Winter hikes

Rotenboden-Riffelberg (Nr. 113)

Winterwandern von Rotenboden nach Riffelberg

Zermatt

0/11°

The winter views here are some of the finest in the Zermatt region. The trail leads below the shady Riffelhorn and back into dazzling sunshine, revealing a breathtaking vista culminating in the Gornergrat. A fairy-tale adventure with views that seem to go on for ever.

Difficulty

Easy

Length

2.27 km

Duration

1:00 h

Das Ziel der Wanderung ist bereits in Sicht

Description

This particular fairy tale begins at Rotenboden, where the winter hiking trail leads off to the left. The loop towards the Riffelhorn is particularly special - depending on the time of day, the Riffelhorn casts cold blue shadows in winter and walkers can see and feel for a moment just how much the sun warms the landscape, and how cold it can be in the shade.

The trail then heads up a small incline, where effort is rewarded with stunning views of the Matterhorn, before winding gently down to Riffelberg; children will love being pulled down this stretch on a sledge.

Suitable for children aged 4 upwards
Magnificent Alpine views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and other four-thousanders

Turn-by-turn directions

Rotenboden - Riffelsee - Riffelberg

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

Start

Rotenboden (2,815 m) (2815m)

Destination

Riffelberg (2,582 m) (2582m)

Download GPX

Download KML

Author's recommendation

Take a ride right up to the top on the Gornergrat Bahn, where you can marvel at the view of 29 four-thousanders and a breathtaking panorama of glaciers and mountains before heading back to Rotenboden.

Technical information

Altitude

2816m

2576m

Ascent

+7m

Descent

-240m

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”.