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Photo locations · Zermatt · Switzerland

Riffelsee Matterhorn Reflection: sunset photography forecast

Riffelsee is one of the simplest Matterhorn compositions and one of the hardest to get perfectly: the mountain is obvious, but the reflection needs calm water and a clear summit at the same time. Dawn gives you the best chance of both.

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Will today's sunset be worth it?

Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.

Recommended arrival

in 3h 43m

Vivid warm canvas

Exactly at sunset: Exceptional
Best-light moment: Exceptional,

Starts

in 2h 59m

Soft warm light · portraits & landscapes

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunset
Afterglow

Light corridor: open

Why: The sun's path is clear at the height its low light travels, so the light can reach the clouds at sunset.

  • Light path: clear (0% blocking cloud at the ray's height)
  • Sun: clearly visible. The sun's path to the horizon reads open; the disc should be visible.
Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity14% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 0–89% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 22–22% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 65–65% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–89% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 65–65% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 55–89% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 65–65% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 89–89% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 89–89% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 89–89% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 89–89% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintylow cloud · 60% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 60% is somewhere between 2.88 and 3 km-5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light · lit on one reading: the strongest cloud toward the sun was set aside, and counting it would have darkened this deck20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light · lit on one reading: the strongest cloud toward the sun was set aside, and counting it would have darkened this deck50 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light100 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light

Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.

cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunset.

Know the light
before it happens

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For photographers: shooting Riffelsee Matterhorn Reflection

Best months

Early July to late October for a normally ice-free lake. Late September and October can bring crisp air and fresh snow on the Matterhorn, but always check the first and last Gornergrat trains.

Suggested focal lengths

16–35 mm for shoreline, lake and reflection; 50–100 mm for the Matterhorn and smaller reflection details.

Composition

The main lake is not the only option. Walk around the shore and check the smaller pools below it; a low position hides empty sky and gives more weight to the reflection.

Recommended arrival

Be at the lake 45–60 minutes before sunrise. If the first train is too late, plan an overnight stay or a legal pre-dawn hike—do not assume the railway runs for first light.

Access planning

Zermatt is car-free. Take the Gornergrat railway to Rotenboden, then follow the signed path; at 2,757 m, weather and temperature can change quickly.

Parking: Park in Täsch and continue to Zermatt by train or approved taxi.

Approach: Roughly 10 minutes downhill from Rotenboden station; allow 15–20 minutes back uphill with equipment.

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