Zermatt

• Total Pistes: 360 km
• Blue: 21%
• Red: 61%
• Black: 8%
• Off Piste Itineraries: 10%
• Lifts: 53
• Altitude: 1562m – 3899m

For Beginners

The main beginner area (with magic carpets and rope tows) is at Leisee, just below Sunnegga. There’s special pass to get you to and from that area and allow you to ski the blue run down to Findeln, but other than that progression to longer runs is difficult and the slopes are challenging for near-beginners.

Easier blue runs can be found in the Riffelberg area connecting with the Gifthittli chair.  Skiers can return to the village on the train from this area.

For Intermediates

Where to start? The choice is almost limitless, with 295km of blues and reds Zermatt is one big playground for intermediates. Head to the snowsure runs on the glacier on a sunny day and drop over into Italy to Cervinia, where the rolling terrain is perfect cruising territory. Long reds can also be found by the Hirli chairlift and you can rack up over 1,000m of on-piste vertical from both the Rothorn and Hohtälli cable cars on runs that are often very quiet.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

There is some great off piste when conditions are right, and the off piste itineraries include some excellent runs. The high altitude preserves the snow well, especially on the north-facing slopes, but much of the terrain is very rocky so a lot of the best itineraries need a few months of snow to fill in each winter. Ask your rep about hiring a mountain guide.  The Skiguide Zermatt app (which is excellent) shows which itinerary runs are open as well as the status of the lifts and pistes.