Plan a route here Copy route
Freeride skiing recommended route

Lenzerheide - Arosa - Tschiertschen - Ski Safari

· 1 review · Freeride skiing · Arosa Lenzerheide
Logo Swiss Alpine Adventure
Responsible for this content
Swiss Alpine Adventure Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • The first descent on the tour
    The first descent on the tour
    Photo: Dave O'Riordan, Swiss Alpine Adventure
m 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 25 20 15 10 5 km Hörnli-Express Bergstation (2511 m) Rothorn Canols … Hörnli-Hütte Rothorn Canols …
This is a scenic roundtour between the resorts of Lenzerheide, Arosa and Tschiertschen. The tour has a couple of nice deep snow descents, but also a few flat sections that make it a little more difficult (but not impossible) for snowboarders. 
moderate
Distance 29.3 km
3:30 h
50 m
3,150 m
2,840 m
1,354 m
The Lenzerheide, Arosa, Tschiertschen, ski safari is one of the great things to do in this area. Tickets can be purchased at each of the resorts which allows you to use the lifts in each of the resorts and ski from one resort to the next one. This tour is in unsecured alpine terrain and should only be done by experienced people carrying the necessary equipment or with a guide. All the routes can easily be spotted using the freeride map or the 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey maps of the area. 

Author’s recommendation

Read the avalanche bulletin before going and plan ahead for this tour. It's a great day out, but be careful. 
Profile picture of Dave O'Riordan
Author
Dave O'Riordan
Update: April 14, 2015
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Risk potential
Highest point
2,840 m
Lowest point
1,354 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cardinal direction
NESW

Track types

Asphalt 11.31%Dirt road 11.33%Forested/wild trail 0.64%Path 17.07%Unknown 59.68%
Asphalt
3.3 km
Dirt road
3.3 km
Forested/wild trail
0.2 km
Path
5 km
Unknown
17.5 km
Show elevation profile

Safety information

Even though the ski areas sell a ticket for this route none of the slopes are avalanche controlled. I have seen signs of previous avalanche activity every time I have done the tour and it should only be attempted in stable safe conditions by persons with at least some basic avalanche training and an ability to read a 1:25000 map. It goes without saying that this tour should not be attempted without at least an Avalanche Transceiver, Shovel and Probe being carried by each group member. 

Tips and hints

Start early, especially in March when the sun warms some of the slopes quite quickly. 

For more of our favourite tours remember to check out www.swissalpineadventure.com - tours. 

Start

Lenzerheide, Rothorn Valley Station (2,839 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'764'963E 1'179'096N
DD
46.742629, 9.597501
DMS
46°44'33.5"N 9°35'51.0"E
UTM
32T 545643 5176737
w3w 
///famines.promising.bids
Show on Map

Destination

Lenzerheide, Rothorn Valley Station

Turn-by-turn directions

From the top of the Rothorn lift take the upper piste a short distance to the first left hand corner where the piste meets the ridge going up to Parpaner Rothorn (2899). From this corner traverse the north west facing slope to point 2775. With skis this is possible without removing the skis, although some stepping will be required. With a snowboard snowshoes or a split board may be required unless there is a very solid track already in. 

From point 2775 decend South-Eastwards into the bowl south of Älplihorn passing just south of point 2553. (Upper section ~35deg) As you approach the valley floor turn the valley turns to the north and flattens off considerably. (Caution: there are very steep slopes above which have produced recent avalanches each time I've been there)

As you continue Northwards the terrain will eventually get a little steeper and drop you down to the valley floor just above Älplisee. At this point, depending on snow conditions and how many tracks there are in front of you, you may need to pole or skate to get past the lake. Snowboarders may need snowshoes at this point if there are no tracks infront of them. 

Once past Älplisee traverse in a North-East direction roughly towards point 2229. From here you can descend the North East slope to one of the river crossings just west of the Hörnli valley station. (Once again you pass under some steep terrain on this leg which needs to be assessed for Avalanche Danger). 

Take the lift to Hörnli and then descend into the Urden Valley just south of the lift station. Drop directly west and then slightly North to pass West of the Urdensee and directly past the Alp huts by Urder Augstberg. Just North of these huts there is a couloir (~30-35deg). Take this Couloir and keep going to the valley floor where you will eventually meet a road that you can ski until you join a piste at the Tschiertschen ski area. Follow this piste to the valley station in Tschiertschen. 

In Tschiertschen take the Two seat lifts (Waldstafel and Hüenerchöpf), from  Hüenerchöpf take the piste towards the Jochalp pull lift. At the top of the Jochalp lift follow the flat piste to the left towards the restaurant and then ski South Westwards towards Foppa. 

At Foppa will join a hiking path and you may need to skate (snowboarders will need sticks or to walk) until the path gets once again steep enough to descend to the Parpan lift. (At Foppa it is also possible to walk westwards over a small hill and descend directly to Churwalden if there is enough snow). 

Alternative Option from Tschiertschen. It is also possible to take the Gürgaletsch pull lift in Tschiertschen and then walk around Stelli to point 2369 where you can descend a west facing couloir (~40deg at the top) which will help avoid some skating to return to Parpan. This route should only be attempted with a guide or with experience in assessing the avalanche risk on the day. 

There are alternatives for each section of this route. The freeride map may be your freind in giving you other ideas. 

 

 

Note

Wildlife refuge Alpstein-Farurtal: December 20 - April 15
all notes on protected areas

Public transport

Lenzerheide is accessible by Post Auto from Chur. Buses leave every half hour at x:00 and x:30. You will want to get off the bus at the Stop "Rothorn Bahn". 

Getting there

Take the A3 to Chur, Exit Chur Sud/Lenzerheide and folllow signposts for Lenzerheide. Shortly after passing Valbella the car park for the Rothorn lift will be on the left hand side. 

Parking

Parking is available at the Rothorn valley station. 

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'764'963E 1'179'096N
DD
46.742629, 9.597501
DMS
46°44'33.5"N 9°35'51.0"E
UTM
32T 545643 5176737
w3w 
///famines.promising.bids
Show on Map
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Equipment

It is possible to do this tour without having to put skins on skis, however snowboarders will appreciate having at least telescopic poles if not snowshoes or a splitboard with them. 

Questions and answers

Ask the first question

Would you like to the ask the author a question?


Rating

5.0
(1)
Manfred Kuhne 
April 18, 2019 · Community
Show more
Einstieg vom Hörnli
Photo: Manfred Kuhne, Community
Blick zurück Richtung Hörnli
Photo: Manfred Kuhne, Community
Die letzten Hänge voraus
Photo: Manfred Kuhne, Community
Bachlauf voraus
Photo: Manfred Kuhne, Community
Waldpfad/weg
Photo: Manfred Kuhne, Community
Das letzte Teilstück auf der Piste nach Tschiertschen
Photo: Manfred Kuhne, Community
Pierpaolo D'Urso
December 08, 2014 · Community
Hello, is it sure that Lenzerheide-Arosa skipass is valid on Tschiertschen lifts?
Show more

Photos from others

+ 2

Reviews
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
29.3 km
Duration
3:30 h
Ascent
50 m
Descent
3,150 m
Highest point
2,840 m
Lowest point
1,354 m
Circular route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cableway ascent/descent Insider tip suitable for snowboards Linear route
1600 m 1800 m
Morning
1600 m 1800 m
Afternoon

Avalanche conditions

·

Statistics

  • My Map
  • Content
  • Show images Hide images
Features
2D 3D
Maps and trails
  • 3 Waypoints
  • 3 Waypoints
Distance  km
Duration : h
Ascent  m
Descent  m
Highest point  m
Lowest point  m
Push the arrows to change the view