Even if the snow melts in Zürich city, there is often plenty of snow for sledding in the nearby hills. Here are our favorite sledding hills near Zürich for a couple hours of winter fun.
Most are simply small hills on private and public land where locals go sledding, without any services or rentals. Just bring your sled and haul it up the hill. A few are at ski resorts, with sport rentals onsite and magic carpets or chair lifts so you don’t have to drag your sled up each time.
Contents
Free sledding hills
1. Raten Pass near Oberägeri
This is always our first choice when it snows in Zürich. This hill above Einsiedeln gets a little more snow than down below, so it’s often still a winter wonderland when the snow has melted in the city. There is a big field for sledding and small ski hill with a rope tow (no sledding on the ski hill). There is a big playground outside the restaurant, which is fun even in winter. Restaurant Raten is a little formal for a sled day, but we’ve eaten there before in all our snow gear. We’ve also done a sleigh ride here.
Raten Pass (GPS: 47°08’30.5″N 8°39’49.7″E) • webcam • website
Read my full post about Raten…
2. Albis Pass near Adliswil
On a snow day, you’ll often see locals dragging their sleds up this hill on the side of the road at the Albispass, about a 15 drive south of Zurich. I heard that it’s private land but the landowner permits sledding and even sells grilled sausages from a truck next to the hill on busy days.
By car: drive to Birrwaldstrasse 1, 8135 Langnau am Albis , the address of a restaurant across the street from the sledding hill. There is a big parking lot and parking spots along the main street.
By public transit: take the 240 bus to the Langnau am Albis, Hinteralbis stop.
3. Einsiedeln Kloster
Behind the famous Kloster in Einsiedeln, there is a big sledding hill that has varying steepness to suit multiple ages. On busy days, there’s a kiosk selling snacks and sausages. There’s also a small ski hill with a drag lift and snow garden for absolute beginners.
Birchlistrasse, 8840 Einsiedeln • webcam • website
See my post about Einsiedeln Sledding…
4. Ibergeregg Pass 300m sledding hill
You can drive to the Ibergeregg pass, where you’ll find a small ski hill with a couple T-bars. There is a 300m sledding hill that is free to use. I never had the energy to pull my toddler back up the entire hill, so we just did short runs. Since the sledding hill is right next to the ski hill and drag lift, older kids can practice skiing while you play with little kids on the sledding hill (that’s what I did). The Alp Stubli restaurant is across the street and the Sünnehutte a short walk along the winter walking path, worth it for the views.
Ibergeregg, Passhöhe, 8843 Schwyz • webcam • website
pic from Ibergeregg website
Short sled runs with magic carpets & lifts
These sledding hills are more official, with a specific route and an optional magic carpet or other transport to take you back up the hill, usually for a fee.
5. Oberiberg 200m sledding hill
At the ski lift Roggen, Oberiberg, there is a 200m sledding hill with a magic carpet. You can walk up the sledding hill for free or pay to use the magic carpet, which costs CHF 10 for the day. We went a couple times with our little kids and just dragged them up the hill. Across the street, you can rent sleds at Holdener Sport for CHF 9/day.
Tschalunstrasse 1, 8843 Oberiberg • webcam • website
pic from Oberiberg website
6. Brunni-Alpthal • 75 m or 600m sledding hill
This small ski resort near Zürich has a magic carpet that services both a beginner ski hill and a short 65m sledding hill, suitable for small kids. You can use the sled run for free if you want to walk up the hill. Or you can pay to use the magic carpet, which costs CHF 13/adult and CHF 10/child (see current prices). You can rent sleds at Skilift Brunni or the Brunni-Sport shop (Brunnistrasse 8, 8849 Alpthal), both next to the sledding hill.
Brunni-Alpthal also has a 600m sled run, accessed by a T-bar lift. To use it, you must use their sleds, which a have a special bar on the front that allows them to connect to the T-bar lift. Sled rental is included in the sledding day pass, which costs CHF 35/adult and CHF 28/child. Children under 6 that share a sled with an adult cost CHF 15.
We like Brunni-Alpthal because you don’t have to drive up a mountain road and you can park right near the sledding hill. It’s at a relatively low elevation 1100m, so there’s not always enough snow, so check conditions before heading out.
Brunnistrasse 21, 8849 Alpthal • webcams • www.brunnialpthal.ch
For more info, see my post: Ski at Brunni Alpthal
Photo from www.brunnialpthal.ch
7. Amden-Arvenbüel 500m sled run
At Arvenbüel, you can simply sled on the side of the ski hill, walking back up each time. Or you can ride the chair lift to access the 500m long sled run, less effort and more fun. When I had a toddler, it was nice that we could sled on the same hill where my 6 year old was learning to ski. Then we could stay together as a family.
To use the chair lift, you’ll need a ticket. In 2021, a day pass costs CHF 35/adult and CHF 22/child (ages 6-16). A half-day pass (before or after noon) cost for CHF 26/adult and CHF 17/child. Sled rentals available on site, a 2 person sled for CHF 16.
Leistkammstrasse, 8873 Amden • webcam • website
See my post about Skiing & sledding at Amden
8. Engelberg Trübsee sledding park
This one is farther from Zürich, but it’s the most snow-sure option for a basic sledding hill because it’s at a higher elevation. You have to pay for a return ticket to ride the gondola from Engelberg to Trübsee (kids under 6 free). But once at Trübsee, the sledding park is free to use with free sleds and tubes. On a busy day, they may all be taken, so best to bring your own. There is a covered magic carpet that brings you back to the top – hooray! There is a restaurant directly above the sledding park so you can easily warm up when necessary.
The views are spectacular and you have the opportunity for more activities besides sledding, including a winter walk around the frozen lake (details here) and riding up to the Titlis glacier to visit the ice cave and walk across the suspension bridge (details here).
Engelberg is a good choice if you have part of the family skiing, while one parent needs to entertain a smaller child with the sledding and snow play. The sledding hill is right by the Trübsee winter walk, which is a groomed path around the lake, so pretty. More info about that walk here. This is a nice option for a family that skis, but still has under-3 children that need a different activity.
Long sled runs in Zürich & Zug
These long sled runs near the cities are rather low elevation so they only open when there’s enough snow, not during the whole winter season.
9. Uetliberg 3.1 km sled run
If we get a big snow storm in Zürich, the Uetliberg sled run opens, usually for a week or so until the snow melts again. The sled run is 3.1 km, descending 330 m of elevation.
To reach the sled run, you ride the S10 train to the Uetliberg station. Then a short walk to the start of the sled run, as shown on the map below. The sled run is well marked. Sometimes it shares the path with walkers, so you need to watch your speed so you don’t hit anyone. The sled run ends at the Triemli train station, where you can catch the train back the mountain again. The train runs every 20 mins.
The train ticket costs CHF 17.60 (50% discount with SBB Half-fare, Junior card and kids under 6 ride free) and is valid for 24 hours, including all Zürich city. So you can do the sled run multiple times on this ticket. You can rent sleds at the Uetliberg train station for CHF 25/day. Call 044 412 14 71 for the status of the sled run.
10. Zugerberg 2.5 km sled run
The Zugerberg funicular takes you to the top this 2.5 km sled run, which descends 360m of elevation. You can rent sleds at the station for CHF 15/2 hours or CHF 30/ 5 hours (leave your ID as a deposit). See the sledding route on SchweizMobil. A day pass on the funicular costs CHF 11.60/adult (CHF 5.80 for one ride). Discount for SBB Half-fare and children aged 6-15. Free for GA, Junior card and kids under 6.
Zugerbahn station: Schönegg 31, 6300 Zug
webcam • Zugerberg website • sled run status
Map of sledding spots
Here is a map showing the sledding locations mentioned below.
Where are your favorite sledding spots near Zurich?
2 responses
I am looking for some small hills that we can take a tram or short bus ride within Zürich. Similar to Irchel, where we can go after my child gets off Kindergarten. Any neighbor hood suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!
Some parents in our FB group suggested the Ringlikon station (on the way up to Uetliberg. If it has snowed enough at low elevation, there is a little sledding hill near the station. I haven’t been there so I can’t be more specific than that. If there is snow in Zurich city, Rieter park has a four great sledding hills. A lot of people sled at Klopstockwiese as well. But Zurich snow always melts so fast, it doesn’t last long.