Lauchernalp - Lötschental Ski Resort Switzerland
Lauchernalp in the Loetschental, is typical of a 'small' ski resort in Switzerland. With a highest lifted point of 3,111m & a skiable vertical of 1,700m, 'small' in Switzerland is a relative term. Providing huge panoramas and wonderful skiing in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Lauchernalp equates to a brilliant day on the slopes.
The Powderhounds skied Lauchernalp in a seething blizzard. It was all but deserted due to zero visibility, but face-shots on every turn were the order of the day & a priceless gift despite some suffering in the bitter cold. We found Lauchernalp to be 'paradise found' & an insider’s tip for freeride powder during storms when in the Valais near Brig.
Pros & Cons for Lauchernalp Ski Resort
Pros
- Huge, leg muscle liquefying skiable vertical.
- Great opportunities for freeride powder slaying.
- High resort base provides exceptional snow quality.
- Numerous ski-in ski-out accommodation options.
- Awesome views when the sun shines.
- Long valley run available (on and off-piste!).
- Lötschen valley villages are authentically Swiss with strong local traditions & intriguing superstitions.
- Generally no crowds (but we hear it gets busy on a bluebird powder day).
Cons
- Relatively small ski resort.
- Piste trails are excellent but limited over a few days.
- Beginner terrain is strangely disjointed between summit & village base.
- Visibility is poor on most terrain during low-viz weather (same as most alpine ski areas really!).
- Valley ski trail terminus requires a long walk back to the cable car base (was a nice walk through the back-streets of the village).
- Quiet après (but it is Switzerland!)
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Ski resort village is incredibly quiet.
- Can be some early competition from locals on a powder day and more so on a sunny powder day.
- Magic Pass is now valid in the resort, which could be good ..... or bad!
- Access by public transport for day trips is easy but driving there can be an ordeal.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Powderhounds often peruse ski trail maps in the first instance when deciding on where to ski around the world. Whilst some trail maps are a fantasy, often they provide enough key information to give us the nudge to go & visit. Lauchernalp is one such place. To give an insight, what we saw was: a huge skiable vertical (1,700m), high elevation (top of 3,111m), potentially wide off-piste alpine (between Stafel at 2,100m & the Hockenhorngrat 1,000m vertical above it), quality ski lifts (new-ish gondola & six-seater chair), small enough to be quiet but big enough to have all the services & facilities & a long valley run into an isolated valley with small villages accessible by public transport. All this was true.
Check out the 'non-fanciful' ski trail map for Lauchernalp-Lötschental below.
One is quite chuffed when instincts are correct & skiing Lauchernalp, even in near zero viz, was an absolute joy. Face shots on piste after lunch is always a good indication of a wonderful ski hill for Powderhounds!
For more information & photos on Lötschental ski lifts, terrain & lift passes, see our Lauchernalp Skiing & Snowboarding page.
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Where is Lauchernalp - Lötschental Switzerland?
Lauchernalp is in the spectacular Lötschental valley north of Brig in the Valais, Switzerland. It is possible to drive to Lauchernalp from the south, but from the north (i.e. Bern or Zurich), the train provides the least complicated way to get there for most travellers. Brig is the gateway to a host of transport links to other ski resorts and the rest of Europe. Zurich is the recommended entry point for international visitors.
On the rail line between Brig & Kandersteg (Spiez, Zurich, Bern!), Goppenstein railway station is only a few minutes via a narrow road from the Lauchernalp ski resort cable car base at the village of Wiler. The train is met by the local route 591 bus which quickly drops one at the cable car terminal in Wiler or at any of the villages in the valley from Ferden to Blatten.
Search & book train tickets to Goppenstein.
For more information on the best ways to get to the ski resort, see the Travel to Lauchernalp page.
Lauchernalp - Lötschental Accommodation
Lauchernalp accommodation options include ski in / ski out chalets, hotels and lodges in the resort village located 500m above the valley at the top of the cable car. The best of them is the ski-in ski-out Alpenhotel zur Wildi above the cable car top station. For self-contained apartments, the ski-in Alpine Village Resort Apartments below the cable car top station will do the job.
Search & book all Lauchernalp ski accommodations.
In the Loetschental (Lötschen Valley or Lötschental) are a range of hotels, chalets, and guesthouses. The village of Wiler is within walking distance of the cable car valley station. The town is authentic & has numerous fascinating laneways lined with traditional hay barns & dairies complete with wintering cows inside. Wiler can be reached either by downloading on the cable car or skiing down the lengthy valley trail.
Outside Wiler, the villages of Ferden, Kippel & Blatten bookend the town. Blatten has the best range of hotels & services. Try the Hotel Edelweiss, Hotel Breithorn & the boutique Hotel Nest & Bietschhorn down the road in Ried, with its Michelin rated restaurant.
All villages are connected to the Lauchernalp cable car valley station by regular local Postbus, which travels in each direction at least once an hour. Anyone using local accommodation gets a guest card allowing free travel on the bus. The reality is that everyone just travels on the bus for free! Alternative lodgings can be had at Goppenstein or further afield at Brig or Kandersteg.
Bars, Restaurants & Services
Even though a smallish ski resort, Lauchernalp has a full range of services at the cable car top station in the alpine village. In addition to the ticket/info desk & nearby ski school office, there is a full ski, snowboard & equipment rental/repair shop from our local partners at Intersport, plus retail & gear storage is available. A well-stocked food market is opposite the large sun terrace. A new(ish) café-bar- restaurant (Bergrestaurant) & an excellent self-serve buffet restaurant round out the facilities at the cable car top station.
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Further up the hill in the village at least three more bar /restaurants provide options. The Alpenhotel zur Wildi is the pick of them, or the Berghaus for its unadulterated views. Yurts are located at two strategic locations (Stafel & Gandegg) in the mid-mountain at ski lift connections allowing some shelter & refreshment during the worst Lauchernalp blizzards.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Whilst Lauchernalp has enough diversity & freeride terrain to keep one's interest for several days, other superb ski experiences can be had in the numerous nearby ski resorts. From Brig, skiing at Belalp, Aletsch Arena and the uber traditional Rosswald is easily achievable via train & bus. The larger ski areas of Zermatt & Andermatt-Sedrun, plus a host of others are within a ½day’s travel by train.
Reviews
The Powderhounds reviewed Lauchernalp long ago & finally returned in January 2024 to sample its powdery delights on a day where we could actually see the resort! 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 Lauchernalp compares to the rest of the Swiss ski resorts on the Switzerland ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe the European ski resort ratings page.
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