Obersaxen Mundaun

120km pistes, 1,109m vertical, 4 peaks in Graubünden. Carlo Janka's home mountain 40km from Chur. Season: 20 Dec-6 Apr 2026.

Season 2026 - 2027

Opens

18 Dec 2026

Closes

4 Apr 2027

Days open

107

Annual snow

The Overview

Michael Fulton

Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

Obersaxen Mundaun spreads across 120 kilometres of piste between 1,201 and 2,310 metres elevation, delivering 1,109 metres of vertical drop. The ski circuit connects the sunny slopes of Val Lumnezia with the varied terrain of Obersaxen across four peaks: Piz Mundaun, Stein, Hitzeggen and Piz Sezner. With 50 per cent beginner, 33 per cent intermediate and 17 per cent advanced terrain, the resort suits progression-focused skiers. The resort receives 430 centimetres of annual snowfall, supplemented by 297 snow cannons covering 29 kilometres of piste.

The terrain layout favours wide, open slopes above 1,500 metres with north-facing exposure preserving snow quality through spring. The 15-kilometre run from Piz Sezner to Vella descends 1,010 metres, making it one of Switzerland's longer single descents. The Carlo Janka Piste from Stein to Kartitscha honours the resort's most famous resident, the 2010 Olympic giant slalom champion and World Cup overall winner. Off-piste options flank the Wali-Piz Sezner chairlift for confident skiers.

The scattered hamlets of Meierhof, Vella, Valata and Surcuolm maintain a quiet, local atmosphere. Seventeen mountain restaurants serve the ski area, with Restaurant Wali noted for its sun terrace. The Rufalipark in Misanenga offers family entertainment beyond skiing. This is skiing without queues or international crowds, attracting locals from Chur and those seeking uncrowded Swiss terrain.

The resort sits 40 kilometres from Chur in the Surselva region of Graubünden. Season pass holders from other Swiss and international resorts receive day tickets at half price. The 2025-26 season runs from 20 December to 6 April. The resort appeals to families seeking wide beginner terrain, intermediates wanting varied cruising, and Swiss locals avoiding the larger Flims-Laax circuit 25 kilometres west.

1109m

Vertical

Runs

120 km

Piste

Annual snow

The Terrain

0 runs across 120 km of piste

It leans beginner at 50%.

Terrain split

runs

0 runs across 4 grades

Beginner0 runs · 50%

Intermediate0 runs · 33%

Advanced0 runs · 17%

Expert0 runs · 0%

Time it right

When to visit Obersaxen Mundaun

The 2025-26 season opens on 20 December 2025 and closes on 6 April 2026, providing a 108-day operating window. Typical season length runs mid-December through early April depending on snowfall. The base at 1,201 metres and summit at 2,310 metres offer reliable snow conditions throughout winter. Average season totals reach 430 centimetres, with most terrain above 1,500 metres benefiting from northern exposure.

The second week of January typically delivers the snowiest conditions, averaging 3.4 snowy days with 32 centimetres of accumulation. February offers the deepest base, with 91 centimetres at summit and 49 centimetres at base elevation. Average snow depths during peak season reach 76 centimetres at the summit and 39 centimetres at base. The resort reports 51 sunny days per season on average, with March recording the most sunshine at 14 days.

January through March provides optimal timing for powder and consistent coverage. The north-facing aspect preserves snow quality into April, when spring conditions and longer days attract touring skiers. December opening depends on early-season snowfall and snowmaking on the 29 kilometres of equipped piste. Quieter periods occur in early December and late March when neighbouring resorts face similar conditions.

Cross-country skiing operates on 18 kilometres of trails in Obersaxen, Lumnezia and Mundaun at approximately 1,300 metres elevation. The 1.6-kilometre Foppa trail at Flond runs illuminated until 21:00 for evening sessions. Six toboggan runs totalling 15 kilometres operate when snow permits. The Cuolm Sura to Surcuolm sledge run remains the most reliable for transport via the Valata chairlift.

Season 2026 - 2027

18 Dec 2026

Opens

4 Apr 2027

Closes

107

Days open

4 m

Annual snow

Getting there

Getting to Obersaxen Mundaun, and where to stay

Obersaxen Mundaun occupies a 12-kilometre sun terrace on the northern face of the Mundaun mountain chain in Graubünden's Surselva region. The scattered hamlets sit between 1,072 and 1,430 metres on a high plateau south of the Vorderrhein river. Obersaxen forms a German-speaking Walser enclave within the predominantly Romansh-speaking Surselva valley. The municipalities of Obersaxen and Mundaun merged in January 2016 to form the current administrative unit.

The town of Ilanz sits nine kilometres north in the Vorderrhein valley, offering supermarkets, banks and services. Chur, the cantonal capital and Switzerland's oldest town, lies 40 kilometres northeast with rail connections throughout Graubünden. The resort neighbours Flims-Laax-Falera 25 kilometres west and Brigels 10 kilometres northeast. Twenty-eight settlements spread across five Pirten districts around the central village of Meierhof.

Road access follows the A13 motorway to Reichenau-Tamins, then cantonal roads through Ilanz to the resort base areas. Driving time from Zurich measures approximately 1 hour 45 minutes covering 158 kilometres. From Chur, the 40-kilometre drive takes 35 minutes via Ilanz. Basel sits 242 kilometres away with a 2 hour 40 minute drive time. Free parking operates at Meierhof, Vella and Valata base stations.

Zurich Airport lies 165 kilometres distant with a 2 hour 6 minute transfer. St Gallen-Altenrhein Airport sits 97 minutes away. Friedrichshafen and Lugano airports serve the region within three hours. Train service via Rhätische Bahn connects Chur to Ilanz in 35 minutes, where Postauto buses serve Meierhof, Vella and Valata base stations. Bus frequency suits ski touring but car access offers greater flexibility for scattered accommodation.

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Obersaxen Mundaun Lift System

Twelve lifts serve the ski area, comprising three six-seat chairlifts, four quad chairs, two triple chairs and three T-bars. Modern detachable chairlifts on the main routes include the Wali-Piz Sezner six-seater built in 1999 with weather protection bubbles and the Cuolm Sura-Piz Mundaun six-seater from 1997. The lift network transports 20,520 passengers per hour across 18.7 kilometres of lift infrastructure.

The Wali-Piz Sezner chairlift climbs 569 metres to the 2,273-metre summit in 7.5 minutes with a capacity of 2,600 passengers per hour. The Vella-Triel quad chair, installed in 2005, rises 349 metres in 4.5 minutes moving 1,600 passengers per hour. The Cuolm Sura-Piz Mundaun six-seater covers 1,370 metres of cable length at five metres per second. Weather protection covers equip several key chairlifts for exposed mid-mountain crossings.

Base access points at Meierhof, Vella, Valata and Surcuolm spread arrival traffic across the mountain. The circuit design connects Obersaxen's German-speaking plateau with the Romansh-speaking Val Lumnezia villages via mid-mountain chairlifts. Two moving carpets and three beginner lifts serve learning areas at Valata, Kartitscha and Chummenbühl. The layout permits continuous skiing between sectors without bottlenecks.

A three-seat chairlift from Kartitscha to Stein was replaced by a modern six-seat Untermatt-Stein chairlift, though the upgrade date remains unconfirmed in current sources. The system balances modern detachable technology on primary routes with fixed-grip chairs and T-bars on secondary connectors. Night skiing operates on three kilometres of illuminated piste when conditions permit.

12lifts across 4 types

6-Person Chairs

Quad Chairs

Triple Chairs

T-Bars