Riffelsee
Riffelsee features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Zermatt. Give it roughly ~40 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~40 min
- Zermatt Zermatt guide
About Riffelsee
A tiny alpine lake near Rotenboden on the Gornergrat line, famous across Switzerland for the mirror reflection of the Matterhorn in its still water at sunrise.
The Riffelsee is a small mountain lake at about 2,760 metres on the Gornergrat side of the valley above Zermatt, below the Riffelhorn. It is tiny, only about a hundred metres long, a closed basin with no outlet, reached by a ten-minute walk from Rotenboden station on the Gornergrat Railway. Its fame rests on one thing: on a windless day, when the surface is perfectly still, it holds a flawless mirror image of the Matterhorn's east face.
The reflection is one of the most sought-after photographs in Switzerland, best captured early in the morning or in the evening, when the low sun paints the summit and the whole scene is doubled in the calm water. Early in the summer the lake can still be partly covered with ice, and any breeze ruffles the mirror, so the picture rewards patience and luck. The lake sits in a protected area on the trail down from Rotenboden.
Did you know? The Riffelsee is tiny, only about a hundred metres long, and sits at about 2,760 metres, a ten-minute walk from Rotenboden station on the Gornergrat Railway.
How long is a visit to Riffelsee?
Set aside roughly ~40 min for Riffelsee. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Riffelsee worth your time?
Riffelsee is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Zermatt, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Zermatt
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Riffelsee and read more:
Day 2 of the Zermatt in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Riffelsee
Preview the Zermatt tour free in the Gingerguide app.