Guide to Skiing in St Moritz
With 350 km of terrain to explore St. Moritz is home to some fantastic skiing.
The epitome of the all-round winter sports resort, St. Moritz lies in the Engadin Valley close to the Italian border, giving it that rare combination of both sun and snow reliability. St Moritz has hosted two Winter Olympic Games and five Alpine Ski World Championships, making it a fantastic resort for experienced skiers.
St Moritz Ski Area
Ultimate Guide to St Moritz
St. Moritz is divided into two areas 3 km apart from each other - St. Moritz Bad and St. Moritz Dorf, with Dorf being the main hub. Luxury chalets in St Moritz can also be found in other bases within the valley including Celerina (at the bottom of the Cresta run), Samedan and La Punt. The ski area, totalling 350 km, is spread across three main sectors; Corviglia-Piz Nair, Corvatsch-Furtschellas and Diavolezza-Lagalb. The sectors are not lift connected and only Corviglia can be reached directly from St. Moritz. Accessed by four points in the valley, Corviglia is certainly the busiest area with south-facing slopes reaching 3,057m at Piz Nair.
A bus ride from St. Moritz Bad and Dorf, Corvatsch is reached from Lake Silvaplana and is where you will find the best snow conditions. With north-facing slopes and the highest lift in the valley, Corvatsch is more diverse than Corviglia and home to some of the more challenging pistes in the region. Around 20 km from St. Moritz and reached by bus or train, Daivolezza and Lagalb are two linked mountains on opposite sides of the Bernina pass. Diavolezza has excellent north-facing slopes reaching 2,980m whereas Lagalb is a little smaller but both offer some challenging skiing without the crowds.
Beginner Skiing in St Moritz
St. Moritz offers plenty of opportunities to learn and benefits from some excellent ski schools. However, it is not the most convenient resort for beginners, with beginner areas dotted across the mountain at Corviglia, Salastrains and Celerina. There are also limited longer runs to progress to without having to navigate a red route first.
Thanks to its lift system and nursery slopes at village level, Celerina is much the best area for children to learn. Four smaller ski areas also offer fun for beginners - Languard in Pontresina, Cristins in Silvaplana, Survih in Samedan and Müsella in La Punt. Zuoz, found at the head of the Engadin valley is great for families.
Intermediate Skiing in St Moritz
St. Moritz is an intermediate’s paradise with easy, well-groomed red runs on Corviglia, perfect for high-speed cruising. The more interesting terrain can be found at Marguns Bowl and Corvatsch-Furtschellas, which is renowned for its steeper slopes and beautiful scenery.
A “must-ski” run is the 9 km long Hahnensee slope from Corvatsch via Lake Hahnen back to St. Moritz. This also happens to be Switzerland’s longest floodlit slope which is open every Friday night during the season. Further opportunities for night-skiing by the light of the moon can be found on Diavolezza.
Diavolezza is also fantastic for intermediates with two spectacular descents on piste as well as some exceptional off-piste terrain in the Val Arlas, including the 10 km descent down the glacier to Morteratsch. It is recommended you only tackle this with a guide.
Expert Skiing in St Moritz
There are enough demanding slopes dotted around each sector to keep expert skiers happy, from the World Cup downhill course at Corviglia to the testing terrain found on Diavolezza and Lagalb. Seasoned skiers and snowboarders can also enjoy some excellent off-piste adventures. Serious expeditions include venturing down the Roseg Valley from the top of Corvatsch. Heli-skiing is also possible on Fuorcla Chamutsch.
Freeriders can tackle the Corviglia Snow Park located at the top of the Corviglia summit. The park includes a range of kickers, rails and boxes with lines to suit a range of abilities.
Cross-Country Skiing in St Moritz
Renowned for its diverse cross-country ski trails, fans of the sport flock to St. Moritz during the winter. Guaranteed snow cover combined with diverse landscape means the region is heaven for cross-country skiers. Those up for a challenge can tackle the demanding 42 km Engadin Ski Marathon route from Maloja to S-chanf. Another tough route is the 5 km Palüd Lungia trail between St. Moritz and Silvaplana/Surlej.
For a gentler pace, glide across the frozen lakes of Silsersee, Silvaplanersee or Champfèrersee. Over at Diavolezza, see if you can beat the Bernina Express, the slowest express train in the world, on a high-altitude trail. There are also three special “dog trails” for those who want to ski with their furry friend.
Explore the slopes of St Moritz from a private luxury chalet.
