Tschiertschen Ski Resort Switzerland
Tschiertschen ski resort is a beautiful ‘small’ Swiss skiing area close to the transport hub & canton Graubünden capital of Chur. Whilst it has a respectable 1,050m skiable vertical plus a range of fun terrain in its own right, Tschiertschen is better known as a destination for ‘ski safaris’ from nearby Arosa & Lenzerheide, plus freeride descents into the hamlets of Parpen & Praden. Having recently visited, we can conform it is a Powderhounds’ nirvana - hence we have it on our secret stash list - even though it is no secret to the locals! Playful terrain, tree skiing, pistes that wind through cute chalets, plus one of the best ski-in car parks on a powder day make it more than worth the journey.
Pros & Cons for Tschiertschen Ski Resort
Pros
- A certified, uncrowded Powderhounds gem on a powder day.
- 1,050m of skiable vertical on cold, northerly aspect terrain.
- Wonderful tree skiing in larch & pine, plus playful off-piste and long freeride ski routes.
- An impossibly beautiful village.
- Delightfully ‘Swiss’ ski trails through varied alpine & forest terrain, often winding past chalets & haybarns.
- Good value lift pass price that strikes a balance for what is on offer at this ‘boutique’ ski area.
- Accessible by bus direct from the Chur train station.
- Free car parking & shuttle to the ski lift base.
- Numerous mountain restaurants serving tasty local food.
- Plenty of non-ski activities for visitors including sledding& miles of winter walking trails that are great for freeride access & exits too.
- The best powder day ski-in car park run on the planet (…we are calling it).
Cons
- Short season - lifts run for less than 3 months of the year (so your time here is special).
- Accommodation in the village can be nearly impossible to get at short notice (thankfully Chur is nearby).
- Top lift, Gürgaletsch T-bar, does not run is poor weather (i.e. when it snows, which is when you want it to run!!).
- No lifts or terrain for novices to learn skiing or snowboarding.
- Limited on-piste groomers for more advanced skiers & snowboarders.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Part of a popular ski touring loop that includes Arosa & Lenzerheide.
- Parking is relatively limited so if coming up by car, arrive early, or if you can, take the bus.
- Both surface tows are approaching 50 years old.
- Very quiet after-hours.
- Smallish ski area that, depending on conditions, may only be best for short stay visits.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
With the exception of some steeps in the trees between the top of Hüenerchöpf quad and Furgglis, the inbounds freeride terrain at Tschiertschen holds nothing super gnarly, and that’s just fine, because this ski area is ultimately all about being playful, fun and, on some of the pistes between gorgeous chalets, very, very Swiss! Piste wise, there is plenty for intermediates all across the mountain, very little for advanced, pretty much nothing for novices (go learn elsewhere) and two long trails for progressing beginners, but with some challenges lower down toward & through the village on a fantastic narrow winding path to the chairlift base. The run into the car park is steepish and great on a powder day.
Check out the ski trail map for Tschiertschen below & note the possible backcountry connections to Arosa-Lenzerheide.
Tschiertschen’s lift system is simple with 2 chairs & 2 T-bars, The main Waldstafel chairlift is a high-speed quad rising 500m vertical and encompassing much of the best tree skiing on the mountain. The winter walking trail network can be used in parts to exit off-piste glades back to the bottom of the chair. The second chair, Hüenerchöpf quad accesses pistes & off-piste in all directions. Just 300m of skiable vertical, one can ski a big alpine bowl toward the Gürgaletsch T-bar, tight lines in trees, scrub & gullies, intermediate pistes, open hero lines under the chair, easy glades, and soft pillows. Below the base of Hüenerchöpf chair, the piste (and off-piste) rolls through a fantastic collection of Swiss chalets where one feels like this is what skiing was once all about, and here, still is!
At the top of the resort, Gürgaletsch T-bar rises a leg-quivering 500m vertical to just below the summit of its namesake. Out wide the Jochalp T-bar is accessed via the Hüenerchöpf chair. Aside from a few pistes, it is important for the best access to the freeride route down toward Praden.
Where is Tschiertschen, Switzerland?
The Tschiertschen ski resort extends out of the village of the same name only 11km from Chur in southeast Switzerland. By car the journey from Chur is less than 20min; by public bus, the route 42 PostAuto takes less than 30min to the village. The closest international airport is Zurich (ZRH) (100km to the northwest), which connects with Chur via train in less than 2hr. See the Chur to Tschiertschen bus route map.
Search & book train tickets to Chur. Purchase bus tickets in Chur from a vending machine or the driver.
If driving, the journey from Chur starts on the road to Lenzerheide then swings off toward Tschiertschen. There are numerous narrow sectors that can require a little ‘vehicle gymnastics’ when the local PostAuto bus comes along! Whilst car parking (located just before the village) is free, note that it is not plentiful. Get here early on a powder day (goes without saying). A free shuttle bus gets you from the car park to near the ski lift base.
Tschiertschen Accommodation
Tschiertschen is a gorgeous Swiss village built along traditional lines comprising a limited number of hotels, chalets, apartments & guesthouses. For a quiet mountain village feel, Tschiertschen is perfection, but accommodation can be difficult to get at the best of times.
At the top of the village in a ski-in, ski-out location with its own parking & incredible views, Alpina Mountain Resort is the best hotel in Tschiertschen. It usually has last minute availability during the week, but with the price tag to match. Alternatively, Guesthouse Edelweiss just up from the main public bus stop, has a few rooms that it rents out above its restaurant in the winter.
Search & book a place to stay via the Tschiertschen Ski Accommodation Listings.
Staying in nearby Chur or at one of the ski resort villages in Arosa or Lenzerheide are easy alternatives to Tschiertschen.
Reviews & More Info
The Powderhounds reviewed Tschiertschen in February 2026. More information will follow soon so stay tuned for droll postulations, fearless insights, photos & review. Suffice to say that on a powder day it is awesome!
See how Tschiertschen 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.
Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.
If you have a question about skiing or snowboarding at Tschiertschen or elsewhere in Europe, CONTACT US.