Mark Twain trail from Riffelberg to Riffelalp (No. 18)

The hike follows the route Mark Twain chose for his 1878 walk and described in the book "Climbing the Riffelberg." At the time of his "expedition" in 1878, the Gornergrat and Riffelberg could only be conquered on foot. In the book, he describes the arduous expedition and humorously reports on the climbing society of the time.

He passes by the Hotel Riffelhaus, Zermatt’s oldest mountain hotel from 1855. The Grandhotel Riffelalp was under construction then. In the following years, it became the "Playground of the European high society." Less than a hundred years later, the hotel was completely destroyed by a large fire and only reopened in 1988.

However, the route does not only pass touristically important places in Zermatt but also offers outstanding scenic highlights. Due to the open terrain, you have an unobstructed view of the Matterhorn throughout the hike. Occasionally, the idyll is interrupted by bells or the bleating of the native Valais Blacknose sheep.

Check before your hike if the path is open.