Riffelalp-Winkelmatten (Nr. 114)

Winter hiking

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Tour data

4.25km

1,666 - 2,221m

Distance

7hm

508hm

Ascent

01:45h

Duration

Zermatt - Matterhorn

Brief description: This winter hiking trail leads through a wonderfully romantic snow-covered forest along the slopes of the Gornergrat and down into the village of Zermatt.
Difficulty: medium
Rating: Technique

Fitness

Landscape

Experience
Starting point: Riffelalp (2,211 m)
Route: Riffelalp railway station

Riffelalp (2,222 m)hamlet
0.3 km

Al Bosco restaurant
0.4 km

Untere Riffelalp locality
1.2 km

Chämi-Hitta restaurant
1.2 km

Zermatt (1,608 m)town
4.1 km

Kapelle der Heiligen Familie place of worship
4.2 km

more waypoints
Best season: Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul
Description: The treeline at Riffelalp announces the transition clearly: this is the beginning of the winter forest. The gnarled Swiss stone pines are heavily laden with snow; a cold winter breeze whispers around the naked branches of the larches. The snow crunches underfoot as the trail winds gently down to Zermatt.

Walkers following this winter hiking trail late in the afternoon may well spot a roe deer, immobile, the colour of its coat barely discernible from that of the surrounding larches.
Directions: Riffelalp - Ritti - Winkelmatten (chapel)

(Hiking time in reverse direction: approx. 2h 30)
Highest point: 2,221 m
Endpoint: Winkelmatten (1,650 m)
Height profile: © outdooractive.com
Equipment: We recommend:
Good footwear Hiking poles (optional) Warm winter clothing appropriate for the weather
Safety instructions: Plan every mountain tour carefully and adapt to participants’ fitness level as well as the weather and season. Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Appropriate clothing is therefore essential, along with adequate supplies of food and water. In uncertain weather, turn back in good time. Inform others of planned route, and whenever possible avoid going alone. Do not leave the marked routes; do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide. It is forbidden to walk on the ski pistes. Please be considerate to other walkers and to plants and animals.
Note: This winter hiking trail can be slippery. Consider wearing ice grips or microspikes on footwear (available from sports shops).

Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.
Tips: This hike is especially beautiful when there is fresh snow and the Alpine pine and larch trees along the path are covered with fresh, sparkling snow.
Directions: 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.
Public transportation: 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).
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”.