Find your ideal Central Switzerland ski area Part 2

The ski season in Zug is just around the corner (school holidays in Zug started on Saturday 4th February 2023). But which area is best suited for families, for ambitious skiers or is a little away from the hustle and bustle? Over the next few days, we will provide some tips for skiing in Central Switzerland.

Are you looking for a ski resort where your whole gang can let off steam, or for one with special offers for families, or for a more ambitious sporting challenge: or is one lift enough for you because you'll spend most of the time relaxing in the sun in a deckchair?

We have collected suggestions in four categories, which we will publish as follows over the next few days

For families: was published last Friday
For the more ambitious skiers: published today.
For a group of friends: published on Tuesday, 7th February.
For minimalists: published on Wednesday, 8th February.
For partygoers: published on Wednesday, 8th February

(P.S. If you really can’t wait for one of the later reports, please contact Zug4you on welcome@zug4you.ch).

Part 2: For the more ambitious skier: Andermatt-Sedrun ski arena, Engelberg-Titlis, Haldigrat

For the more ambitious skier: Andermatt-Sedrun ski arena

Season timetable: until 18 April 2023,          
weekend operation on the Gemsstock from 17 April to 1 May 2023

Kilometres of piste: 180
Number of lifts: 33
Altitude: 1,444 to 2,961 metres above sea level
Day ticket price: Normal fare adults CHF 89 (including Gotthard Bahn); various reductions for young people, children, families and senior citizens.

Arrival by car: approx. 1 hour from Lucerne.
Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Göschenen, change to the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn to Andermatt station, from there walk via the subway to the valley station of the Gütsch-Express gondola lift or take the Urserntal local bus to the valley station of the Gurschen-Bahn (Gemsstock).

Description: whether you like powder turns or sporty downhill runs: there’s something for everyone in the extensive Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis area. The majority of the slopes are signposted red, i.e. moderately difficult and suitable for sporty skiers. There are also a few blue runs for beginners and black runs for more ambitious skiers.
Particularly well-known and popular among experienced free-riders and powder snow fans is the Gemsstock, with its yellow marked runs. This means that these routes are secured against avalanches by the piste service, but are not prepared and are not checked by patrols of the piste and rescue service. The free terrain begins just a few metres next to the marked routes, where free-riders must assess the avalanche and fall danger themselves. There is a fun park for freestylers at Cuolm Val.
All this enjoyment comes, however, at a cost of CHF 89 per day ski pass for the entire Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis area. In addition to the ski slopes, there are three toboggan runs in the area for a leisurely (Nätschen-Andermatt), racy (Milez-Dieni) or panoramic (Mompé Medel) ride, as well as a winter hiking trail network of over 100 kilometres.

Slope report and further information: www.andermatt-sedrun-disentis.ch

For the more ambitious skier: Engelberg-Titlis

Season timetable: Engstlen until 10 April, Jochpass, Jochstock and the valley run until 16 April, Glacier and Stand-Trübsee until 7 May.

Kilometres of piste: 82
Number of lifts: 25
Altitude: 1,050 to 3,020 metres above sea level
Longest runs: 12 kilometres and 2,000 metres of altitude

Day ticket prices: A Dynamic Price Model is used, whereby the minimum and maximum amount are not communicated, and current prices can be found in the ticket shop (currently from around CHF 77.50 for adults, CHF 31 for children aged between 6 and 15, CHF 59 for children aged 16 - 19and CHF 70 for senior.).

Arrival by car: approx. 45 minutes from Lucerne.

Arrival by public transport: By train to Engelberg, ski bus from the station to the valley station or walk of about 15 minutes.

Description: Both beginners and experienced skiers will get their money's worth on the numerous slopes here. Winter sports enthusiasts will find around 38 kilometres of red (medium difficulty), 24 kilometres of blue (easy) and almost 20 kilometres of black (difficult) pistes. In the evening, restaurants and bars in the village of Engelberg will entice you to go out.
The area is also a popular free-ride destination with easily accessible starting points for off-piste runs. On the off-piste runs, free-riders find themselves in unsecured and high alpine terrain, which is why a mountain guide is strongly recommended for a tour or descent. Furthermore, snowshoe hikers will find seven signposted routes around Engelberg and sledgers can uses four downhill runs, as well as two slide parks, There are also up to eight trails for cross-country skiers, depending on snow conditions.

Slope report and further information: www.titlis.ch/de

Map of ski areas for ambitious skiers
Map of the Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis ski area                               Picture: Screenshot snow.myswitzerland.com
Map of the pistes in the Brunni (left) and Titlis (right) areas.          Picture: screenshot website 24 January 2022.
The top station of the chairlift is on the Haldigrat, the western flank of the Brisen (summit in the background).                Photo: Dominik Wunderli (24 January 2018)

For the more ambitious skier: Haldigrat

Seasonal timetable: Operation on weekends and public holidays in good weather conditions.
Number of lifts: 1
Altitude: 1,937 metres above sea level

Prices: chairlift adults one way CHF 12, return CHF 20, cable car Dallenwil-Niederrickenbach adults one way CHF 12.60, return CHF 25.20.

Arrival by car: approx. 45 minutes from Lucerne to the valley station of the Niederrickenbach aerial cableway, and about 30 minutes walk from the mountain station of the Niederrickenbach aerial cableway to the valley station of the Alpboden chairlift.

Arrival by public transport: by train to Niederrickenbach station (stop on request), short walk, continue with the aerial cableway to Niederrickenbach, around 30 minutes' hike to the valley station of the Alpboden chairlift.

Description: the Alpboden chairlift to the Haldigrat is now a not-so-secret tip among powder-hungry free-riders and snowshoe hikers in winter, and caters to a niche audience. It is located in the canton of Nidwalden above Dallenwil and can be reached from Niederrickenbach (also called Maria-Rickenbach). At the top of the chair is the Berggasthaus Haldigrat (mountain guest house) with a sun terrace.
But beware: if you want to ski here, you should not only have excellent control of your snow sports equipment, but also be familiar with assessing the snow and avalanche situation, as well as the weather and the terrain in general. The slopes are not supervised and are not checked, and can only be skied at your own risk. If you are not an experienced professional, it’s best to take the chairlift up and, after soaking up the sun and enjoying the view, take it back down again. It's balm for the winter soul.

 Further information: www.haldigrat.ch and www.maria-rickenbach.ch/haldigrat/

By the way: The Nidwalden filmmaker Thaïs Odermatt has shown her work about the owner and operator of the chairlift at film festivals. The trailer for the film "Kurt and the Chairlift" by Thaïs Odermatt can be found on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/hje9wZn1yj0

Our criteria for the selection and classification of ski areas
Pricing (special offers for families), size and variety of offers, special features, existing clientele.

Seasonal schedules and opening times may vary depending on snow and weather conditions, as may the prices of the providers. The list of resorts and party organisers is not exhaustive and does not claim to be complete.
You can find more ski areas of around 40 in central Switzerland at: snow.myswitzerland.com or https://www.luzern.com/de/erleben/winter-ski/wintersportgebiete.ch.

Click https://www.slf.ch/de/lawinenbulletin-und-schneesituation.html#lawinengefahr for the SLF avalanche bulletin.