Blatten Belalp
1,796m vertical drop, 38.5km of pistes facing the Aletsch Glacier. Magic Pass access, uncrowded slopes, Switzerland.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
12 Dec 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
120
Annual snow
3.5m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Blatten Belalp spans 1,322 to 3,118 metres across the Upper Valais, delivering 1,796 metres of vertical drop and 38.5 kilometres of piste across 31 marked runs. The terrain splits 39 per cent beginner, 31 per cent intermediate, and 30 per cent advanced, with south-facing slopes positioned directly opposite the Aletsch Glacier, a 23-kilometre ice flow forming the centrepiece of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Annual snowfall averages 4.3 metres, whilst the resort's inclusion in the Magic Pass network grants access to over 90 ski areas across Switzerland, France and Italy from May 2025.
The ski area divides between gentle rolling terrain above 2,000 metres suited to families and the Hohstock sector at 3,118 metres, accessed via a uniquely engineered T-bar that changes direction twice and remains the last of its kind in Switzerland. The Hohstock T-bar, opened in 1982, climbs 459 vertical metres from Hohbiel at 2,654 metres and accesses black pistes including the Hülsen, which forms the race course for the annual Hexenabfahrt in January. A 150-metre ski tunnel built in 1984 cuts through the mountain massif to the Tunnel Westseite run and freeride zones on the Unterbäch side.
The car-free hamlet of Belalp at 2,094 metres offers ski-in ski-out accommodation without road traffic, creating a quieter atmosphere than larger Valais resorts. Hexenland, positioned at the gondola top station, provides a free 40,000-square-metre beginner area with themed witch features and four conveyor lifts, earning recognition as best children's area from Skiresort.de in 2023. Views from the slopes extend to the Matterhorn, Dom, and Weisshorn, with 14 four-thousand-metre peaks visible from the summit, whilst a 9.9-kilometre toboggan run descends from Belalp to Blatten.
Magic Pass inclusion from May 2025 positions Belalp within a network covering major Swiss resorts including Saas-Fee, Grimentz-Zinal and Glacier 3000. The 2025-26 season runs 14 December to 6 April, typical for the region's elevation and snow reliability. Day passes range from 55 to 75 Swiss francs depending on booking timing and season, with the resort's dynamic pricing rewarding advance purchase. The resort suits families seeking uncrowded intermediate terrain, beginners using Hexenland facilities, and powder seekers accessing Hohstock freeride zones on storm days.
1796m
Vertical
31
Runs
38.5 km
Piste
3.5m
Annual snow
The Terrain
31 runs across 38.5 km of piste
Few ski areas pack as much drop into so little piste as Blatten Belalp, which climbs from 1,322 to 3,118 metres for 1,796 metres of vertical on just 38.5 kilometres of piste across 31 runs. The grading reflects that vertical: 39% beginner, 31% intermediate and a notable 30% advanced, with no expert pistes. Lower and mid-mountain slopes are rolling and forgiving, but the upper sector gets properly steep. The south-facing slopes look directly across to the Aletsch Glacier, which makes an impressive backdrop, and the quieter, car-free feel of Belalp suits skiers who dislike crowds.
The Hohstock T-bar is the feature skiers remember, a 1982 lift that changes direction twice on its way towards the summit and serves black pistes such as the Hülsen, the course for the January Hexenabfahrt race. A 150-metre ski tunnel built in 1984 leads to the Tunnel Westseite run and freeride terrain on the Unterbäch side, where guidance and avalanche kit are essential. The Sparrhorn chairlift opens the long groomed runs, and the Hexenland beginner area at the gondola top suits young children. Strong skiers, families and anyone chasing steeper lines will find plenty to like.
Terrain split
31
runs
31 runs across 4 grades
Beginner12 runs · 39%
Intermediate10 runs · 31%
Advanced9 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Blatten Belalp
The 2025-26 season operates 14 December 2025 to 6 April 2026, spanning 114 days across the core winter period. Opening dates align with early December snowfall typical of elevations above 2,000 metres in the Upper Valais, whilst April closure reflects spring conditions and declining visitor numbers rather than snow scarcity. The resort opened its first cableway in 1953, initially for summer transport, with winter operations expanding through subsequent decades as tourism infrastructure developed on the car-free Belalp plateau.
Annual snowfall averages 4.3 metres, with the 2025-26 season recording 382 centimetres through mid-May and 66 centimetres in the most recent seven-day period. Base depth reached 207 centimetres in spring 2026, demonstrating the accumulation potential at altitudes where most terrain sits above 2,000 metres. The south and southwest-facing slope orientation receives abundant sunshine during clear periods, creating excellent visibility for the glacier panorama, whilst cold air flowing off the Aletsch ice sheet helps preserve snow quality despite the solar exposure. Modern snowmaking supplements natural precipitation on key sectors connecting high-mountain terrain to village returns.
January through March delivers the most consistent conditions, with January hosting the Belalp Hexe witch race festival, a week-long event culminating in the 12-kilometre Hexenabfahrt from Hohstock to Blatten on the third Saturday. First held in 1983 and inspired by Mürren's Inferno race, the Hexenabfahrt forms part of the Super Three cup alongside Saas-Fee's Mittelallalin descent. February and early March offer reliable powder potential without January's event crowds, whilst late March and April provide corn snow conditions under extended daylight hours, though the Hohstock T-bar may close earlier due to scree exposure.
Nine lifts and 30 trails operated during the 2025-26 season's mid-winter peak, with the upper Hohstock and Sparrhorngrat T-bars opening dependent on accumulated snowpack over scree fields. Night skiing does not feature in the programme, with lift operations concluding at standard afternoon closing times. The Mini-Maxi race for children precedes the main Hexenabfahrt by one week, whilst Witch's Night events on race-week Friday and Saturday evenings feature live music and traditional Valais fare, drawing participants and spectators to fondue chalets and mountain restaurants throughout the car-free village.
Season 2026 - 2027
12 Dec 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
120
Days open
3.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Blatten Belalp
Daily snow reports at Blatten Belalp go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
173 cm
Snowiest day
13 Jan 2019
75 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
346 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Blatten Belalp, and where to stay
Blatten Belalp occupies natural terraces above the Rhône Valley in the Upper Valais, 10 kilometres north of the transport hub of Brig in southwestern Switzerland. The base village of Blatten bei Naters sits at 1,322 metres, with the car-free hamlet of Belalp positioned at 2,094 metres directly facing the Aletsch Glacier, the Alps' longest ice flow at 23 kilometres and centrepiece of the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area. The location places Belalp approximately 220 kilometres from Bern and 9 kilometres from central Brig, where main rail lines and the Simplon road corridor converge.
Brig functions as the primary gateway town, offering full services including supermarkets, railway connections and the World Nature Forum explaining the Aletsch region's glacial geography. Naters, immediately adjacent to Brig, provides the municipal connection to Blatten. The traditional mountain villages retain Valais timber architecture, with Belalp's car-free status maintained since the 1950s when the first aerial cableway established access. The surrounding landscape features working alpine agriculture alongside glacial formations, creating authentic mountain character within Switzerland's most significant protected natural environment covering the Aletsch, Fiescher and Aar glaciers.
Road access follows the A9 motorway through the Rhône Valley to Brig, where Route 19 branches north through Naters to Blatten's valley station. The drive from Brig takes 15 minutes covering 10 kilometres, with parking available at the gondola base including a heated garage charging 1 Swiss franc per hour with a 12-franc daily maximum. From Geneva, the 187-kilometre drive via the A9 requires approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, whilst Zurich sits 200 kilometres distant with driving times near 2 hours 40 minutes via the A2 and Furka or Grimsel passes when open, or 3 hours via Bern when passes close.
Geneva Airport lies 210 kilometres southwest with direct trains to Brig requiring 2 hours 37 minutes, departing hourly via Lausanne and Sion. Zurich Airport sits 230 kilometres northeast, with trains reaching Brig in 2 hours 28 minutes via Bern or Lucerne. Both airports offer frequent Swiss Federal Railways services, with Brig's station positioned as a major Simplon line junction. From Brig station, PostBus route 624 operates to Blatten bei Naters in 20 minutes, connecting with the gondola or aerial tram to Belalp. Sion Airport, 60 kilometres west, provides the closest air access but handles limited scheduled services compared to Geneva and Zurich's international connections.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Blatten Belalp, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Blatten Belalp's ski season?
Blatten Belalp's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from December 12 through April 11. That window is roughly 120 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Switzerland, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Blatten Belalp have?
Blatten Belalp lists about 38.5 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 31 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Blatten Belalp?
Trail grading at Blatten Belalp breaks down roughly as 39% beginner, 31% intermediate, 30% advanced. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Blue/Red) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Blatten Belalp have?
Blatten Belalp operates 14 lifts across 7 lift types. The fleet includes 4 t-bars, 4 surface lifts, 2 quad chairs, 1 aerial tram, 1 gondola, 1 8-person chair, and 1 6-person chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Blatten Belalp?
Base elevation at Blatten Belalp is about 1,322 m (4,337 ft), with the summit around 3,118 m (10,230 ft), giving roughly 1,796 m (5,892 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Blatten Belalp get each season?
Blatten Belalp averages about 346 cm (136 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Blatten Belalp lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans CHF 28 to CHF 75, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (multi-day passes, season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Blatten Belalp before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 4 live mountain webcams, an interactive live trail map and a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Blatten Belalp so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Blatten Belalp have a trail map?
Yes. A live interactive map embeds current lift and run status when the provider supplies it, which is useful on-morning for seeing what is actually spinning. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Blatten Belalp. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Blatten Belalp located?
Blatten Belalp sits in Switzerland, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
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