Lo cross-country skiing in Switzerland it is often a fairytale experience, with the convenience of slopes close to Italy.
You ski through enchanted snow-white forests and the iconic Alps in the background. And then huts where you can stop for a raclette and impeccable services.
When snow is scarce on the southern side of the Alps and temperatures are too high, for many Nordic skiing lovers the question arises as to where to go cross-country skiing in Switzerland. Indeed, there are quite a few slopes near Italy, easily reachable in a day from Piedmont, Lombardy and Triveneto, unanimously considered true cross-country paradises:
Where to go cross-country skiing in Switzerland: the slopes near Italy
The slopes in Switzerland they are normally passed twice a day and held like a billiard tablethe services are excellent and in general there is greater protection of the cross-country trails compared to what now happens too frequently on the Italian ones, often ruined by the passage of hikers on foot, with snowshoes or on fat bikes.
Obviously Switzerland is more expensive in many waysfrom overnight stay to meals, but access to cross-country trails is generally comparable to the Italian one and considering that any motorway is paid for with the annual vignette it may also be more convenient to amortize travel costs compared to some Italian locations.
Having made the necessary premise, then where can you go cross-country skiing in Switzerland coming from Italy? Here are the favorite slopes of Italian cross-country skiers.
Cross-country skiing in the Engadine
Over 230 km of cross-country ski trailsunique for their landscape diversity, variety and quality, make the Engadine one of the largest cross-country skiing paradises in the world. From Milan to Maloggia it’s 2 hours and 40 minutes, to Pontresina it’s 3 hours: they are the closest access points from Italy to the cross-country ski slopes of the Engadine, where you can also find the Engadine pass shops and possibly ski and equipment rental and then be able to enjoy the various slopes for classic technique or skating up to Zernez .
In the area Maloja – Silvaplana – Champfer there are 14 rings of different lengths, the same number in that of Sankt Moritz – Celerina – Samedan, 12 between Bever – Zernez and 2 in Pontresina – Morteratsch. The most beautiful challenge is obviously that of the Marathonloipe, which starts from the town of Maloja and reaches Zernez, with a length of approximately 40 km, but the greatest thrill is being able to cross-country ski on the large frozen lakes of Maloja, Sils, Silvaplana and St. Moritz.
For information: www.engadin.ch/cross-country-skiing
Cross-country skiing in Splugen
When you think about the typical alpine village in the Swiss Grisons region you’re already imagining Splugen, a true cross-country skiing paradise. 40 km of slopes, for classic style and skating, in the valley as in the sunny A resort monte Tanazhohiwhere there is a 1.5 km track dedicated to skating, all immersed in the impressive scenery of the Rheinwald valley, the Hinterrhein valley.
The starting point is the campsite / cross-country sports center, from which the valley slope (13km), the Medels slope (10km), the Nufenen slope (14km) and the training slope (1.5km) start ), with different degrees of difficulty.
For information: www.spluegen.ch/sci-di-fondo
Cross country skiing in San Bernardino
28 km of slopes, both for the classic style and skating, which pass through enchanting pine forests and breathtaking landscapes. All 2 hours drive from Milan. THEnestled in the Moesano mountains, of which it is the main tourist resort, San Bernardino it has been a true paradise for winter activities since the nineteenth century, and even today it is a favorite destination for Italian Nordic skiing enthusiasts. Little gem: from Tuesday to Sunday 2 km of the cross-country track are lit up until 10pm, to extend the fun time.
For information: www.visit-moesano.ch/sci-di-fondo
Cross-country skiing in Campra
A two-hour drive from Milan, passing through Lugano and Bellinzona and along the road of Lukmanier pass which is perfectly accessible even in winter, Campra is the ski resort of the municipality of Blenio, in the Canton of Ticino, with a strong vocation for cross-country skiing. For many the Nordic ski center of Campra it is the best equipped facility in the Swiss Alps for cross-country skiing, and it is probably true: at 1500 meters above sea level, surrounded by nature and with facilities such as a lodge with restaurant and spa, multi-purpose rooms, gym, changing rooms, showers, sauna, rooms waxing, which also earned it the possibility of hosting some stages of the Nordic Skiing World Cup.
For information: www.ticino.ch/Centro-Sci-Nordico-Campra
Cross-country skiing in the Goms Valley
A quiet, sunny valley in Upper Valais, at an altitude of 1300 metres, surrounded by imposing mountains 3000 meters high and which extends from Lax to Gletsch, at the foot of the Rhone glacier: in winter the Goms Valley is the Eldorado of cross-country skiing, with over 100 km of slopes that unravel between the rustic Valais villages and offer itineraries for all abilities, from beginners to narrow ski professionals.
From Milan to Goms by car it takes about 3 hourspassing through Domodossola and Brig, a handful of minutes more from Turin, but if you want you can also reach the Goms valley with the Glacier Express.
The daily ticket costs 16 CHF, the weekend 30, the week 77 (and can be purchased online)
For information: www.valais.ch/goms
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2023-12-06 08:55:51
#crosscountry #skiing #Switzerland #slopes #Italy
