Gornergrat
 

We're planning on going to Zermatt for one day, only if the weather is very good, to see the Matterhorn.

Is the Gornergrat the train (funicular) we would take and would you recommend a small hike while we're there...

Thanks .... Peter

Yes, the Gornergrat train is the one you want. The station is across the street from the atation for the trains that come in from Täsch, which is where you park your car.

The word Grat means ridge, or dividing line, in German. So the train you want is indeed the Gornergrat train. The rail line leads along the steadily rising ground and finally terminates at a station that has a restaurant and viewing areas for both Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn.

Monte Rosa is a huge mountain and spawns several incredible glaciers from its flanks. In many respects it is equally as spectacular as the more isolated Matterhorn.

We rode the train from Zermatt up to the Riffelalp station. Then we walked the rest of the way. When we got off of the train as Riffelalp, I got my one good picture of the Matterhorn. The next time I looked, about 15 minutes later, clouds were blowing in and viewing conditions deteriorated the rest of the day.

We contined on uphill to the Gornergrat Station where views of Monte Rosa were already deteriorating. By the time we wanted to start down, snow was falling at a good rate. I had intially planned on walking back, but the clouds were so thick and the snow already deep enough to obscure the trail, that I took the train.

There are several short hikes in the area, but once you reach Riffelalp the terrain is treeless, so you can see about the same major objectives from any of the trails.

Good afternoon, Peten
An additioinal trip to view the Matterhorn is to take the gondolas from
Winkelmatten to Furi and then the cable car up to Schwarzsee. There is a small hotel and ristorante with large patio and other than hiking up
closer to the Matterhorn, is very gratifying view. Have done this a couple of times along with going up the Gonergrat...Have on occasion hiked back down from Schwarzsee to Furi, very easy but downhill....You should be able to hike down to Riffelberg or to Riffelalp if the day permits...
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il.

Thanks to both of you for your response.

In June we're staying in Alsace (Riquewihr) for two weeks. Then we're going to Kandersteg (one of our favorites) for a few days, specifically to see if we can catch a glimpse of the Matterhorn. Third time is hopefully a charm.

Richard I doubt we'll have the time to do as you suggested, but I will keep the emails in mind.

Thanks again... Peter

I doubt very much if you can see the Matterhorn from Kandersteg. You have the main range of the Berner Oberland between you and it.

You might be able to catch glimpse of the Matterhorn from the Gemmi Pass, but the crest of the Gemmi is located well above Kandersteg and some 20 K away.

Kev Reynolds lists the Matterhorn as one of several peaks that you can see from the Gemmi, but I doubt if any more of it is visible than the upper faces.
It would be some 50 k away at best.

I would not go to Kandersteg with the goal of getting a full frontal view of the Matterhorn in dramatic lighting.

If the Matterhorn sticks up enough, I think you could see it better from the Gemmi than one can see the Tetons from Mount Washburn, but it would be little more than a bump on the landscape.