45.9834° N 7.7620° E
Riffelsee
A mountain lake at 2757 metres below the Riffelhorn, about ten minutes below Rotenboden station. In late October 2026 the Matterhorn is reflected in its ice.
- Best time
- On a still day, early in the morning or late in the evening
- Country
- Switzerland
- Latitude
- 45.9834° N
- Longitude
- 7.7620° E
On site
The Riffelsee lies at 2757 metres in a nature reserve at the foot of the Riffelhorn. The Gornergrat Railway runs from Zermatt to the Rotenboden stop, and from there it is about ten minutes gently downhill, according to Zermatt Tourism. According to the Gornergrat Railway the lake is about 100 metres long and 50 metres wide. It has no outflow and is fed mainly by melting snow and glacier ice. Behind it lies a second, smaller lake.
On 31 October 2026 Nicolas and his friend Julian come down on foot from Gornergrat. The trail is already closed, and there is snow on the ground. Nicolas has packed his swimming trunks, but the lake is frozen. On Gornergrat the temperature never rose above zero from 21 to 24 October. The ice holds surprisingly well. In the middle, though, it is thinner, and when the two of them stand there a few cracks appear.
When there is no wind the Matterhorn is reflected in the water. According to Zermatt Tourism it is calmest early in the morning and late in the evening. On this day the mountain is reflected in the ice shortly before two in the afternoon. From the lake the path continues over snowy meadows to Riffelberg.
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Riffelsee 45.9834° N 7.7620° E
