Savognin
Savognin: 73.5km piste, 1545m vertical drop, 2713m summit in Graubünden. Family terrain, uncrowded slopes, Surses valley.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
12 Dec 2026
Closes
29 Mar 2027
Days open
107
Annual snow
1.5m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Savognin spans 1168 to 2713 metres across the eastern flanks of the Surses valley, delivering 73.5 kilometres of piste and 1545 metres of vertical drop. The terrain splits 44 per cent beginner, 52 per cent intermediate and 4 per cent advanced across two distinct sectors centred on Piz Martegnas (2670 metres) and Piz Cartas (2713 metres). Annual snowfall averages 4.3 metres, supplemented by snowmaking on 5 kilometres of piste, with skiing predominantly above 1800 metres ensuring reliable mid-winter conditions.
The area spreads across north and east-facing slopes that hold snow well into spring. Piste 13, an 11.5-kilometre descent from Piz Cartas, threads the entire vertical and serves as the main artery connecting both sectors. The Martegnas side offers wide cruising runs ideal for carving, whilst Piz Cartas terrain opens to high alpine bowls accessed via 3.1 kilometres of sequential T-bars. Intermediate skiers find the resort particularly well suited, with long fall-line runs and minimal flat sections.
The base village sits at 1200 metres astride the Julia River, crossed by a medieval stone bridge and flanked by three historic churches. On-mountain, Tigignas (1600 metres), Radons and Tigia mountain restaurants provide stopping points along the descent. Crowds remain light even during Swiss school holidays. The area holds family-oriented certification and maintains an affordable, unpretentious character distinct from neighbouring prestige resorts.
Savognin operates independently without major pass affiliations, running mid-December through early April. The 2025-26 season opened 7 December and closes 30 March. Children aged 6-9 ski nearly free when accompanied by a paying adult under the Flurin-Kids programme. The resort suits families seeking authentic Swiss alpine skiing, intermediates after mileage, and skiers who value uncrowded slopes and reasonable pricing over glitz.
1545m
Vertical
0
Runs
73.5 km
Piste
1.5m
Annual snow
The Terrain
0 runs across 73.5 km of piste
Savognin's 73.5 kilometres of piste run from the village at 1,168 metres to 2,713 metres, a vertical of 1,545 metres, across the Surses valley. The mix is gentle: 52% intermediate, 44% beginner and only 4% advanced, with no expert terrain. Wide groomed pistes allow sustained descents rather than short laps, and two gondolas and a six-seat chair carry most of the uphill traffic, backed by six T-bars and three surface lifts. Crowds stay thin outside the school holiday peaks, which suits anyone who dislikes queuing.
Beginners have the La Nars zone near the village, with three magic carpets including Switzerland's longest covered conveyor, a handy shelter for first turns on a cold morning. The upper slopes around Piz Martegnas hold the longest cruising runs, and a few steeper pitches and off-piste options exist for stronger skiers, though they are limited. Savognin suits families, beginners and mellow intermediates who value space and a Romansh-speaking village over a long list of black runs, and it rewards anyone happy to ski without an audience.
Terrain split
0
runs
0 runs across 4 grades
Beginner0 runs · 44%
Intermediate0 runs · 52%
Advanced0 runs · 4%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Savognin
The 2025-26 season runs 7 December to 30 March, with weekend-only operation initially on the Savognin-Piz Martegnas axis before full daily opening from 13 December. Typical seasons span mid-December through early April, totalling 16 to 17 weeks. Closure aligns with Easter Monday in many years. Early-season openings depend on natural snowfall blanketing the predominantly above-treeline terrain, though snowmaking on key pistes ensures base coverage.
Annual snowfall averages 4.3 metres, with summit elevations above 2100 metres receiving the bulk of accumulation. The sheltered Surses valley position delivers consistent snowfall without excessive wind exposure affecting higher peaks. East-facing aspects catch morning sun whilst preserving powder into afternoon hours on north-facing sectors off Piz Martegnas. February typically delivers the snowiest conditions, with 36 centimetres falling during peak weeks. March sees 63 sunny days on average, exceeding the Swiss resort average and making it ideal for spring skiing.
January through March offers the most reliable conditions, with base depths typically exceeding one metre at altitude. December and early April bring more variable coverage, though the resort's elevation range and aspect diversity extend the viable season. Weekends see higher visitation from Swiss day-trippers, whilst midweek periods remain quiet. The resort's family focus means Swiss school holiday weeks in February bring the year's busiest crowds, though queues stay minimal by international standards.
Savognin hosts early-bird skiing events on February and March Sundays, opening lifts from 6:30. Two kilometres of night skiing operates on lighted pistes. The longest toboggan run, Schlittada, descends 900 metres over 7.5 kilometres from Somtgant, passing through a tunnel. A 10.5-kilometre panoramic variant exists. Cross-country trails total 40 kilometres, with 1.3 kilometres illuminated for evening skiing.
Season 2026 - 2027
12 Dec 2026
Opens
29 Mar 2027
Closes
107
Days open
1.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Savognin
Daily snow reports at Savognin go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
75 cm
Snowiest day
15 Jan 2019
10 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
150 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Savognin, and where to stay
Savognin anchors the Surses valley (also called Oberhalbstein) in southeast Graubünden, 47 kilometres south of Chur and 37 kilometres north of St Moritz via the Julier Pass. The village occupies a wide basin at 1200 metres where the Gelgia River flows through terrain ringed by 3000-metre peaks including Piz Ela and Tinzenhorn. Parc Ela, Switzerland's largest nature park, surrounds the valley. The municipality merged with eight neighbouring villages in 2016 to form greater Surses, though Savognin remains the valley's main centre with district hospital and secondary school.
Tiefencastel lies 9 kilometres north and serves as the key transport junction. Chur, Graubünden's capital, sits 40 kilometres north. Lenzerheide is 20 kilometres northwest. The linguistically diverse region blends Romansh (spoken by 53 per cent of residents), German and Italian influences. Historic stone bridges, three churches and traditional architecture define the village character. Cunter, Riom-Parsonz and Salouf occupy the wider valley. St Moritz lies 40 kilometres southeast; Bivio, 18 kilometres south, marks the route to the Engadine.
Motorway A13 from Zurich to San Bernardino provides main access, exiting at Thusis-Süd (exit 22), then continuing via Tiefencastel and Cunter on well-maintained valley roads. Chur to Savognin takes 40 minutes by car. The Julier Pass (2284 metres) connects to St Moritz but closes overnight in heavy snowfall. Roads within the valley remain passable year-round with winter tyres and chains. Parking exists at the gondola base and free lakeside lots. No direct motorway reaches the resort.
Zurich Airport lies 160 kilometres north, roughly two hours' drive. Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) connects Zurich to Chur in 75 minutes. From Chur, Rhaetian Railway trains reach Tiefencastel in 45 minutes, where PostBus route 182 covers the final 9 kilometres to Savognin in 15 minutes. Direct PostBus service from Chur takes 74 minutes. Train-bus connections run hourly. Innsbruck, Milan Malpensa and Geneva airports serve as secondary options for international arrivals.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Stays map loads when you scroll here
Hotels and lodges near Savognin, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Savognin Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 2 Nov 2026
2713m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast-5°C / 0°C · SW 7km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
10cm
Typical winter 150cm
Total lifts12
Live open status isn’t available right now.
12 Dec 2026 - 29 Mar 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 43 hours· Updated Nov 3, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,404 mUpdated Nov 3, 2026 at 5:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
2.5cm
Days 8–14
14cm
Tue, Nov 3
Overcast
Temp0° / -5°°C
Snow0.0cm
Wind7 km/h SW
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Savognin snow report
Savognin snow conditions, updated regularly: current snowfall, snow depth, temperatures, and the outlook for this Switzerland resort.
Snow measurements
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Savognin, summit conditions (2713m) 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 Savognin's 1168m base elevation, where temperatures run milder than the summit.
Data sources
We pull Savognin's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 12 lifts, including a 6-person chairlift and 2 gondolas.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.