Corvatsch
120km of piste, 1,506m vertical, 3,303m summit. North-facing powder skiing in Graubünden, Switzerland.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
21 Nov 2026
Closes
25 Apr 2027
Days open
155
Annual snow
8m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Corvatsch rises to 3,303 metres above the Upper Engadin valley, claiming the highest mountain station in Graubünden and a commanding 1,506-metre vertical drop. The resort spreads 120 kilometres of piste across 26 marked runs, with 74 per cent graded intermediate and north-facing slopes that hold snow reliably from late November through April. Three aerial tramways access separate sectors at Corvatsch, Furtschellas and Murtèl, whilst the peak station sits above a small glacier that extends skiing well into spring.
Intermediate terrain dominates with wide cruising runs and sustained descents reaching 1,000 vertical metres on several lines. The 9-kilometre Hahnensee piste drops from Corvatsch summit to St Moritz Bad, threading through varied pitch and aspect. Furtschellas offers gentler graded blues for progression, whilst expert terrain includes steep couloirs and marked freeride zones above the glacier. Corvatsch Park ranks among the Alps' larger terrain parks, hosting FIS Freeski and Snowboard World Cup events annually.
The mountain attracts a sports-focused clientele distinct from the neighbouring Corviglia scene. On-mountain dining centres on substance rather than luxury, with the 3,303-metre summit restaurant serving polenta-based dishes and mid-station Murtèl offering wood-fired pizza. Friday night skiing illuminates a 4.2-kilometre run, Switzerland's longest floodlit descent. The Hossa Bar at mid-mountain anchors après activity.
Ikon Pass holders receive seven days' combined access across all St Moritz areas, with Corvatsch included in the Engadin Mountain Pool regional pass. The 2025-26 season runs 22 November to 26 April. Corvatsch suits confident intermediates and expert skiers seeking sustained vertical and reliable snow conditions away from St Moritz's central crowds.
1506m
Vertical
26
Runs
120 km
Piste
8m
Annual snow
Ikon Pass
Pass
The Terrain
26 runs across 120 km of piste
Corvatsch spreads 26 runs across 120 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 74%, with 3 beginner runs to find your feet and 4 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
26
runs
26 runs across 4 grades
Beginner3 runs · 11%
Intermediate19 runs · 74%
Advanced3 runs · 10%
Expert1 run · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Corvatsch
The 2025-26 season opened 22 November and runs through 26 April, spanning five months of lift-served skiing. Corvatsch typically operates one of the Engadin's longer seasons, with north-facing aspects and high elevation preserving coverage into late spring. Early-season openings in late November align with the resort's 3,303-metre summit elevation advantage.
Snowfall averages 760 centimetres annually at upper elevations, though recent seasons show variability. The 30-year average sits near 170 centimetres, whilst the 2023-24 season delivered only 80 centimetres. North-facing exposure and glacier presence help maintain base depths above 100 centimetres during peak winter. Limited snowmaking supplements natural accumulation on key runs including the night skiing route.
January through March delivers prime conditions, with February offering the deepest snowpack and coldest temperatures for powder preservation. April extends the season on upper slopes, where spring corn develops reliably on sun-exposed aspects. Powder can linger for days in shaded sectors given Corvatsch's quieter midweek traffic compared to Corviglia.
Friday night skiing runs 7pm to 1am December through January and 7pm to 2am February through April on the 4.2-kilometre illuminated descent. The Corvatsch Park terrain features and halfpipe operate throughout the season. No summer glacier skiing operates despite the summit's elevation. Mid-November through early May represents the reliable window for snow conditions.
Season 2026 - 2027
21 Nov 2026
Opens
25 Apr 2027
Closes
155
Days open
8 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Corvatsch, and where to stay
Corvatsch occupies the south-western flank of the Upper Engadin valley in Graubünden canton, opposite St Moritz across the valley floor. Base facilities sit between 1,797 and 1,870 metres elevation near the villages of Surlej, Silvaplana and Sils im Engadin. The resort stands 12 kilometres by road south-west of St Moritz town centre, surrounded by peaks including the 3,451-metre Piz Corvatsch summit.
Silvaplana (population 900) and neighbouring Surlej provide the closest accommodation options, connected by free electric shuttle buses running every 20 minutes to the Corvatsch tramway. Sils im Engadin lies 1.1 kilometres from base facilities, whilst St Moritz sits 7 kilometres distant with regular PostBus connections. The valley's lake plateau stretches below at 1,800 metres, flanked by Piz Bernina at 4,049 metres to the south.
Road access follows Route 3 through the Engadin valley, reached via Julier Pass from the north or Maloja Pass from the south. Zurich lies 203 kilometres distant with a 2.5-hour drive via Chur, the Graubünden capital 86 kilometres north. Milan sits 125 kilometres south-west over the Maloja Pass. The Vereina rail tunnel offers an alternative approach from Austria.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) provides the primary international gateway at 211 kilometres, requiring 2 hours 47 minutes by car. Milan Malpensa (MXP) sits 183 kilometres distant. Train connections run from both airports to St Moritz station via Chur on the Rhaetian Railway, with journey times near 4.5 hours from Zurich. Local buses complete the final 8-kilometre transfer from St Moritz to Corvatsch base stations.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Corvatsch, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Corvatsch's ski season?
Corvatsch's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 21 through April 25. That window is roughly 155 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 Corvatsch have?
Corvatsch lists about 120 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 26 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 Corvatsch?
Trail grading at Corvatsch breaks down roughly as 11% beginner, 74% intermediate, 10% advanced, 5% expert. 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 Corvatsch have?
Corvatsch operates 14 lifts across 5 lift types. The fleet includes 5 t-bars, 3 aerial trams, 3 quad chairs, 2 double chairs, 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 Corvatsch?
Base elevation at Corvatsch is about 1,797 m (5,896 ft), with the summit around 3,303 m (10,837 ft), giving roughly 1,506 m (4,941 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 Corvatsch get each season?
Corvatsch averages about 760 cm (299 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.
Does Corvatsch accept the Ikon Pass?
Corvatsch is affiliated with the Ikon Pass. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Ikon Pass, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Where can I buy Corvatsch lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans CHF 18 to CHF 115, 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 Corvatsch before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 2 live mountain webcams, an interactive live trail map and a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Corvatsch 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 Corvatsch 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 Corvatsch. 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 Corvatsch located?
Corvatsch 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.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
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Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
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Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
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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