The Riffelsee in brief
The Riffelsee is a small mountain lake at 2,757 metres, and one of the best-known places to photograph the Matterhorn. On a calm day the peak is mirrored in the water. There is no separate ticket for the lake. You reach it by the Gornergrat Railway to the station Rotenboden at 2,815 metres and walk from there.
The walk takes about 10 minutes and leads gently downhill. Sources disagree on whether the lake can be seen from the station. The tourist office says no, the railway says you can see it to the left of the tracks when looking down the valley. So plan on a short walk of about 10 minutes either way.
How to photograph the Matterhorn reflection
The reflection needs still water, so wind decides more than anything else.
Go early or late
The tourist office and the railway both say the best time is early in the morning or late in the evening, when there is no wind.
Check the Matterhorn first
Clouds can hide the peak. Look at the webcams of the lift operator before you buy a ticket. The tickets are expensive, so a clear sky is worth waiting for.
Find the second lake
There is a second, smaller lake a little further along the path. If the first one is rippled or crowded, walk on and try again.
Mind the timetable
In the summer 2026 timetable the first train left Zermatt at 07:00. The timetable for 2027 had not been published in October 2026. A guided sunrise trip ran on Sundays in summer 2026, and none is announced for 2027.
When the Riffelsee becomes ice-free in spring is not documented, so do not rely on a date.
Our picks: up to the Riffelsee
The Riffelsee is reached with the Gornergrat Railway.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Gornergrat small-group tour with Swiss guide
Four hours from the tourist office in Zermatt with all train tickets and an English-speaking guide. The return ticket alone costs CHF 102 in winter 2026/27.
Check availability →Gornergrat Railway return ticket
The return trip with entry to the ZOOOM exhibition at the top. CHF 132 matches the operator's summer 2026 fare; from November 2026 the official winter fare is CHF 102, and Half Fare Card holders pay half at the station.
Check availability →Riffelsee ticket with hike back to Zermatt
A ticket up to the Riffelsee area with a walk back down to Zermatt. Check on the tour page what is included and when it runs.
Check availability →Gornergrat and Riffelsee tours
Gornergrat Railway tickets, sunrise and day trips from Zermatt, with live prices and availability.
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Getting there and what it costs
Adult fares from Zermatt, return, 2nd class. The season is marked on every price.
| Ticket | Winter 2026/27 | Summer 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Zermatt to Rotenboden, return | CHF 96 | CHF 114 |
| Zermatt to Gornergrat, return | CHF 102 | CHF 132 |
| Zermatt to Riffelberg, return | CHF 78 | CHF 84 |
Winter 2026/27 means November 2026 to April 2027, taken from the operator’s price list of June 2026. Summer 2026 prices are valid until the end of October 2026, and the summer 2027 fares were not published in October 2026. Half Fare Card, GA and Swiss Travel Pass give 50 %.
Closures to know about: the Gornergrat Railway does not run from 2 to 14 November 2026. From 15 to 27 November it runs every 48 minutes, and from 28 November every 24 minutes. For the full timetable and the stations, see the Gornergrat guide.
Paths around the lake
The lake is a start for easy downhill walks. Times are without breaks.
The Riffelseeweg (trail 21) leads from Rotenboden over the lake to Riffelberg. It is 2.9 km long (the railway says 3.1 km), takes 1 hour, goes 13 to 42 metres up and 267 to 276 metres down and is rated T2. It is suitable for children from 4 years, according to the tourist office.
If you want more, walk from the Gornergrat summit via Rotenboden and the Riffelsee to Riffelberg: 4.7 km, 1 hour 25 minutes, 71 metres up and 578 metres down, T2. This route is walked from July to October. At Riffelberg you find the Riffelhaus 1853 and the chapel Bruder Klaus, and you take the train down.
Both walks are described with other trails in Hiking in Zermatt. For a longer day with five lakes, see the 5 Lakes Walk in the same guide.
The Riffelsee in winter
The lake is under snow, but the stop is still worth it.
In winter the Riffelsee is snowed in so the reflection is not an option. The area is used for walking and sledging instead. The winter trail from Rotenboden to Riffelberg (trail 113) is 2.4 km, takes 1 hour, descends about 250 metres and is easy. You reach it by the Gornergrat Railway.
The Rotenboden toboggan run is about 2 km long and takes about 10 minutes. It is groomed daily and called the highest toboggan run in the Alps. Sledges can be hired at Riffelberg. The winter fare to Rotenboden is CHF 96 return, valid from November 2026 to April 2027.
Riffelsee: frequently asked questions
How do I get to the Riffelsee?
Take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt to Rotenboden at 2,815 metres. From the station it is a short walk of about 10 minutes, slightly downhill, to the lake at 2,757 metres.
What is the best time for the Matterhorn reflection?
Early in the morning or late in the evening, when there is no wind. Check the webcams first, because clouds can hide the peak.
Do I need a ticket for the Riffelsee?
There is no separate ticket for the lake. You pay for the Gornergrat Railway, which was CHF 96 return to Rotenboden in winter 2026/27 and CHF 114 in summer 2026.
Can I visit the Riffelsee in November 2026?
Not from 2 to 14 November, because the railway is closed. From 15 November trains run again, but in winter the lake is under snow.
How far is it from the Riffelsee to Riffelberg?
About 2.9 km, which takes around 1 hour on trail 21. The path is mostly downhill with 13 metres up and 267 metres down.