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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.

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.

You will be inside the cloud at the viewpoint, with 0.1 km visibility.

in 50m

Blocked grey lid

Flat grey light · moody close-ups at best

Little usable cloud structure, or the viewpoint sits inside a uniform lid.

High confidence · event-time scene

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunset

Light corridor

Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity16% cover — too thin to draw as cloud13% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 45–100% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 42–54% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 45–100% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 42–54% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 41–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 79–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintylow cloud · 100% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 100% is somewhere between 2.77 and 3 kmlow cloud · 100% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 100% is somewhere between 2.57 and 3 kmlow cloud · 56% reported, 29% resolved on a pressure surface — 27% is somewhere between 1.3 and 3 kmmid cloud · 71% reported, 50% resolved on a pressure surface — 21% is somewhere between 3 and 8 km-5 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 deck0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light50 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

-5 km

Behind you

8/8L 100 · M 100 · H 13100% · rain 0.5 mm200 m

Your location

2770 m asl

8/8L 100 · M 100 · H 0100% · rain 0.4 mm100 m

5 km

Nearby

8/8L 100 · M 100 · H 0100% · rain 0.4 mm100 m

20 km

Near horizon

8/8L 100 · M 63 · H 0100% · rain 0.6 mm100 m

50 km

Light path

8/8L 100 · M 82 · H 0100%100 m

100 km

Light path

7/8L 56 · M 71 · H 087%26.8 km

150 km

Far light path

8/8L 49 · M 100 · H 674%37.3 km

200 km

Far light path

8/8L 48 · M 100 · H 10074%35.7 km

300 km

Far light path

3/8L 33 · M 9 · H 082%29.8 km

350 km

Far light path

6/8L 71 · M 0 · H 061%40 km
cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

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

Clouds: Cloud canvas mostly unlit

Precipitation is likely nearby (0.6 mm at one or more sample points) — most direct light will be blocked, though a showery sky can still open up.

Very thick mid/high cover (91%) — colour likely only at cloud edges.

Low cloud deck overhead (100%) hides the coloured undersides.

Most clouds above you sit in shadow — their undersides are unlikely to catch colour.

The viewpoint is likely inside low cloud (0.1 km visibility), which hides scene depth.

Cloud cover is nearly solid and uniform across the near scene — a flat lid rather than separated layers.

Cloud occupies two height bands, giving the sky useful layered structure.

Light corridor is blocked

Thick cloud between you and the low sun (82%) — no real golden hour expected.

Sun likely hidden. You're inside the cloud at the viewpoint (0.1 km visibility) — the sun will not be visible from here.

Clarity: Reduced

High humidity (100%) may soften and mute colors.

Low visibility (0.1 km) reduces color saturation.

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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