Grächen
44km of piste spanning 1619-2864m in the sunny Mattertal. Family-friendly resort with fairy tale gondola access, Switzerland.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
12 Dec 2026
Closes
4 Apr 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.
Grächen operates across a 1245-metre vertical drop from 1619 to 2864 metres, offering 44 kilometres of piste spread across 12 marked runs in the Mattertal valley. The terrain distribution strongly favours intermediates with 75 per cent red runs, alongside 20 per cent blue and just 5 per cent black, with the sole black piste descending to the Bärgji lift. The village sits at 1620 metres on a sun-drenched plateau, benefiting from an average 4.3 metres of annual snowfall and 300 days of sunshine per year. Adult day passes cost CHF 63, with children under six skiing free and season passes available from CHF 850 for families.
The ski area centres on Hannigalp at 2114 metres, accessed via an 8-person fairy tale gondola installed in 2011, with 10 themed cabins narrating Brothers Grimm stories during the seven-minute ascent. From Hannigalp, lifts fan out to the Seetalhorn summit at 2864 metres, whilst the longest run stretches five kilometres back to the village with consistent 1250-metre descents. A Family Park anchors the beginner zones with magic carpets and learning lifts, complemented by a ski movie slope and toboggan runs totalling three kilometres. The car-free village core retains traditional Valais wooden chalets, with on-mountain facilities including the Hannigalp restaurant featuring SiSu Cloudland indoor play area and free daycare.
Grächen ranks amongst Switzerland's top family resorts, certified 'Families Welcome' with comprehensive childcare infrastructure and dedicated beginner zones at the Talentschmiede learning area. The uncrowded pistes suit progression skiing, though advanced riders find limited challenge beyond the single black and off-piste exploration. Mountain restaurants at Stafel and Hannigalp provide refuelling stops, whilst the village offers après-ski at Bar 4 and Restaurant Walliserkanne. Spring skiing extends into late March with reliable south-facing snow preservation, and night skiing operates on select dates through the season.
The resort operates independently without multi-area pass inclusion, focusing on self-contained terrain ideal for families and intermediate skiers seeking a quieter Swiss experience. The 2025-26 season runs from 14 December to 30 March, with typical mid-December to mid-April operations in standard years. Proximity to Zermatt (20 kilometres down-valley) allows day trips to the Matterhorn, whilst the famous Europaweg hiking trail connects both resorts via a 35-kilometre mountain traverse. Grächen suits families prioritising safety, sunshine, and manageable terrain over extensive mileage or expert challenges.
1245m
Vertical
12
Runs
44 km
Piste
4m
Annual snow
The Terrain
12 runs across 44 km of piste
Grächen spreads 12 runs across 44 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 75%, with 2 beginner runs to find your feet and 1 advanced or expert run when you want to push.
Terrain split
12
runs
12 runs across 4 grades
Beginner2 runs · 20%
Intermediate9 runs · 75%
Advanced1 run · 5%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Grächen
The 2025-26 season opened on 14 December 2025 and closes on 30 March 2026, spanning approximately 15 weeks of operation. Typical seasons run mid-December through mid-April depending on snow conditions, with the high village elevation at 1620 metres supporting reliable early-season coverage. The resort averages 4.3 metres of annual snowfall, distributed primarily between December and March, with February historically delivering peak accumulation at 47 centimetres per month. Current season totals through May 2026 reached 378 centimetres, maintaining an 80-centimetre mid-mountain base depth and strong coverage across all elevations.
Grächen benefits from its position in the driest Alpine region, sheltered by Bernese and Valais peaks that block Atlantic and Mediterranean weather systems whilst channelling föhn winds that preserve snow quality. The predominantly south-facing slopes receive abundant sunshine during the 300 annual sun days, though higher elevations above 2400 metres maintain powder longer in shaded pockets. March offers optimal spring skiing conditions with 101-centimetre average summit depths and 41 centimetres at base, combining warm temperatures with preserved snow on north-facing aspects. The resort's sunny reputation occasionally means rapid afternoon softening, favouring morning ski sessions.
January through mid-March represents prime powder season, with early February averaging 4.2 snowy days per week and 42-centimetre weekly accumulations during active cycles. December and April bookend the season with lighter snowfall averaging 20 centimetres and 10 centimetres respectively, requiring snowmaking support on lower trails. The south-facing exposure and moderate elevation cap limit deep winter cold, making Grächen comfortable for families but occasionally challenging for snow preservation during warm spells. Late-season skiing extends reliably into late March, with the home run to the village typically operating throughout given the 1620-metre base elevation.
The season opening weekend features live music on the Schnööbar terrace and ski testing opportunities, whilst the Snowspring Open-Air festival closes the season on Easter Sunday with concerts on the village square. Night skiing operates on select winter dates, and the resort hosts family-oriented events throughout the calendar rather than major competitions. Quieter periods include January outside school holidays and early March, offering uncrowded pistes and shorter lift queues. The resort publishes detailed snow reports and operates four webcams at Hannigalp, Seetalhorn, Furggen, and the village centre, providing real-time conditions monitoring.
Season 2026 - 2027
12 Dec 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
113
Days open
4 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Grächen, and where to stay
Grächen occupies a broad south-facing terrace at 1620 metres above the Mattertal (Matter Valley) in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The village sits directly above the valley floor settlement of St Niklaus, positioned 20 kilometres north of Zermatt in a region encompassing 29 four-thousand-metre peaks including the Weisshorn (4357 metres) and Matterhorn (4478 metres). The largely car-free village core preserves traditional wooden Valais architecture, with modern lift infrastructure connecting to the surrounding Hannigalp and Seetalhorn ski zones. The municipality falls within the Visp district, part of the German-speaking Upper Valais region despite proximity to French-speaking lower valley areas.
The nearest valley town is St Niklaus three kilometres below, serving as the main transport interchange with the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway. Visp lies 20 kilometres north at the junction of the Mattertal and Rhône valleys, functioning as the primary regional hub with mainline rail connections and major road access. Stalden and Saas-Fee represent nearby ski destinations, whilst Zermatt dominates the southern valley terminus. Bern sits approximately 125 kilometres northeast, accessible via the A9 motorway and cantonal routes. The Mattertal's dramatic topography features deep gorges, high alpine meadows, and Europe's highest vineyard at Visperterminen near the valley entrance.
Road access follows the well-maintained valley road from Visp, departing the A9 autoroute that runs along Lake Geneva from Lausanne through Montreux, Martigny, and Sion. From Visp, drivers follow Saas-Fee signage before branching to Grächen via St Niklaus, with the final ascent comprising a winding mountain road opened to public traffic in 1953. Driving times include approximately 2 hours 45 minutes from Geneva (224 kilometres), 2 hours 15 minutes from Sion (120 kilometres), and similar durations from Italian border crossings. The A9 motorway provides the primary east-west corridor, with the Simplon Pass offering summer access from Italy.
Geneva Airport lies 224 kilometres west (2 hours 45 minutes driving), serving as the principal international gateway with direct trains to Visp requiring 2 hours 28 minutes. Zurich Airport sits 224 kilometres northeast with comparable transfer times. Sion Airport operates 70 minutes away for private and charter flights, whilst Milan Malpensa (93 kilometres) and Bern (125 kilometres) airports provide alternative access within three hours. Rail passengers take Swiss Federal Railways to Visp, then transfer to the narrow-gauge Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn for the 20-minute journey to St Niklaus, followed by Postauto buses climbing to Grächen village centre in 20 minutes. Direct buses occasionally run from Visp, eliminating the St Niklaus change. The Snow'n'Rail scheme offers discounted combined rail and lift passes for six-day bookings.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Grächen, 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.
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Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
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4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
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2 Sept 2026
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
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31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
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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
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26 Aug 2026
Grächen Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 13 Sept 2026
2864m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast9°C / 16°C · NW 10km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
3cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
3cm
Total lifts12
Live open status isn’t available right now.
12 Dec 2026 - 4 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 43 hours· Updated Sep 14, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,864 mUpdated Sep 14, 2026 at 6:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.0cm
Mon, Sept 14
Slight Rain Showers
Temp16° / 9°°C
Snow0.0cm(5%)
Wind10 km/h NW
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Grächen snow report
Track current conditions at Grächen in Switzerland. This report covers snowfall totals, base and summit depth, and the forecast across 12 runs.
Snow measurements
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Grächen, summit conditions (2864m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.
Weather conditions
Current weather conditions affect snow quality. Cold temperatures with low wind typically preserve snow quality, while warm temperatures or rain can impact conditions negatively — something worth watching closely at Grächen's 1619m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Grächen come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 12 lifts, including a 8-person chairlift and 5 quad chairlifts.
When to check
Conditions can change overnight, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to check back on Grächen.