Eischoll Ski Resort Switzerland
The underrated ski resort at Eischoll in the Swiss Valais is a certified 'Secret Stash', worthy of exploration in combination with the adjoining Unterbach. As we said in our review, if you are after: untracked powder alongside groomed trails days after a snow fall; empty, perfectly groomed runs and no lift lines; easy access to incredible backcountry peaks & huge freeride descents; affordable in all aspects; quant, authentic Swiss mountain village; and an unpretentious, relaxed vibe - then Eischoll is your perfect home.
Pros & Cons for Eischoll Ski Resort
Pros
- Cold, north-aspect terrain, with excellent quality snow in the upper mountain.
- Around 900m of skiable vertical off the ski lifts, and 1,200m if including Unterbach (which we should as it is the same lift pass.
- Longest run of over 8km (in the Unterbach side) and 6km on the Eischoll side.
- Varied upper mountain freeride terrain for all abilities, including trees.
- Uncrowded & blissfully quiet, particularly during the week.
- Exceptional lift-assisted backcountry ski-touring access to numerous 3,000m+ alpine peaks with skiable freeride descents including tree skiing.
- Affordable lift pass price that includes the lifts & pistes of neighbouring Unterbäch.
- Non-ski activities include sledding & winter walking.
- Free car parking for day trippers.
- Public transport is not only easy but incredibly interesting via the cable car from Raron.
- Combined with Unterbach, it is an honest, comfortable ski area that pleasingly reminds us that the world still has wonderful, quiet places in which to experience our exhilarating sport.
Cons
- Slow, dated lift infrastructure (but it all works just fine and limits numbers on the hill).
- Linking trails between Eischoll & Unterbäch (and vice-versa) have flat sections that will likely require snowboarders to walk.
- Small ski area that, if you are not backcountry ski-touring (we recommend that you do!), might struggle to keep your interest over more than a few days.
- Unlike neighbouring Unterbäch, Eischoll only has limited snowmaking on its lower piste slope.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Despite the ski map trail designations, the 600m vertical from the upper T-bar to Erez is not suitable for kids & beginners.
- On the cold, shaded side of the valley, which we love, but others hate. Sun lovers apply elsewhere or at least come later in the season in March!
- Village is quiet in general, and quieter after dark with just a few restaurants providing some vibrance.
- Lowest part of the resort and village may not have natural snow at either end of the season.
- Accommodation at the ski area base is limited during peak season, and staying in neighbouring Unterbach is better, or alternatively in the valley is easy enough.
- Car park spaces can be limited if arriving too late in the morning - but why would you be late if reading this website!!
- On Magic Pass, which if you have makes it feel like one is skiing for free. If you don’t have one that’s OK because the lift passes are cheap and the resort will appreciate your cash!
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
The Eischoll skiing & snowboarding terrain is all north-aspect on 900m of skiable vertical, so it is cold & dark for much of winter (but that’s the price of great quality snow). A mix of 15km of delightful pistes (interlinked with another 20km at neighbouring Unterbach), plus off-piste tree-skiing and alpine terrain accessible by ski touring from the top lift, provides more than enough variety. Eischoll’s longest run stretches out to 6km. Novices should probably ski elsewhere (i.e. Moosalp) as the terrain at Eischoll is more for intermediate level & better (unless one skis the sledding trail in lower part of the ski area). Strangely, the blue (beginner) pistes at the top of the resort are interspersed with intermediate & advanced sections precluding easy sliding for novices. The mellow piste trails amongst the buildings at Sengg offer classic rural Swiss skiing moments. Check out the Eischoll Ski Trail Map below.
Off-piste, after snowfall, the open terrain either side of the pistes is powder for days. The glades below the upper trail from Erez are skiable toward Undri Eischollalp. From Erez, the ski-tour up to and down from Signalhorn should not be missed. Similarly the ski tours to the various peaks above Unterbäch.
The ski trail linking Eischoll to Unterbach can be easily missed if screaming down the empty advanced piste. Keep a sharp eye out for it and try to maintain your speed as the trail flattens out significantly. Snowboarders will likely be walking positions of it, whilst skiers will be able to skate the flat bits. The trail is a better pitch in the opposite direction from Unterbach back into Eischoll.
Ski Lifts
The three ski lifts at Eischoll are basic but functional. The quad chair from the car park rises 300m+ vertical to ‘mid-mountain’ at Strygge. Whilst ponderously slow it is positively relaxing compared to the T-bar above it. Sledders will be on the lift as well. At Strygge there is a tiny surface tow for novices, plus the main T-bar that rises a hefty 600m vertical up to the highest lifted point at Erez (2,135m). This T-bar is quite steep near the top and will test the legs of non-local riders! The lifts at Unterbach can get you higher into the alpine zone, so definitely head across there.
Lift Passes
Lift tickets at Eischoll are super affordable & include all the ski lifts & 20km or pistes and the fine alpine backcountry access provided at adjacent Unterbäch. If day-tripping by train, one can pay a little extra (5CHF ish) to include a return trip on the cable car from the valley in Raron (a short walk from the train station).
Holders of Magic Pass ski here for free, every day of the season.
Where is Eischoll Switzerland?
The Eischoll ski resort rises above the village of the same name in the Valais of southwest Switzerland. Perched on the ‘mountain terrace’ on the shaded north-aspect side of the valley, getting to Eischoll is always via the Rhône River valley from either the village of Raron (if travelling on public transport) or Visp & Turtmann (if travelling by rental car). By road, Eischoll is about 210km (3hr+ but includes a car train transport section) from central Zurich, and 197km (2¼hr) from downtown Geneva. The easiest road to drive up to Unterbach village is via Visp. The quickest road is via Turtmann to Eischoll and is certainly a little spicy in winter conditions.
The closest gateway airports are Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH) & at a stretch Milan Malpensa (MXP). For intercontinental travellers to Switzerland, Zurich is the best entry point. Due the complex nature of public transport from the airports, if staying somewhere near Eischoll overnight, the recommended mode of travel is rental car. Day-trippers already staying somewhere nearby in the Rhône valley can give the combination train, cable car & walking journey a go.
If using public transport, one needs to take a train to Raron railway station which is conveniently on the main line between Brig & Visp. From Raron, a cable car ride is required to complete the journey up to the village of Eischoll. The cable car valley station at Raron is a 5min walk from the train station. The cable car runs every 30min from around 4am to 10pm. The valley station at Raron is not manned and loading is done remotely. The local ski lift pass has the option to include the Raron<--> Eischoll cable car, otherwise a separate ticket is required. If you are using the cable car to come up to Eischoll from Raron, upon arrival you will have to stomp 10-15min up the hill to get to the chairlift. On the return, if snow allows, you can ski further down into the village rather than walking all the way back to the cable car.
From the Rhone River valley, the drive up from Turtmann up to Eischoll is challenging to the uninitiated. Luckily traffic is usually light from this direction, so its narrow & steep sections are (mostly) simply negotiated. In icy conditions it could prove trickier though. If easy frightened on mountain roads, drive up via the much better road from Visp (and via Unterbach) instead, or take the cable car up from Raron. Car parking at the chairlift base is free but limited. It is adequate if you are early (which of course is the only to ski everywhere). A secondary car park is nearby, but up the hill slightly. The main car park is directly ski-in at the end of the day, something we do love.
Anyone with an unnatural aversion to public transport and/or driving on winter roads may want to use private transfer to get to Eischoll.
Eischoll Accommodation
The small village of Eischoll (or as it is spelt in Valais German, 'Eyschol'), is a tranquil place of two distinct parts - an old & new. Below the main road, the old original village clings to the mountainside in a labyrinth of laneways lined with stone & timber houses, barns & garages. The tranquillity of the village is mostly unsullied by vehicles in winter, with at most any noise being the stream cascading through its centre or the sound of footsteps. In the old village centre along the Dorfstrasse you will find the curious Restaurant Pöstli but otherwise all the services are outside its confines in a newer sector close to the cable car station from Raron. At the eastern end the lane emerges onto the main car park, with a small but useful supermarket on one side, BnB Eischoll & Restaurant Schwarzhorn on the other, with the lane to the Raron cable car station in between. On and above the main Kantonstrasse, more modern additions rise up the hill toward the base of the chairlift. Lodging options include a handful of chalet & apartment holiday rentals.
Search & book a place to stay via the Eischoll Ski Accommodation Listings.
With accommodations in Eischoll quite limited, it may be best staying in Unterbäch at either of two main hotels or one of the many chalets & apartments. The Hotel Alpenhof is superbly situated in the main village between the top station of the cable car from Raron, and the ski lifts. Alternatively, in the lower end of the village, 10 minutes’ walk to/from the ski lifts, the convivial Sporthotel Walliserhof is where we stayed once due to last minute availability. A lovely room, fantastic hospitality, wonderful food (the breakfasts in particular are excellent) and friendly hosts made it truly enjoyable.
Search & book a place to stay via the Unterbäch Ski Accommodation Listings.
Down in the valley at Raron, the superb Kapitel 7 Boutique-Hotel is only 800m walk from the cable car station where one can choose ascents to either Eischoll or Unterbäch.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Aside from interlinked Unterbäch, the ski area Moosalp above the village of Bürchen has loads of possibilities including an 8km top to bottom run, and advanced runs in the upper mountain served by a T-bar that climbs a hefty 650m vertical. It is a short 10 minute from Eischoll village. See the local ski map below.
Reviews & More Info
The Powderhounds reviewed Eischoll on midweek visit in early February 2025 and were blown away. Untouched powder on the edge of perfect pistes, access to amazing backcountry peaks & no one there. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Eischoll compares to the rest of the Swiss ski resorts on the Switzerland ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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