Zermatt

Zermatt's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from October 1 through October 31. That window is roughly 395 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.

Resorts in Switzerland, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.

Zermatt lists about 322 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 145 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.

Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.

Trail grading at Zermatt breaks down roughly as 23% beginner, 69% intermediate, 4% advanced, 4% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Blue/Red) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.

Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.

Zermatt operates 61 lifts across 9 lift types. The fleet includes 11 gondolas, 10 6-person chairs, 10 quad chairs, 10 surface lifts, 8 aerial trams, 6 t-bars, 3 trains, 2 double chairs, and 1 triple chair.

Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.

Base elevation at Zermatt is about 1,562 m (5,125 ft), with the summit around 3,899 m (12,792 ft), giving roughly 2,337 m (7,667 ft) of vertical from base to top.

Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.

Zermatt averages about 450 cm (177 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.

For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.

Zermatt is affiliated with the Ikon Pass. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.

If you are not on Ikon Pass, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.

SnowStash pulls together 8 live mountain webcams, an interactive live trail map and a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Zermatt so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.

The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.

Yes. A live interactive map embeds current lift and run status when the provider supplies it, which is useful on-morning for seeing what is actually spinning. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.

Both versions are on the trail map page for Zermatt. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.

Zermatt sits in Switzerland, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.

Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.