best views from Riffelsee, and hopefully get some nice reflections!
Riffelsee!
Once done at Riffelsee, you can end your hike here by walking back up to the Rotenboden Station and taking the train back to Zermatt (there’s a ticket kiosk here to buy your train ticket if you don’t already have one). Or, continue your hike to Riffelberg or Riffelalp!
Riffelsee to Riffelberg
Hiking from Riffelsee to Riffelberg
Distance: 1.6 km (1 mile) to 2.6 km (1.6 miles) depending on the trail
Time: 30-45 minutes
The different hiking routes from Riffelsee to Riffelberg
From Riffelsee, you can take the higher trail around the right side of the lake, or continue along herd paths on either side of the lake shore. They’ll both take you to the same place.
The first time we hiked here, we took the high path around Riffelsee, and liked the views we got over the lake and back towards the mountains and glaciers of the Monte Rosa massif that you don’t get from the lower trails around the lake shore.
Taking the high path around Riffelsee
Walking the trail around Riffelsee
Either way, not too far past Riffelsee, you’ll come to the second smaller lake with Matterhorn views. Like we said above, we liked this lake better for its reflections and solitude.
The scenic bottom lake beneath Riffelsee
Walking down to the bottom lake
Matterhorn reflections
Just past this lake, you’ll come to your first junction. If you’re hiking from Riffelsee to Riffelberg, you have a few options here, as several trails lead to Riffelberg- it just depends on how long you want to be on the trails!
The first junction leading to Riffelberg
If you’re looking for the quickest and most direct way back to Riffelberg, take the right trail here (follow the sign pointing to “Riffelberg 20 minutes”- also called the Swiss Topwalk).
If you want to take the longer route to Riffelberg, follow the sign with “Riffelberg 40 minutes” and “Riffelalp 1 hr 15 min” on it, also called the Riffelseeweg.
The Swiss Topwalk
The Swiss Topwalk is a pretty easy but super scenic trail from Riffelsee to Riffelberg, and a great option if you’re looking for a shortt hike in the area. From the junction above, you’ll take the trail headed to the right across a scenic grassy meadow with views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding Alps. There are red and white blazes along the way, but the trail is very evident so impossible to lose, and this trail is very smooth and well-maintained. Plus, the trail is a good mix of either flat or gentle downhill.
Views are non-stop the entire way, so take your time and enjoy them!
The Swiss Topwalk to Riffelberg
Beautiful evening lighting on the hike to Riffelberg
Epic views!
On the trail to Riffelberg, you’ll get lots of views of the Matterhorn. For us, the mountain was backlit by the sun so we couldn’t get the best pictures, but it was still beautiful!
It took us about 25 minutes to hike from the junction near Riffelsee to Riffelberg- and that was at a slow pace to take pictures, so it’s really a pretty quick trail.
At the end of the trail, you’ll see the Riffelberg Station in the distance where you can grab a bite to eat or hop on the next train back to Zermatt. There’s no ticket kiosk here, but you can always buy a ticket from the train conductor once on the train if you don’t already have one. (Just a head’s up- we didn’t purchase this train ticket in advance, so we had to jump the turnstiles here (one of the station staff told us to do that) and it felt kind of weird with people watching! But we just bought our tickets on board.)
The quick final descent into Riffelberg
Riffelberg
Matterhorn views from Riffelberg
The Riffelseeweg
At the junction after Riffelsee, follow the trail that heads left towards Riffelalp. Unlike the Swiss Topwalk, this trail is steeper and more rugged. It quickly begins steadily descending down a trail heading towards the Matterhorn.
Descending the trail on the Riffelseeweg
This is a look back up the trail to give you an idea of how steep it is
After just about 5 minutes of downhill hiking, you’ll come to the next junction. From here, you can take the trail to the right to head to Riffelberg in about 20 minutes. We didn’t take this trail, but it looked pretty flat and straightforward from here, much like the Swiss Topwalk.
The second trail junction to Riffelberg- continue straight here to get to Riffelberg in about 20 minutes
The trail to Riffleberg
Alternatively, continue down the Riffelseeweg for an even longer hike back to Riffelberg.
From here, the Riffelseeweg continues its constant descent through the meadows, with the Matterhorn in view and ahead the whole time (if it was out, we would have some killer pictures to show you! But instead, we can use our imaginations…).
The trail through here gets steep and rugged with lots of loose rock at times but it’s nothing too challenging.
Continuing to descend the trail past the junction
The Matterhorn hiding behind those pesky clouds- but it’s right there and so close!
A loop back up the trail, which shows typical trail conditions along this part of the hike
After about ten minutes of hiking, you’ll come to the final junction to Riffelberg…from here it’s again about 20 minutes to Riffelberg. (We had a running joke for the rest of our trip that RIffelberg was just 20 minutes away from anywhere.)
This is the third junction for Riffelberg. Stay straight here to finish your hike and end at Riffelberg (or follow signs to Riffelalp to continue your hike even more!)
We like this option for hiking from Riffelsee to Riffelberg if you’re looking for more time on the trails and in-your-face views of the Matterhorn along the way.
Riffelsee to Riffelalp
Scenes from the hike to Riffelalp
Distance: 4.3 km (2.7 miles)
Time: 1.5 hours
The map of the Riffelsee to Riffelalp hike
If you really want to maximize your views of the Matterhorn, then instead of stopping your hike at Riffelberg, continue the trail all the way down to Riffelalp!
To do this, from Riffelsee you’ll follow the Riffelseeweg. At the junction just past Riffelsee, follow trail signs toward Riffelalp. As we described above, this trail steadily descends down a dirt path (sometimes rocky and slick), with views of the Matterhorn directly ahead.
At the next two junctions, take lefts to continue following the trail to Riffelalp (and not to Riffelberg). As you continue hiking, you’ll get closer and closer to the Matterhorn, which will look like it’s looming over the valley (or so we can assume…again- no view for us!).
After this final junction with Riffelberg, the trail to Riffelalp continues to descend even further. And even though the Matterhorn wasn’t out, we enjoyed the other mountain views. And we even got to walk through one part of the meadow that was home to lots of talkative marmots!
Continuing the hike past Riffelberg and toward Riffelalp
Although the Matterhorn wasn’t out, we still had amazing mountain views!
Views from the trail to Riffelalp
There were lots of marmots!
The trail eventually narrows and begins to cross a grassy slope that runs along the valley that separates the Gornergrat mountain from the slopes that lead up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. From here, if you look closely, you can look across and see the cable cars and mountain stations leading up to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and even the Furi Suspension Bridge above the Gorner Gorge. All the while, the trail continues its steady descent.
All smiles for these mountain views
Looking out toward the Matterhorn (shrouded in clouds) and across the valley to the slopes leading up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Eventually, you’ll come to the final junction along the trail to Riffelalp, and continue to follow signs pointing there. The trail continues to work its way along the grassy slopes, and as it rounds a corner, views of Zermatt valley open up. The Matterhorn is now behind you, but the views of the valley and surrounding mountains are just as gorgeous.
The final junction on the trail to Riffelalp. Stay left here to avoid the steep climb back up to the Riffelberg station!
Views of Zermatt Valley open up!
Walking along the slopes above Zermatt
The small mountain village of Riffelalp will also come into view. It’s so close now…but don’t get too excited just yet- you still have a bit of a descent to go.
The nice dirt trail that you’ve been walking on eventually turns into a steep, rocky, and rugged path…and after all the descent you’ve already done to get to this point, it’s a bit of a knee-buster. It made Riffelalp seem far away and the trail to it never-ending, but after about 15 minutes, you’ll reach flat ground again, and from here, it’s an easy and quick walk into Riffelalp.
Heading towards Riffelalp
The final steep descent into Riffelalp
A look back up the rugged trail
Once in town, continue following signs to Riffelalp (with the train symbol). It’s an easy and flat ten minute walk along some small train tracks to get to the Riffelalp train station.
The flat walk from Riffelalp town to Riffelalp station
Here, you can use a kiosk inside the station to buy your ticket back to Zermatt if you don’t already have one.
The small Riffelalp train station. Use your tickets to get through the turnstile or you purchase one in the station.
Overall, it took us about an hour and 20 minutes to hike from Riffelsee to Riffelalp, which is exactly what the trail signs estimate. We felt like we were going at a pretty good pace for this entire stretch of trail and we were just making all the predicted times based on the trail junction signs, so we’d say they are pretty accurate!
Gornergrat to Riffelalp: The Complete Hike
We did the entire hike from Gornergrat to Riffelsee and then onto Riffelalp. We recommend this hike if you’re looking for a good half day on the trails with stellar views of the Matterhorn, glaciers, and the Alps. Our total distance was 6.8 km (4.2 miles).
And while the good news is that the hike is all downhill, the bad news is that the hike is alllll downhill. It was a lot more than we were expecting! We dropped 900 meters (2,952 feet) in elevation over the course of the hike, and it was pretty consistent and often steep, so you might feel this one the next day! But totally worth it, in our opinion.
Our elevation profile of the complete hike from Gornergrat to Riffelalp via Riffelsee
Best Time to Visit Riffelsee in Zermatt
To get the best views from Riffelsee and to have a chance at seeing that famous reflection, the best time to visit Riffelsee is the summer months from early July to late September when the landscape and trails are most likely to be snow-free. If you plan to visit Zermatt in the shoulder seasons before or after these months, definitely check recent trail reports to see what the current trail conditions are.
While you can visit Riffelsee in the winter, the lake will be frozen over and the landscape covered in a blanket of snow, so while you won’t see the famous lake shots, it’s still beautiful for different reasons.
In general, the best time to go to Riffelsee is when the weather is clear and the mountain is out! From some places in town, you can simply look up and see what the mountain is doing, but we highly suggest taking a look at the webcams from Gornergrat and Riffelberg. Even if the mountain can be seen from town, clouds might be blocking the view from other places around the valley, so the webcams are a good way to see what the views will be like.
We also recommend not making any concrete plans more than a day or two in advance. If the weather is miserable and there are no views, the pricey ticket for the Gornergrat Railway will be kind of a waste. Weather in the Zermatt mountains can be unpredictable, and forecasts change often, so we suggest looking at the forecast a day or two in advance before committing to buying your tickets. If you can be really flexible, do what we did and check the weather and webcams when you wake up in the morning and plan your day from there.
Getting the views you want really requires some flexibility and a go-with-the flow type of attitude while in Zermatt! And a lot of it really comes down to luck. Clouds do often shroud out views of the Matterhorn throughout the day (even on otherwise clear and sunny days), so when it’s out, take advantage!
In terms of the best time of day to visit Riffelsee, it’s usually recommended to visit first thing in the morning, and there are a few reasons for this. The biggest reason is that mornings are often the most calm, so you’ll have the best chance of seeing the Matterhorn reflection in Riffelsee. The lighting will also be great as the alpen glow lights up the Matterhorn as the sun rises.
The morning is also a good time to avoid the crowds. Riffelsee is a famous spot in Zermatt and it’s very easy to get to, so it’s no surprise that the lake and nearby trails can get pretty busy- particularly the trail from Gornergrat down to Riffelsee and Rotenboden. In fact, as we took the train up midday, we could look out the window and see this trail crawling with people! But you can avoid this by being one of the first ones up to the lake.
Finally, the mornings tend to have clearer weather. Often on days when the weather is clear and the mountain is out, afternoon clouds tend to move in and shroud out the views of the Matterhorn. It doesn’t always happen and really depends on the day, but we did definitely experience this on a few days during our time in Zermatt.
Visiting Riffelsee in the morning was our original plan, but weather and timing made it so we couldn’t do that. Instead, we visited Riffelsee in the afternoon and evening, and we will say that the evening is almost as good as visiting in the morning, but not quite.
Most of the same benefits are there- it can be a great time for reflections, as the weather is calmer and the lake is still. We got some amazing reflection shots here in the evening!
Sunset at Riffelsee
Plus, you’ll likely experience virtual solitude. We started the hike from Gornergrat down to Riffelsee and Riffelalp at about 4 pm and the trail was practically empty. Once we passed RIffelsee, we didn’t see anyone else on the trail at all until we got to RIffelalp!
On our second visit to Riffelsee on our evening trip, there was only one other group at the lake, and we had the second smaller lake all to ourselves for an entire 45 minutes on a perfectly clear evening! It was kind of amazing, and super surprising. The only reason we left is because we had to make the last train back to Zermatt, or else we would have stayed much longer to enjoy this unexpected solitude.
The one kind of major downside to visiting Riffelsee in the evening is the lighting. When we visited, the sun set literally right behind the Matterhorn, making the lighting very harsh and it was hard to get good pictures of the mountain. Luckily, though, we waited long enough, and the sun went just behind the tip of the mountain for a good ten minutes or so as it set, and we used this time to run around and take as many pictures as we could while the lighting was better, and we were able to get some pretty cool shots of the Matterhorn.
The harsh evening lighting around the Matterhorn before the sun went behind the mountain
Although the lighting at Riffelsee wasn’t the best in the evening, the complete solitude and perfect reflections more than made up for it. Plus, the alpen glow and evening lighting across the rest of the landscape and mountains as we hiked from Riffelsee to Riffelberg was so beautiful. So, we were very happy with our experience.
The beautiful evening alpen glow on Gornergrat
How to Visit Riffelsee at Sunrise
So, you want to visit Riffelsee at the best time possible? If you can brave the early wake up call, early morning is definitely your best bet to get the best lighting and reflections at Riffelsee.
One of the great things about the Gornergrat Bahn is that, unlike many other lifts in the area, it operates pretty early in the morning and later into the evening. In the summer, you can get a train up to Riffelsee as early as 7 am. While early, it probably still won’t be early enough to catch the actual sunrise at Riffelsee.
But the good news is that you’d still be one of the first people up there to avoid the crowds, and you’ll likely still be able to have some pretty great morning lighting as well as good reflections. So this is a perfectly good option for getting up to the lake in the morning.
But, if you’re dead set on catching the sunrise at Riffelsee, what are your options?
You have a few…
Hike to Riffelsee. The first option is to hike all the way up from Zermatt to Riffelsee. This would be a long and strenuous climb that would not only require a very early wake up call to get to the lake by sunrise, but it would involve nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain over about 5.5 miles. If this is your jam, then kudos to you, but we weren’t that motivated!
Take a Riffelsee sunrise tour. An easier way to catch sunrise at Riffelsee is to take a Riffelsee sunrise tour. These take place every Sunday morning in the months of July, August, and September. You’ll board a special early train up the mountain (the exact time changes depending on sunrise times), where you can get off at Rotenboden to make the quick walk to the lake to enjoy sunrise. You can also add on an optional breakfast at Riffelberg. Check here for more details about the Riffelsee sunrise tour. The last time we checked, the price to take this special early train was no different than the normal train prices (unless you add on the optional breakfast) so it’s actually a really nice option!
Spend the night near Riffelsee. A great way to visit Riffelsee anytime you want is to spend the night on the mountain. There are several places to stay near Riffelsee that are just a short hike away. The 3100 Kulm Hotel sits at Gornergrat, while the Riffelhaus is an option at Riffelberg. Both are very expensive options, so this isn’t the most cost-efficient way of seeing the sunrise at Riffelsee, but it does give you the most flexibility, and the option to enjoy the scenery and landscape without the daytime crowds.
We opted out of all these options and didn’t think they’d be quite worth the money or effort. We’d still recommend just getting on the first train of day. You may not see the actual sunrise at the lake, but will likely still be early enough to have the nice lighting and reflections of early morning.
How to Plan Your Visit to Riffelsee and Gornergrat
If you have a nice clear day, here’s how we’d recommend planning a visit to Riffelsee in Zermatt.
7:00 AM: Buy a one-way ticket up to Gornergrat for the first morning train of the day.
7:30 AM: On the way up, hop off at Rotenboden first. Take the short walk to Riffelsee while it’s still early and the lighting and reflections are best. While here, walk down to the smaller lake just beyond Riffelsee as well.
8:30 AM: When you’re done at the lake, hike back up to Rotenboden and take the train up to Gornergrat. Spend some time at Gornergrat enjoying the views and walking the short trails in the area.
9:45 AM: Hike from Gornergrat back down to Riffelsee.
10:45 AM: Continue hiking from Riffelsee as far as you’d like to go (either to Rotenboden, Riffelberg, or Riffelalp). Stop for lunch at either Riffelberg or Riffelalp before taking the train back down to Zermatt.
In total, this Riffelsee itinerary will take you anywhere from 5-7 hours depending on how far down the mountain you hike and if you stop for lunch.
Is Riffelsee Worth It if the Matterhorn Isn't Out?
You’re probably wondering if getting to Riffelsee is worth the effort if the Matterhorn isn’t even in view, and it’s a totally valid question. Afterall, the view of the Matterhorn is what makes this lake so famous.
To that we’d say- if the weather is totally miserable and no views are out at all, don’t waste your money on the Gornergrat Bahn.
But, if the Matterhorn is hiding behind a veil of clouds but the weather and views are otherwise clear, we have a different answer…
First off, and to be 100% honest, Riffelsee itself wouldn’t be worth it in our opinion. The lake just doesn’t look like much without that famous Matterhorn view. It becomes rather unphotogenic, not scenic at all, and covered in grass and goop along its unreflective shore. It’s not one of those lakes that’s pretty in its own right. The view of the Matterhorn really makes it.
This is what Riffelsee looks like when the Matterhorn isn’t out- not very exciting!
But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go up to Gornergrat at all. While the Matterhorn is the big draw, it’s not the only thing you see from up here. The panoramic views all around are stunning. We speak from experience on this, as the first time we visited Gorgergrat, the Matterhorn decided to hide. We still had a beautiful day and were able to focus on all the other mountains and glaciers around us, so it wasn’t a total loss. Yes, it was a (big) bummer that the Matterhorn wasn’t out, but we were still really glad we went up to Gornergrat and saw everything else, and that we did the hike down the mountain as well.
Tips for Visiting Riffelsee in Zermatt
Here are some of our final tips for your visit to Riffelsee!
Make sure to wear hiking shoes or boots- Even if you don’t plan on doing a lot of hiking near Riffelsee, we still recommend wearing a sturdy pair of trail shoes with good traction. A lot of the terrain in this area is rocky and steep.
Pack sun protection and layers- The area around Riffelsee is totally exposed to the sun, and since you’re at a higher elevation, it can get windy and chilly up here compared to Zermatt Valley.
Stay on the designated trails- The area around Riffelsee has a lot of unique and fragile vegetation, so it’s definitely important to stick to the trails here to avoid any damage to the landscape.
Keep your tickets in a safe place- Every time you both board and de-board the Gornergrat Bahn, you’ll have to scan your ticket to get through a set of turnstiles, so be sure to keep the ticket on hand and in a safe place for the day!
More Zermatt Guides
Looking for more things to do in Zermatt after your visit to Riffelsee? Be sure to check out all our Zermatt guides to help you plan your trip!
Best Things to Do in Zermatt (+ Complete Zermatt Summer Travel Guide!)
Complete Guide to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: How to Get There and Things to Do
Complete Guide to Gornergrat: How to Get There and Things to Do
Complete Guide to the Rothorn Cable Car Route: How to Get There and Things to Do
The Perfect 1 to 4 Day Zermatt Itinerary
How to Hike the Matterhorn Glacier Trail
Hiking to the Hornlihutte in Zermatt: The Complete Trail Guide
The Crystal Trail in Zermatt: The Complete Trail Guide
Are you planning to visit the famous Riffelsee Lake in Zermatt? Let us know if you have any questions about how to get to Riffelsee and planning your day- we’d love to help!