Matterhorn

Wed 29/1/25

Today's plan is to take the train from Täsch (just one city before Zermatt, and cheaper) to Zermatt, then take the cogwheel train to Gornegrat. We planned to hike from Gornegrat to Riffelsee and enjoy unobstructed views of the Matterhorn. We bought the ticket via SBB app for CHF 28.30 (RM 141.5) per person one way. 

walking to Täsch station

We took the 8.55 am train to Zermatt and then the 9.12am train from Zermatt to Gornegrat which was full of skiers and snowboarders, so we had to stand for the entire journey that took 30 minutes. It was a clear day today. Matterhorn was visible as we started to leave Zermatt.

We arrived at the highest station Gornegrat at 9.41 am, then proceeded to the area behind the restaurant as I read there would be unobstructed views from there. It turned out that it was not possible to take photos of the Matterhorn without the observatory being visible in it. And tourists kept trickling in. We didn't spend too much time here as we thought it was better to do the hike and take photos while hiking.

view of Matterhorn from behind the restaurant with observatory visible

view from behind the restaurant

view from behind the restaurant

many tourists down there near the Gornegrat station

We went back down to the turnstile to find the hiking path, but we couldn't find it. So I asked the ticketing staff, but was told that the hiking trail was closed. We would have to take the train to one station down to Rotenboden and hike to Riffelsee. And he told us it was pointless do so as the Riffelsee lake was frozen so we couldn't see the reflection of the Matterhorn from the lake. So we spent some time just behind the turnstile, took photos there and lunched on our packed sandwich while enjoying the views of Matterhorn.

Matterhorn just behind Gornegrat station

another view of Matterhorn

jumping with Matterhorn

On hindsight, we should have just bought the ticket to Rotenboden and hiked to Riffelsee from there, as probably there would be less tourists here but the views to the Matterhorn would just be as good as Gornegrat.  

We took the train back down to Zermatt at noon. Since we bought a Point to Point ticket, we spent some time walking around Zermatt before proceeding to Täsch. We took a moment to enjoy some Laderach chocolate (that we got from our flight) at a viewpoint while viewing the Matterhorn.

Matterhorn view from the train

Matterhorn viewpoint at Zermatt

We then went back to our apartment in Täsch earlier than planned as the hike to Riffelsee didn't happen. So the spare time was used to fly the drone from our apartment and then we walked to the nearby Schalisee lake which was frozen. The apartment owner's cat also came by to visit at the verandah. Later, we prepared for dinner of rice, salmon and salad. 

view near Schalisee lake at Täsch

frozen Schalisee lake

owner's cat came by to visit