Davos: piste guide

Davos's ski area is linked to that of much smaller Klosters, and together the two resorts offer six separate ski sectors – Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Pischa, Madrisa, Rinerhorn and Schatzalp-Strela – with 300km of pistes and 55 lifts. By far the largest of these is the Parsenn, but the others are all interesting to explore if you have enough time. They can be particularly good during high season weeks when the Parsenn tends to become overcrowded. Pischa is a dedicated freeride zone and outlying Rinerhorn is usually quiet even on the busiest weekends of the season.

Exploring Parsenn

However, the Parsenn is the main course. Take the Parsennbahn funicular from Davos Dorf up to the 2,662m Weissfluhjoch. Then ride a short cable car up to the Weissfluhgipfel at 2,844m, the highest point in the ski area. From here a network of lifts spreads out across the mountains towards Klosters. Alternatively from here you can descend 12km with a 2,000m vertical drop to the farming hamlets of either Küblis or Serneus on connected red runs. You can catch a train from Küblis and from Serneus you can take a bus to Klosters, then take the train to Davos.

A new six-seater chairlift with heated seats and covers will replace the 1970s Furka double chairlift in the 2017/18 winter season. This 1,587m-long chairlift will climb 380 metres, transport 2,500 people per hour and shorten the trip from the Gruobenalp to the Parsennfurgga by around five minutes.

Intermediate and expert challenges 

This is an ideal resort for intermediates. Experts will enjoy challenging black runs down through the Meierhofer Tälli to the hamlet of Wolfgang as well as the more demanding itinerary routes down to Klosters, and off-piste opportunities abound. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle described in detail his crossing of the Maienfelder Furgga Pass to Klosters; you can follow in his tracks with a guide.

Frankly, for beginners, there are better resorts than Davos. Klosters’ Madrisa sector is novice-friendly, but too far away, and the diffuse layout of Davos itself makes it extremely difficult for a party of mixed abilities to spend time together. Beginners' best bet is the Bolgen nursery slope at the bottom of Jakobshorn.

Park life

Davos is big on terrain parks. Jakobshorn has a superpipe (floodlit on Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 9pm) and the Jatzpark with assorted kickers and rails. Both Madrisa and the Parsenn have boardercross courses. There’s a kicker at the Mitteltälli lift at Pischa and a small fun park at Rinerhorn.

Intersport

Davos