Grimentz/​Zinal

Grimentz/​Zinal

Advertisement

The wild Val d'Anniviers reveals its winter treasures at Grimentz/Zinal, where 115km of high-altitude terrain reaches elevations of 2,900m against a dramatic backdrop of 4,000m peaks. What makes this area extraordinary is its combination of serious skiing credentials with authentic village atmospheres untouched by mass tourism development. Grimentz charms visitors with its centuries-old timber buildings blackened by the Alpine sun, while Zinal maintains its mountain guide heritage at the valley's end. Between them stretches remarkable terrain ranging from gentle learning zones to challenging blacks and legendary off-piste descents through ancient larch forests—all enhanced by exceptional snow quality preserved on predominantly north-facing slopes.

The 2014 completion of the Grimentz-Zinal cable car—an engineering achievement spanning 3.5km across the Gougra gorge—transformed these previously separate resorts into a compelling unified destination. This modern connection stands as the centerpiece of a 20-installation network efficiently serving both sectors with minimal waiting even during peak periods. From valley floors to panoramic summits, vertical drops exceeding 1,000m deliver satisfying descents across diverse skiing zones with remarkable snow preservation. The lift system's intelligent design provides access to high-alpine terrain offering some of Switzerland's most consistent snow conditions throughout the season.

Grimentz/​Zinal Lift System
Total Ski Lifts = 22
Aerial Tram
1
Aerial Tram
Gondola
3
Gondola
6-Person Chair
2
6-Person Chair
Quad Chair
3
Quad Chair
Double Chair
1
Double Chair
T-Bar
9
T-Bar
Surface Lift
3
Surface Lift

Grimentz/​Zinal Resort Elevation

9514ft2900mResort Summit4364ft1330mVertical Drop5151ft1570mResort Base
Advertisement

Trails

Total Runs

0

Total Area

115km

71.5 miles

Difficulty Distribution

Beginner
23%
Intermediate
51%
Advanced
26%
Expert
0%
View Full Trail Map

Location

Deep within southwestern Switzerland's French-speaking Valais canton, approximately 180km from Geneva and 30km from Sierre in the Rhône Valley, lies the remarkable Val d'Anniviers housing both Grimentz and Zinal. The dramatic Gougra gorge physically separates these authentic mountain communities while creating their distinct characters—Grimentz with its medieval village core and Zinal with its end-of-valley mountaineering heritage. This isolated position preserved traditional Valais culture evident in dark-timbered buildings, narrow lanes, and distinctive local customs. Among these traditions, the ceremonial production of Glacier Wine stands out, aging in larch wood barrels stored in village cellars and served only on special occasions in this captivating Alpine enclave.

Grimentz/​Zinal

, switzerland

Toggle layers using the controls in the top right. Ski runs and lifts are shown in the overlay.

Season Info

When winter envelops the Val d'Anniviers from early December through late April, Grimentz/Zinal transforms into a snow sports paradise with one of Switzerland's most enviable snow records. The area's geographic positioning captures substantial natural snowfall, with January and February often delivering legendary powder days across terrain reaching 2,900m. What truly distinguishes this destination is the snow preservation—north-facing slopes maintain exceptional quality for weeks after storms, often providing powder experiences when other resorts have long since tracked out. The season's character evolves from midwinter powder excellence to spring's corn snow perfection, with consistent conditions rarely affected by the warming patterns that challenge lower resorts.

Current Season

2024 - 2025

Opening Day

12/7/2024

Closing Day

4/21/2025

Days Open

136

Advertisement

Annual Snowfall

Metric

4.3m

430cm

Imperial

14.1ft

169in

Advertisement