Elm im Sernftal
40km of piste, 1085m vertical drop, UNESCO Sardona setting. Family skiing in Switzerland's authentic Glarnerland region.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
5 Dec 2026
Closes
28 Mar 2027
Days open
113
Annual snow
4m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Elm im Sernftal operates across 40 kilometres of piste spanning 1020 to 2105 metres elevation, delivering 1085 metres of vertical drop across 16 marked runs. The terrain splits 38% beginner, 50% intermediate and 12% advanced, with no expert-designated runs but the 4-kilometre Steinibach valley descent offering challenge. The resort averages 4.3 metres of annual snowfall, with the sheltered Sernftal valley position minimising wind exposure whilst maximising accumulation.
Intermediate terrain dominates the upper slopes above treeline between Ämpächli and the 2036-metre Schabell chairlift summit, where sun-drenched south-facing bowls open across alpine plateaus. Three valley runs return to the 1020-metre base, including the scenic black-graded Steinibach and gentler blue and red options from Ämpächli. The resort features a terrain park at 1800 metres on Bischofalp with rails, boxes, kickers and a BigAirBag facility, plus a Globi-themed children's arena with conveyor lifts.
The car-free ski area sits within the UNESCO-designated Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, where the Martinsloch rock window pierces the Tschingelhörner peaks at 2600 metres. Three traditional mountain restaurants serve the slopes, with free Wi-Fi at Munggä Hüttä, Älpli and Ämpächli. Vreni Schneider, Switzerland's most successful ski racer with three Olympic golds, was born in Elm and operates the resort's ski school.
Elm operates independently without major pass affiliations, with the 2025-26 season running 14 December to 28 March. Adult day tickets cost CHF 59-69 depending on season, with children under five skiing free. The resort suits families and intermediates seeking authentic Swiss atmosphere without international crowds, particularly those exploring the geologically significant Glarnerland region.
1085m
Vertical
16
Runs
40 km
Piste
4m
Annual snow
The Terrain
16 runs across 40 km of piste
Elm im Sernftal spreads 16 runs across 40 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 6 beginner runs to find your feet and 2 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
16
runs
16 runs across 4 grades
Beginner6 runs · 38%
Intermediate8 runs · 50%
Advanced2 runs · 12%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Elm im Sernftal
The 2025-26 season operates 14 December to 28 March, typical for Elm's 1020 to 2105-metre elevation range. Operations span approximately 14 weeks, with mid-season representing the most reliable period. The resort opens later than higher-altitude Swiss destinations but maintains coverage through spring.
Elm averages 4.3 metres of annual snowfall, with the second week of January historically delivering peak accumulation at 53 centimetres per week across 3.4 snowy days. The sheltered Sernftal position captures substantial snowfall whilst valley walls block wind redistribution common on exposed peaks. Snowmaking covers 8 kilometres across key runs, supporting base-area reliability. March typically offers 188 centimetres of summit snow depth against 14 centimetres at base elevation.
January through March delivers optimal conditions, with north-facing slopes preserving powder quality whilst sun-exposed sectors provide warming spring skiing. The predominantly east-facing terrain catches morning sun then maintains afternoon snow quality, particularly valuable during mild late-season periods. Average summit conditions hold 151 centimetres mid-season depth, placing Elm among eastern Switzerland's better-covered resorts.
The resort offers illuminated evening tobogganing on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until 21:30 on the 4-kilometre Elm track, plus a separate 3-kilometre Matt-Weissenberge run operating Fridays and Saturdays. The nearby Engi area's 1-kilometre piste accepts Elm passes and provides evening skiing. No major events were documented beyond standard seasonal programming.
Season 2026 - 2027
5 Dec 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
113
Days open
4 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Elm im Sernftal, and where to stay
Elm sits at 977 metres elevation in the Sernftal, an alpine valley within Glarus Süd municipality in eastern Switzerland's Canton Glarus. The Sernf River, a Linth tributary, carved this valley flanked by the Tschingelhörner peaks and Kärpf massif reaching 2794 metres. The village comprises traditional hamlets including Sulzbach, Schwändi and Obmoos, with working farms maintaining authentic mountain culture within the UNESCO Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona.
Schwanden lies 15 kilometres down-valley as the nearest rail hub, with Glarus town 30 kilometres north at the canton's administrative centre. The Glarnerland region remains less developed than major Swiss tourist corridors, preserving slate-roof architecture and agricultural traditions. The Panix Pass at 2407 metres connects the Sernftal with Graubünden's Rhine valley, though this route closes in winter.
Access follows the A3 motorway Zürich-Sargans route to Niederurnen exit, then 30 kilometres of steadily inclining cantonal road through Schwanden into the Sernftal. The drive from Zürich requires approximately 90 minutes covering 101 kilometres. Free parking operates at the Elm Sportbahnen base station one kilometre from the village centre.
Zurich Airport lies 101 kilometres distant, requiring 84 minutes by car. Schwanden railway station, served by S25 trains from Zürich and S6 services from Rapperswil, connects hourly to Elm via Sernftalbus line 541 in 22 minutes. Trains from Zürich Hauptbahnhof reach Schwanden in approximately 90 minutes with connections at Ziegelbrücke. The former Sernftal tramway operated 1905-1969 before bus replacement.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Elm im Sernftal, powered by Stay22.
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
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
Elm im Sernftal Lift Tickets
Elm im Sernftal lift tickets & passes
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 5, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Elm im Sernftal typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from CHF 25, with peak rates up to CHF 69.
9 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 17–64
Adult Full Day
CHF 59up to CHF 69 peak
Full day skiing at Elm im Sernftal with access to 40km of snow-reliable slopes up to 2105m. Modern lifts with spectacular views of UNESCO World Heritage Tschingelhörner.
Buy passYouth 13–16
Youth Full Day
CHF 45up to CHF 52 peak
Youth daily ticket for Elm covering teens aged 13-16. Experience varied terrain with snow park, BigAirBag, and freeriding opportunities in the Sernftal valley.
Buy passChild 6–12
Child Full Day
CHF 30up to CHF 35 peak
Children's lift ticket at Elm for ages 6-12 with access to Globi children's area and family-friendly slopes. Magic carpets and conveyor belts for easy learning.
Buy passChild 0–5
Child (5 & Under)
Free
Free skiing for children 5 and under at Elm when accompanied by adult. Kids enjoy complimentary access to family-friendly slopes with geological highlights.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Full Day
CHF 50up to CHF 58 peak
Senior lift ticket for Elm with discounted rates for skiers 65+. Enjoy geological highlights and Martinsloch phenomenon in this charming Glarus village setting.
Buy passAdult 17–64
Snow Park Access
CHF 35up to CHF 40 peak
Access to Elm's renowned snow park on Bischofalp at 1800m featuring five rails, curved S-box, kickers, and special bonk area. Known as best park in region.
Buy passAdult 17–64
BigAirBag Experience
CHF 25
Access to Elm's massive BigAirBag air cushion providing smooth landing after high jumps. Freestyle paradise with new innovation for safe progression.
Buy passHalf-day passes
Adult 17–64
Half Day
CHF 45up to CHF 52 peak
Half day skiing at Elm starting from midday. Perfect for shorter visits to experience this geological wonder with UNESCO World Heritage backdrop.
Buy passMulti-day passes
Adult 17–64
Multi-Day (3-Day)
CHF 150up to CHF 180 peak
Three-day lift ticket package at Elm with access to varied terrain from blue valley runs to challenging black pistes. Extended exploration of geological wonders.
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Elm im Sernftal day pass cost?
Elm im Sernftal day passes range from CHF 25 to CHF 69 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Elm im Sernftal lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Elm im Sernftal lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Elm im Sernftal, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Elm im Sernftal lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Elm im Sernftal - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Elm im Sernftal lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Elm im Sernftal offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Elm im Sernftal directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Elm im Sernftal.
More Elm im Sernftal intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.