The Overview
Belchen delivers a quintessential Black Forest skiing experience with 9km of diverse slopes catering to all ability levels. This historic resort occupies one of the most prominent peaks in the southern Black Forest, offering spectacular 360-degree views extending to the Alps, Vosges Mountains, and even the distant Bernese Oberland on clear days. The uncrowded pistes and authentic southwestern German character make Belchen particularly appealing for those seeking quality skiing combined with exceptional natural beauty.
263m
Vertical
30
Runs
8 km
Piste
1m
Annual snow
The Terrain
30 runs across 8 km of piste
Belchen spreads 30 runs across 8 km of piste of terrain. It leans beginner at 75%, with 23 beginner runs to find your feet.
Terrain split
30
runs
30 runs across 4 grades
Beginner23 runs · 75%
Intermediate8 runs · 25%
Advanced0 runs · 0%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Belchen
Belchen typically operates from December through March, with the most reliable conditions in January and February. The resort benefits from its elevated position in one of the snowiest regions of the Black Forest, receiving substantial natural snowfall supplemented by strategic snowmaking on key runs. The varied slope aspects include north-facing sections that maintain excellent snow quality throughout the season, often preserving good skiing conditions when lower areas struggle with thawing conditions.
Season 2025 - 2026
24 Dec 2025
Opens
9 Mar 2026
Closes
75
Days open
1 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Belchen, and where to stay
Located in Baden-Württemberg approximately 150km south of Stuttgart and 40km from Freiburg, Belchen offers an accessible mountain escape in Germany's beautiful southern Black Forest. The resort sits within the stunning Belchen Nature Reserve, surrounded by pristine woodland and traditional farmhouses. This convenient location makes it easily reachable for day trips and weekend visits from major cities. The surrounding Black Forest region offers exceptional cross-country skiing, winter hiking trails, and access to traditional villages known for their distinctive architecture and cuisine.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Belchen, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Belchen Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 6 Sept 2026
1363m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Clear9°C / 21°C · SE 9km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
0cm
Total lifts1
Live open status isn’t available right now.
24 Dec 2025 - 9 Mar 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 44 hours· Updated Sep 6, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
1,363 mUpdated Sep 6, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.0cm
Sun, Sept 6
Partly Cloudy
Temp21° / 9°°C
Snow0.0cm
Wind9 km/h SE
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Belchen snow report
Planning a day at Belchen? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 1100m base to the 1363m summit.
Snow measurements
Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 1100m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 263m higher at 1363m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.
Weather conditions
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Belchen are holding up or starting to soften.
Data sources
We pull Belchen's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 1 lifts, including a gondola.
When to check
Conditions can change overnight, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to check back on Belchen.