Leukerbad Intermediates

Although the ski area is smaller in extent than better known Swiss ski resorts elsewhere in Valais, the flip side of the coin is that there are fewer skiers on the mountain – partly also because many guests are coming for spa treatments rather than to ski – and the slopes are not crowded.

While a smaller ski area means you should expect to have to ski the same runs more than once, many of Leukerbad’s groomed runs are rising and falling from left to right as well as from top to bottom which makes them more interesting and allows you to vary your line each time you ski them.

The area above the Bergrestaurant Rinderhűtte (2,350m) and the highest lift (2,610m) is an open bowl containing two blue runs, four red runs and a black run. There’s also plenty of easy off-piste in between the runs and it’s a fun place to ski on a blue sky day.

The red and black tree-lined runs from Rinderhűtte (2,350m) down to the bottom lift stations are great for intermediates. The red and black runs down to the middle and bottom gondola stations are reasonably wide and often quiet. They’re fun to ski fast and from the very top to the bottom gondola station will test your fitness.

The black and red routes from Rinderhűtte down to the bottom of the Torrentbahn cable car offer a long and enjoyable tree-lined descent that passes through a 50m long tunnel part way down. These trails are narrower but not difficult and include impressive views of Leukerbad and the Daubenhorn on the opposite side of the valley.

The Weidstubli half way down red 16 is a popular mountain restaurant. From Weidstubli you can either ski red 16 to Leukerbad (but there’s no lift back up) or ski red 17 to the bottom of the Torrentbahn cable car and ride back up for more.