Matterhorn: what time does it glow at sunrise?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: First light on the Matterhorn at 07:18; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 07:53. Be at the Zermatt village bridge or Riffelsee by 06:48.
At sunrise the very tip of the Matterhorn turns red first, then the light runs down the east face while Zermatt is still in shadow. Monte Rosa and the Mischabel peaks stand to the east, so the summit catches the sun only a few minutes before a flat-horizon sunrise.
Fri 6 November 2026
First light 07:18
First light on the Matterhorn at 07:18; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 07:53. Be at the Zermatt village bridge or Riffelsee by 06:48.
| 06:48 | Arrive at the Zermatt village bridge or Riffelsee |
| 07:18 | First light: the very top turns red |
| 07:18 | Sunrise on a flat horizon here (the valley stays in shade longer) |
| 07:53 | Glow fades to gold, then white |
Plan it
The bridge over the Vispa in the village centre and the Kirchbrücke are the classic free spots. For the reflection at Riffelsee, take the first Gornergrat train (summer sunrise trips run on some days). The glow needs a clear sky towards the east as well as over the peak.
Through the year
| 15th of | First light | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| January | 08:08 | 08:08–08:46 |
| February | 07:34 | 07:34–08:07 |
| March | 06:44 | 06:44–07:15 |
| April | 06:45 | 06:45–07:17 |
| May | 05:59 | 05:59–06:34 |
| June | 05:39 | 05:39–06:16 |
| July | 05:54 | 05:54–06:30 |
| August | 06:29 | 06:29–07:03 |
| September | 07:08 | 07:08–07:40 |
| October | 07:47 | 07:47–08:19 |
| November | 07:31 | 07:31–08:07 |
| December | 08:05 | 08:05–08:45 |
Matterhorn by month
Questions
What time is the sunrise glow on the Matterhorn?
6 Nov 2026: First light on the Matterhorn at 07:18; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 07:53. Be at the Zermatt village bridge or Riffelsee by 06:48. The time moves through the year; pick your date above.
How much earlier does the Matterhorn catch the sun than the valley?
About 0 minutes before a sunrise on a flat horizon at the Zermatt village bridge or Riffelsee, and the valley itself stays in the mountains' shadow for longer.
Which month has the earliest and latest first light?
January 08:08, February 07:34, March 06:44, April 06:45, May 05:59, June 05:39, July 05:54, August 06:29, September 07:08, October 07:47, November 07:31, December 08:05 (15th of each month).
How is this calculated?
A summit high above its surroundings looks down on its own horizon, so it sees the sun before anything below it. For each date we find the moment the sun's upper edge clears the skyline as seen from the summit (allowing for the dip of the horizon, refraction and higher ridges nearby). The red, then orange, then gold glow lasts until the sun is about 5° higher. Expect the real moment within about 5 minutes.
Summit 4,478 m. Times are local (Europe/Zurich).