Hikes

Mark Twain Path (No. 18)

Das Hotel Riffelhaus 1853 mit Blick aufs Matterhorn

Zermatt

13/22°

In the footsteps of the American writer Mark Twain: A leisurely hiking trail at Riffelberg with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn. Mark Twain satirized the 19th-century expeditions into the alpine world of Zermatt with his satirical text "Climbing the Riffelberg".

Difficulty

Intermediate

Length

3.38 km

Duration

50 m

Fahrt mit der Gornergrat Bahn zum Ausgangspunkt der Wanderung

Hotel Riffelberg zu Zeiten von Mark Twain – Auszug aus seinem Buch "Riffelberg-Besteigung"

Description

Recommendation: The reading of "Climbing the Riffelberg", a small book in German and in the original English language. Mark Twain (1835–1910) mocks the fuss that 19th-century expeditions made when they wanted to explore the alpine world of Zermatt.

Anyone who has actually read the book as a personal expedition preparation can visit Hotel Riffelberg at the very start of the trail and breathe in alpine history. Mark Twain very likely stayed here. Because it is the oldest mountain hotel (built in 1855) in Zermatt.

Then it continues leisurely down to Riffelalp, where the Riffelalp Resort is today. The hotel was built from 1874 to 1884. It can be assumed that Mark Twain saw the hotel under construction, as he arrived in Zermatt on August 27, 1878 and stayed for some time.

Hiking and the book provide wonderful cinematic imagination and an incredible view of the Matterhorn, the Weisshorn and the most famous mountains over 4,000 m surrounding the Zermatt valley basin.

Turn-by-turn directions

Riffelberg - Riffelalp

(Approximate hiking time for the opposite direction 1 h 10)

Start

Riffelberg (2,582 m) (2582m)

Destination

Riffelalp (2,211 m) (2207m)

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Author's recommendation

At Riffelalp can be found the highest tram in Europe.

Matching this is the reading of Mark Twain's "Climbing the Riffelberg", a small book in German and in the original English language.

Technical information

Altitude

2582m

2208m

Ascent

+0m

Descent

-375m

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

By train to the Matterhorn village: 3½ hours from Zurich Airport or 4 hours from Geneva Airport. Visp is the transfer point for the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway. From Visp, the railway runs through the Nikolai Valley, past small, idyllic villages to Zermatt.

Zermatt is also the start or end point of the world-famous Glacier Express panoramic train journey (St. Moritz / Davos – Zermatt).

Approach

Zermatt is car-free. Access for private vehicles is only allowed up to Täsch (5 km before Zermatt). The road Täsch - Zermatt is closed to public traffic.

Further travel to Zermatt is either by private taxi service or shuttle trains. The trains run every 20 minutes. After about 12 minutes, the journey ends at the station square in Zermatt.

Parking

In Täsch there are parking garages with covered and uncovered spaces available. For example, at the Matterhorn Terminal or with private providers.

Further travel: see directions.