There is much to like about this small car-free resort with its beautiful views, sunny terraces and good snow record. It is excellent for beginners and families and has enough to entertain accomplished day trippers. For a full site report visit the Swiss Winter Sports web site.
| Ski Area | Lauchernalp |
| Resorts | Lauchernalp, Lötschental, Wiler, Kippel |
| Ski Region | Valais |
| Piste (km) | 33 |
| Top run (m) | 3111 |
| Bottom (m) | 1830 |
| Max Drop | 1281 |
| Snow’n’Rail | Y |
| Black (km) | 11 |
| Red (km) | 10 |
| Blue (km) | 12 |
| Lifts (#/hr) | 6800 |
| My Rating | 4 |
| Alpine | 2 |
| SnowPark | 1 |
| Nordic | 3 |
| Hiking | 1 |
| Family | 3 |
| Apres Ski | 1 |
| Free Ride | Y |
| Snow making | Y |
| Fun park | |
| Snow park | |
| Half pipes | |
| Spa |
In Brief
Under the Hockenhorn (3923m) and opposite the Bietschhorn (3934 m) nestles the small car-free community of Lauchernalp, only accessible by cable car from the village of Wiler in the Lötschental valley below. Until the Lötschenberg rail tunnel opened in 1913 this was an isolated valley with legends and customs unique to the area. Now an hourly post-bus takes 10 minutes to drive the 5km from Goppenstein station, at the southern end of the tunnel, to the Wiler Seilbahn bus stop. Trains, bus and cable car all have their schedules co-ordinated so no time is lost in transit. Goppenstein station itself is about 90 minutes from Bern by rail, and around 2.5 hours from Basel, Zurich or Lausanne. Car access from the North requires you to drive onto a train at Kandersteg to go through the Lötschenberg tunnel.
The Lotschental valley is stunning and is situated on the edge of the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage site with fabulous views from Hockenhorngrat of the Matterhorn (4478m) and Weisshorn (4506m) and across to the Bernese Alps – reputedly 40 mountains over 4000m high are visible on a good day. There is plenty to occupy winter visitors with 5 mountain restaurants, over 40km of winter walking trails (including the highest in the Alps), 35km of cross-country skiing, a toboggan run, guided snowshoe tours, 33km of pistes suitable for all abilities and a large choice of routes down the Hockenhorn for freeriders. For most of the season it is possible to ski 14km all the way down to Wiler (1419m) – from the top lift that is an incredible 1692m drop. Despite being south-facing, the snow above the Stafel station at 2100m can be good here well into April. This is also a great area for ski touring too including a tour over the Lötschenpass to Leukerbad. For details of organized ski tours, guides or for ski and snowboard lessons contact the Cool School (http://www.coolschool.ch/index.php?lan=2). Children from 3 can take ski lessons and there are also day nursery facilities available.
There are some lovely ski-in, ski-out chalets in Lauchernalp itself, a hotel and also the family-friendly Alpine Village (www.alpinevillage.ch), with a range of accommodation also available in the charming valley villages of Wiler and Kippel, both within walking distance of the cable car. During carnival, from 2nd February until Ash Wednesday, there is a custom whereby local people don furs and carved wooden masks and are transformed into the fearsome Tschäggättä, tossing soot at passers-by.
