The previously separate ski areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide are connected by the Urdenbahn from Hörnligrat to Urdenfürggli. That means winter sports fun on 225 kilometers of slopes in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski region. The climatic health resort Arosa is located in the Schanfigger Tal at 1,800 m and stands for luxurious originality.

1) General information about the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area

• largest contiguous ski region in Graubünden between 1,229 m and 2,865 m
• 225 kilometers of slopes and 50 lifts in the Swiss north and central Grisons
• 3.5 km long night ski slope on the Stätzerhorn open every Friday
• Deep snow and freeride spots on the Brüggerhorn and Weißhorn

The Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area extends from the Schanfigger Tal over the Urdental in an altitude range of 1,229 m to 2,865 m Lifts the largest contiguous ski region in the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The municipalities of Valbella (1,500 m) and Churwalden (1,230 m) also join this area on the east and west side of Lenzerheide.

Thanks to the Urdenbahn, which won the “German Design Award 2015” in the “Transportation and Public Design” category, winter sports enthusiasts can commute between the Aroser Hörnligrat and the Lenzerheidner Urdenfürggli in just three minutes.

One of the outstanding mountains is the Weisshorn at 2,653 m with the “360 ° summit restaurant”, which offers a breathtaking panorama of 400 peaks. The Parpaner Rothorn is the highest point that can be reached by cable car in the ski area at 2,865 m above sea level.

Of the total of 225 km of slopes in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area, 111 km have blue, 87 km red and 27 km black markings. With around six hours of sunshine a day and an average snow depth of almost 30 cm in the valley and over 135 cm at the mountain stations, there are no limits to winter sports enjoyment during the season.

Due to this high level of snow reliability and the modern lift systems, the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area receives five or four stars from our experts.

2) Arosa-Lenzerheide piste map

3) Skiing in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area

Arosa-Lenzerheide, the largest connected ski area in Graubünden with guaranteed snow, has the right descent for young and old on 225 kilometers of slopes. The longest slope leads from the 2,865 m high Rothorn summit to the valley station in Parpan, which is located at 1,493 m. Experts experience new challenges on the most difficult slope, the World Cup and training course “Silvano Beltrametti” in Lenzerheide.

Named after the famous Swiss ski racer Silvano Beltrametti, it is one of the most demanding descents in the world with an average incline of 31 percent and a maximum gradient of 66 percent.

Scenic connoisseurs get their money’s worth on their journey from the summit of the Weisshorn to the “Prätschli”. With the Weisshorn-Arosa cable car, it first goes up to 2,653 m, where a unique mountain panorama awaits. From there onto the “slope to the Sattelhütte” and continue on slope no. 11 to the northeast end of Tschuggen. This part of the mountain is affectionately called “Prätschli” by the locals.

The round summit of the Tschuggen with a height of 2,050 m is a central vantage point of all the mountains in the ski area. Located in the middle of Arosa, its foothills serve as a ski practice area for beginners and children. The “Arosa Junior Club” enables free ski school lessons for children and young people up to 17 years of age. Our experts reward this with five stars in the evaluation criteria “Family &

Powder snow and freeride enthusiasts will find ideal conditions on the Brüggerhorn and Weisshorn. Our experts therefore give the advanced and freeride offer a full five stars. The “Snowparks” category is just as convincing and given the highest rating.

Four fun parks provide the best arguments: there is the generous “Park’n’Pipe Tschuggen” for experts with a mega pipe of 130 m, rails and kickers, as well as the CO2-neutral nature park “Wood Ranch” made of pure Arosa fir wood “JibArea Stätz” for beginners and advanced as well as the “Funslope” on Lenzerheide for the whole family.

The Arosa-Lenzerheide region is also one of the popular night skiing areas in Switzerland. In addition to the monthly full moon descent on the Rothorn summit, there is the SnowNight every Friday. From New Year’s Eve to mid-March, the 3.5 km long night ski slope with floodlights on the Stätzerhorn is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. After this evening fun, snowboarders and skiers meet for a leisurely stop in the “Alp Stätz mountain restaurant”.

The opposite, legendary early bird skiing at sunrise, followed by breakfast in the mountain restaurant, is also highly recommended.

4) Expert evaluation

The Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area received an overall rating of 4.6 stars from our experts, making it one of the best-rated regions in Switzerland. The high level of snow reliability and the modern lifts that have emerged in recent years are the top evaluation criteria. The deep snow and freeride opportunities as well as the child and beginner friendliness with regard to special interests round off the excellent picture.

The category “Mountain restaurants, huts & gastronomy” in the other evaluation criteria can also convince with full number of stars.

5) Off-piste activities

The Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area is divided into the main towns of Arosa and Lenzerheide. Arosa has the flair of luxurious, traditional originality. Lenzerheide describes itself as an alpine oasis in the heart of Graubünden. The region is not known for extravagant parties. Our team of experts rates the après-ski offer with a good four stars, as winter sports enthusiasts will find a large number of suitable huts and restaurants that invite you to refresh yourself and socialize.

This includes the “Chilihütta”, next to the “Alp Stätz” at the Stätzertäli and Stätzerhorn lifts. At the longest bar in Lenzerheide, in a rustic atmosphere, après-ski fun begins in the morning with homemade schnapps. The “Kuhbar” umbrella bar at the “Tschuggenhütte” in Arosa invites visitors to its large, sun-drenched terrace. The “Mountain Mac” next door has delicacies for small and large appetites. Further tips are the “Wanner Bar” at the “Silvano Beltrametti” world cup run and the “zBar” at the valley station of the Rothornbahn.

In the holiday resort of Arosa, winter guests can dance the night away in the “Brüggli” bar and the “Nuts” disco. Almost 60 restaurants offer a wide range of international cuisine.

If you are on holiday in Arosa, you can’t ignore three drinks: one is the hut cafi, a cult hot drink that people like to enjoy for après-ski. There are different recipes, but the basis is always a coffee with a shot (usually liqueur or schnapps) and whipped cream. Also already cult: the Arosabräu. Brewed with Arosa water and decorated with colorful labels.

The three varieties Schanfigger Häx, 1800m IPA and Kirchlibräu are now on the menu in several hotel restaurants and huts. Last but not least, the hustee is on the cult drinks menu. The blood-red tea drink is a tasty alternative to ski water, from a family business in Innerarosa.

In Lenzerheide and neighboring Churwalden, there are just as many culinary temples available to vacationers. From gourmet restaurants to traditional Grisons restaurants with fondue and raclette, everything is included. The “Apéro Bar”, the “Chämi Bar” and the “La Perla Bar-Lounge” are just a few of the places to go for night owls in the region. This diverse selection scores five stars in our expert test. 11.5 kilometers of toboggan runs ensure fun on runners in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area.

One of the major and recurring events in the ski area is the “Arosa Humor Festival” at the “Tschuggenhütte”, at which national and international comedy greats come together every December. The unofficial snow soccer world championship, “Arosa IceSnowFootball” for short, has been held every January since 2011.

Former national players from all over the world are fighting for the coveted trophy. Another sporting highlight are the horse races on snow, which no horse enthusiast can miss in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area.

Away from the slopes, 140 km of winter hiking trails lead through the varied mountain and lake landscape of the region. On the public ice rink and in the ice rink in Arosa, guests can ice skate, play ice stock or enjoy curling and ice hockey. The corresponding equipment can be borrowed on site. If the Obersee is frozen, there is also a wonderful natural ice rink in front of a wonderful panorama to choose from.

Above Lenzerheide there is the orange marked “Culinary High Path”, which rattles through various huts over 12 km to taste Heidi hash browns, veal schnitzel, Bündner mountain cheese or homemade capuns.

In various show dairies you can watch how the delicious alpine cheese is made and you can take a sample home with you. Apart from these culinary and cultural-historical delicacies, a day trip to the Alpine town of Chur is also worthwhile. It is the oldest city in Switzerland with a beautiful old town, which is traffic-free and invites you to explore undisturbed.

Cyclists who love the extreme should try the guided fat bike tour. On the special bikes with the ultra-thick tires, riding on smooth, snowy surfaces is no problem. The guided tour takes about 2.5 hours over snow-covered paths. Another highlight for action fans: a snow bike park. Mountain bikers and everyone who likes it a bit sportier and more extreme can let off steam on a cordoned-off piste with steep curves, wave hollows and jumps.

Under the appropriate title “Paraglider Taxi”, a flight school offers tandem flights to view the Grisons mountains from the air.

6) Places in the ski area

Arosa is a traditional holiday resort in the romantic Schanfigger Valley at 1,800 m above sea level. Luxury and comfort in the midst of an imposing world of peaks characterize the alpine climatic health resort, which has been known since 1877. The location in the open valley guarantees a calm and sunny climate. The clean air without annoying through traffic is another plus point. The center of Arosa with many shops, restaurants, bars and clubs invites you to shop, linger and celebrate.

The Lenzerheide is an idyllic, park-like high valley at approx. 1,500 m, which previously only served as a passing station between Chur and Tiefencastel. It has long since become a popular Swiss health resort for families and active athletes.

The two sides of the Lenzerheide valley are lit by the sun in the morning and in the afternoon and guarantee guests an unforgettable sun experience all day long. In the village center “Lai” vacationers will find a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and discos. Other of the twelve districts include Crapera, Cresta Stgoira, Penasch, Sporz Davains, La Riva and Dieschen. Lenzerheide has been the starting point of the “Swiss Irontrail” mountain run since 2013. Arosa and Lenzerheide both bear the “Families Welcome” seal of approval from the Swiss Tourism Association.

7) Arrival in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area

The two places Arosa and Lenzerheide in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area are 10 km as the crow flies and an hour’s drive away from each other. The Arosa-Chur-Lenzerheide traffic axis leads to the respective destination by train and car. The journey time by car to Arosa from Chur is around 40 minutes. On the spectacular Schanfiggerstrasse with over 360 bends, 30 km and a height difference of 1,320 m are overcome. Basel and Zurich are connected to Chur by the A3 / A13. Travelers to Lenzerheide choose exit 17 (Chur-Süd) and follow the signs to Lenzerheide for 18 km.

The Arosa Railway of the Rhaetian Railway runs on a 26 km long scenic route from Chur to the Arosa station terminus through the Schanfigger Valley. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Lenzerheide by bus from the PostBus station at Chur train station.

The nearest airports are in Friedrichshafen and Zurich (approx. 155 km each) and Bergamo (approx. 225 km). The “Graubünden Express” from Friedrichshafen, an Intercity from Zurich and buses and trains from Bergamo lead to Chur. Those who prefer the luxurious journey to Arosa by helicopter taxi will land on the Isel mountain landing site, a few minutes from the resort.