A photography road trip to the Matterhorn
The Matterhorn is probably the most famous mountain in the world. The sharp pyramid rising above Zermatt is on chocolate bars, posters and the Toblerone logo. As a photographer I wanted to see it with my own eyes and photograph it at its most beautiful: reflected in a mountain lake at sunrise. Here's my photography road trip to the Matterhorn and tips on how to do it.
Getting to Zermatt
Zermatt is a car-free village. By car you can only get to Täsch, where there's a big car park (the Matterhorn Terminal), and from there a shuttle train runs to Zermatt every 20 minutes. The ride takes 12 minutes. The other option is the train from Visp or Brig.
- Täsch – car park and train 46.070° N, 7.778° E
- Zermatt – car-free village 46.021° N, 7.749° E
- Sunnegga – funicular to the lakes 46.017° N, 7.771° E
- Stellisee – a lake with a reflection 46.025° N, 7.795° E
- Riffelsee – the most famous reflection 45.988° N, 7.756° E
- Gornergrat – lookout at 3,089 m 45.983° N, 7.785° E
- Matterhorn – 4,478 m 45.976° N, 7.659° E
Riffelsee: the most famous reflection
A small lake below the Gornergrat where the Matterhorn reflects as in a mirror. You get here on the Gornergratbahn cog railway (Rotenboden stop) and then a few minutes on foot. For sunrise you have to take the first train or stay overnight in the hotel at the top, or else set off on foot in the dark.
When the wind blows, the water ripples and the reflection breaks up, as in my cover photo. But that has its charm too.
Stellisee and the Five Lakes Walk
From the village you ride the funicular up to Sunnegga and on to Blauherd. From there the Five Lakes Walk (5-Seenweg) leads about 9 km past the Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee lakes. The Matterhorn is visible in all of them; the Stellisee has the best reflection. At dusk it's wonderfully quiet here.
The Gornergrat
A lookout at 3,089 metres with a view of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and the Gorner Glacier. The cog railway from 1898 is an experience in itself. At the top there's a hotel and an observatory.
Alpenglow: the Matterhorn on fire
The most magical moment is a few minutes after sunrise, when the first rays hit only the summit of the Matterhorn and it glows orange and pink while the valley is still in shadow. It's called alpenglow. You can photograph it from the village too: from the bridge over the Vispa river in the centre of Zermatt.
Photography tips
- A telephoto lens, 70–200 mm, for details of the mountain and the alpenglow.
- A wide-angle lens for reflections in the lakes.
- A polarising filter, carefully: it can cancel out the reflection.
- Plan the light in PhotoPills or PlanIt: the sun rises differently relative to the Matterhorn depending on the season.
- Weather: the Matterhorn is often in cloud. Plan at least two or three days.
More tips for travelling in Switzerland are in Lauterbrunnen and Mürren and a solo road trip and hiking in Switzerland. My photos from Switzerland are in my portfolio.
Faq
Can I drive to Zermatt?
No, Zermatt is car-free. You leave the car in Täsch and take the shuttle train (12 minutes).
Where is the best reflection of the Matterhorn?
Riffelsee below the Gornergrat and Stellisee on the Five Lakes Walk. Ideally, no wind at sunrise.
When is the best time to photograph the Matterhorn?
From late June to September the lakes are free of ice and the lifts are running. For alpenglow, get up for sunrise.
