I spent the morning wandering around the Gornergrat viewing platform before hiking down to Riffelsee via Rotenboden in the afternoon. You can choose to take a train or hike on foot from Gornergrat down to Riffelsee Lake. The entire lake produces the utmost serenity with a perfect reflection of the Matterhorn, providing you with a picture-perfect angle to snap some shots.
In this article, I’ll be showing you how to get to the Riffelsee lake by train and on a hike as well as what to expect along the hike.
Read More: Get Ready for the Best Summer Trip of Your Life: Your Comprehensive Guide to Zermatt!
Get to Riffelsee from Gornergrat
The trail to Riffelsee Lake can be reached from the Gornergrat Bahn, which is a cogwheel mountain train that takes you from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat viewing platform at 3089 meters. To hike back down from Gornergrat to Rotenboden and Riffelberg, you need to obtain a round-trip ticket on the Gornergrat train. It can be purchased online or you can get one of the travel passes first to benefit from the discounted ride.
I suggest starting your hike at Rotenboden to Riffelse after taking the train from Gornergrat. If your fitness level agrees, you can also take on the two-kilometer hike straight away from Gornergrat without boarding the train. This well-marked section is a mostly wide, slightly rocky path. Once you reach Rotenboden, it’s a short five-minute walk to the Riffelsee lake.
Hike From Gornergrant To Rotenboden and Riffelsee
Since the Riffelsee lake is only a few steps away from the Rotenboden train station, you will see many people lingering around the lake instead of hiking all the way down.
The best thing about Riffelsee is its famous reflection of the Matterhorn peak at a perfect angle. When the sky is crisp and not too windy, you’re guaranteed some of the best hikes in the area, especially when the lake’s surface is perfectly calm, and the entire lake becomes a mirror brought by mother nature.
Hike From Riffelsee To Riffelberg
I took on the next hike from Riffelsee to Riffelberg. The sweeping wraparound vista was just too good to be missed. Depending on the time of the year, the crowd may start to thin out the further you walk away from Riffelsee.
Riffelberg is a smaller lake compared to Riffelsee but the reflection of the majestic Matterhorn is still a gorgeous scene to behold.
Once you reach Riffelberg, you will see a train station in Riffelberg from where you can catch the Gornergrat Bahn back to Zermatt.
Meet the Blacknose Sheep
Other than the dramatic scenery, don’t forget to look out for the bulky, cute black nose sheep, an iconic animal of Zermatt. They wander on the grassy alpine pastures or gather by the hotels where people use their special wool for blankets.
Those black nose sheep are known for their durable wool as the animals live off such harsh weather. Summer is the best time to witness those gigantic animals traversing down the meadows. However, these are wild animals so make sure you don’t get too close to them.
Check out more travel tips in Zermatt and Gornergrat below:
- 5-Lake Hiking Route in Zermatt- Getting There, Starting Point, and What to See
- Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Viewing Platform- Peak Pass, Getting Around, And Things To Do
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