Snowshoeing

Panorama Trail (Nr. 142)

Schneeschuhwandern mit winterlichem Panorama

Zermatt

5/13°

This snowshoe trail leads to some magically beautiful spots between Rotenboden and Riffelberg. Along the way it passes the frozen Riffelsee, hibernating under a thick blanket of snow.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

2.54 km

Duration

1:30 h

Durch frischen Pulverschnee unterwegs am Gornergrat

Description

When the Riffelhorn casts its dark shadow across the Riffelsee, evening is still a long way off. But this is a magical moment in winter, known as the blue hour. A calmness descends on the mountain; the ski pistes are far off. Take a deep breath and continue walking: soon the magnificent panorama reveals itself once again, with the Matterhorn, Obergabelhorn and Weisshorn. A winter’s day of fairy-tale beauty, sure to linger long in the memory.

Marked approx. every 100 m with pink poles
Guided tours bookable through the Zermatters

Turn-by-turn directions

Rotenboden - Riffelberg

(Hiking time in reverse direction: approx. 1h 30 - 2h)

Start

Rotenboden (2'815 m) (2812m)

Destination

Riffelberg (2,582 m) (2581m)

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Author's recommendation

As the name already indicates, this trail offers one of the finest panoramas with a cast including the Matterhorn, Obergabelhorn, Zinalrothorn, Weisshorn and many more. So be sure to take along your camera.

Technical information

Altitude

2813m

2571m

Ascent

+10m

Descent

-242m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

By train to the Matterhorn village: 3½ hours from Zürich airport or 4 hours from Geneva airport. Change at Visp onto the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (Matterhorn Gotthard Railway). From Visp, the railway leads through the Mattertal valley past idyllic small villages to Zermatt.

Zermatt is also the start and finish point for the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (Zermatt to St. Moritz or Davos).

Approach

Zermatt is car-free. Private vehicles are permitted only as far as Täsch (5 km before Zermatt). The Täsch–Zermatt road is closed to the public.

Onward travel to Zermatt is either by private taxi or shuttle train. Trains depart every 20 minutes; the journey takes about 12 minutes, and ends at the Bahnhofplatz in Zermatt.

Parking

Täsch has car parks with both covered and open-air parking – e.g. at the Matterhorn Terminal or privately operated facilities.

Onward travel: see “Getting there”.