Find your ideal Central Switzerland ski area Part 3

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: was published on Monday, 6^th February.
For a group of friends: is published today.
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).

For a group of friends: Klewenalp-Stockhütte,Melchsee-Frutt and Sörenberg

Klewenalp-Stockhütte

Season schedule: until 19 March 2023.
Kilometres of piste: 40
Number of lifts: 14
Altitude: 754 to 1,938 metres above sea level.

Day ticket prices: adults CHF 54, young people (16-19 years) CHF 43, children (6 to 15 years) CHF 25.

Arrival by car: approx. 30 minutes from Lucerne to Beckenried or 40 minutes to Emmetten.

Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Stans, then change to the bus to Beckenried ('Post' bus stop ).

Description: skiers of all abilities will find a suitable slope for a day in the snow in the two areas of Klewenalp and Stockhütte. the slopes are mainly blue, i.e. easy slopes, between Stockhütte and Twäregg, and there are some red, intermediate slopes at Klewenstock and Chälen. Those who prefer to walk will find snowshoe trails, and there are also toboggan runs. In good weather, visitors can enjoy views over Lake Lucerne.
Tip: It’s worth studying the piste map of the two sub-areas in advance, especially where the connecting lifts are located.

Piste report and further information: www.klewenalp.ch

Melchsee-Frutt

Season timetable: 10 April 2023, Night skiing/evening operation at the Cheselen chairlift until 11 March 2023, every Friday and Saturday 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

Kilometres of piste: 36
Number of lifts: 16
Altitude: 1,080 to 2,225 metres above sea level

Day ticket prices: adults CHF 55, children (6 to 15 years) CHF 20, young people (16 to 19 years) CHF 42 (discount also with STUCard), senior citizens Monday to Friday (from 64 years) CHF 42.

Arrival by car: approx. 45 minutes from Lucerne.

Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Sarnen, then change to the Postbus to Stöckalp.
Tip: When it's busy, there is sometimes an additional Postbus service (scheduled departure times Sarnen/Stöckalp) that goes directly from Sarnen station to Stöckalp or vice versa, without serving all the stops along the way.

Description: in this area in Obwalden, there is something for every friend, colleague, the whole clique and even for grand-children or the kids, depending on skiing ability, fitness level or preferences. Five blue trails in different sections, two red trails at Balmeregg and three black trails at Bonistock and Bettenalp beckon you. Freestylers can let off steam at the Erzegg chairlift in the Fruttpark with rails, boxes, kickers and other obstacles, from beginner level to advanced. A reasonable price-performance ratio is offered with CHF 55 for an adult day ticket for 36 kilometres of piste. Use of the children's area for the little ones, called Fruttli-Land, is free (arrival by cable car). Snowshoe hikers and cross-country skiers as well as tobogganers will also find something to do.
Tip 1: Study the piste map in advance to find the most suitable slopes and allow enough time for the walk to the meeting point for a lunch agreed with your group.
Tip 2: If you like it short but intense, and prefer sunbathing in a deckchair afterwards, buy the 3-hour ticket for CHF 41.

Slope report and further information: www.melchsee-frutt.ch

Map of ski areas for groups of friends
Photo of Klewenalp-Stockhutte ski area                 
Piste map for Melchsee-Frutt                      Picture: screenshot snow.myswitzerland.com                     
Piste map of the Sörenberg ski area         Picture: screenshot snow.myswitzerland.com

Sörenberg

Season timetable: Season until 26 March 2023, Brienzer Rothorn ski area until 2 April 2023.

Kilometres of piste: 53
Number of lifts: 16
Altitude: 1,265 to 2,350 metres above sea level

Day ticket prices: A new dynamic price model has been in force since this winter - it thereby pays to book early. The ticket price is influenced by the date, the time of purchase, the demand or even the weather. For adults, the price starts at CHF 40 and can go up to CHF 69, young people (16 to 19 years) pay at least CHF 32 (discount with STUCard) and children (6 to 15 years) pay at least CHF 20.

Arrival by car: approx. 1 hour from Lucerne.

Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Schüpfheim, change to the post bus to Sörenberg, Post (for Rossweid gondola) or Sörenberg, Rothornbahn (for Brienzer Rothorn cable car).

Description: whether you are a sports fanatic, a connoisseur or an explorer, there is something for every winter type in the Entlebuch ski area. Beginners, families and pleasure skiers will find easy blue and medium red pistes and lifts in the Dorf area. At CHF 54 for a day pass and many different slopes, visitors get good value for money here too. There’s a children's area on the Rossweid with a conveyor belt and rope lift (free of charge, arrival by gondola lift) and blue pistes, while the slopes are already steeper on Hundsknubel and Hinter Schwarzenberg. Along a valley run, on the so-called freestyle line, riders of all levels will find suitable boxes, rails, tubes and kickers to practise tricks. The Brienzer Rothorn - Eisee area with challenging black and red pistes with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau is favoured by sporty and experienced winter sports enthusiasts. This part of the ski area is also particularly popular with free-riders.
Attention: If you ski off the marked and controlled pistes, you do so at your own risk. The wildlife rest zones and the avalanche bulletin must be observed. Accompaniment by trained mountain guides and ski instructors is expressly recommended. Two toboggan runs and three marked snowshoe trails are also on offer in Sörenberg.
Tip: Have you always wanted to know how fast you’re going? You can measure this on a closed-off track in the Steinetli area.
Slope report and further information: www.soerenberg.ch

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.