Einsiedeln is a nice place to come when the snow has melted in Zurich but you still want some low-key winter fun. Einsiedeln is a charming little town about 40 minutes southwest of Zurich. It’s claim to fame is a big beautiful monastery, which is nice to visit any time of year. Directly behind the monastery is a small ski area with a couple T-bars and tow ropes, snow garden and a big free sledding hill. My favorite thing about the hill is that it has a variety of heights to suit multiple ages.
See also Best sledding hills near Zurich sd
| Location: | Central Switzerland |
| Address: | Birchlistrasse 3, 8840 Einsiedeln |
| Car: | Metered parking: 47°07’49.2″N 8°45’31.2″E 35mins from Zurich |
| Train: | Bus stop: Einsiedeln, Friedhof 1hr from ZH |
| Suitable for: | beginners |
| Lift type: | T-bars, rope tows, snow garden free sledding hill |
| Cost: | sledding hill free Ski lift pass: CHF 27/adult, CHF 23/child (6-16) |
| Half-day discount: | afternoon only |
| More info: | www.skilifte-einsiedeln.ch – webcams |
Overview
Einsiedeln is a small village in the hills south of Zürich. The sledding hill is located directly behind the monastery.
Getting There
By car: Drive to Einsiedeln and follow signs to the Kloster (Birchlistrasse 3, 8840 Einsiedeln). Park in the metered lot next to the cemetery, east of the Kloster. On busy days, additional parking is available on the snow next to the paved lot. An attendant will collect a 5CHF parking fee for the day.
By public transit: Take a train to Einsiedeln, then a bus to Einsiedeln, Friedhof. Alternatively, you could take the scenic route through town, about a 17 minute walk.
To reach the sledding hill, walk west along the cemetery wall (shown above), past the small ski lift and snow garden, until you see the big hill with lots of sledders. You can’t miss it.
Sledding Hill
We particularly like that it is a graduated slope (ranging from very mild to very steep), suiting sledders of all ages. It also ends in a very long flat section, so you don’t end up hitting a tree, building or sliding off a cliff or onto a road. The only hazard is other sledders, so watch carefully and don’t idly sit with your back to other sledders – you will get hit!
Here we have very little kids sledding alone on the gentle slope.
The taller hill for the big kids.
Skiing & Snow Garden
If you tire of sledding, there are two small ski lifts, strangely not covered by the same ticket. The first ski lift is near the parking lot. There is also a small tow rope with very gentle slope near that.
The second ski area next to the sledding hill has one tow rope on a small hill, a good, affordable option for absolute beginners that won’t last all day. It costs 6 CHF/hour or 10 CHF/half day or 16 CHF/full day. The ski school offers drop-in ski lessons (www.skischule-einsiedeln.ch). The group lessons will run with a minimum of 4 participants. The adjacent snow garden offers ski lessons for children 3+, which start at 12:30, lasts one hour, costs 28 CHF and requires at least 3 participants.
Here is the snow garden with tow rope and a variety of obstacles.
Here is the ski school’s small ski hill with tow rope.
I haven’t tried it yet, but there are also winter walking trails and a cross-country skiing course next to the sledding area. See www.loipe-bolzberg.ch for more info. You can also ice skate at Eispark Einsiedeln near the Schoolhouse Brüel.
