Elm im Sernftal lies in the Glarus region and is a manageable ski area: 40 kilometres of piste served by 7 lifts.
The area runs from 1020 to 2105 metres above sea level, giving around 1,085 metres of vertical. The lower slopes depend on snowmaking in mild winters.
The season usually runs Dec – April.
An adult day pass costs CHF 55.
Of note: Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site, view of the Martinsloch
Pistes by difficulty
- Leicht (blau)22 km54%
- Mittel (rot)15 km38%
- Schwer (schwarz)3 km8%
Distribution calculated from OpenStreetMap and applied to the 40 official kilometres of piste. An approximation, not a figure from the lift company.
Snow report
Not currentThis reading is 47 days old and is not being updated automatically at the moment. Current figures are available from the SLF and from the resort itself.
Source: SLF / WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. A single measuring station, not the resort’s official piste report.
Piste map, map & webcams
Interactive piste map
Every piste and lift colour-coded by difficulty, zoomable, built on OpenStreetMap. Community-maintained data; where it differs, the official piste map next to it is authoritative.
Open on OpenSkiMap →Official piste map
The lift company’s drawn piste map, plus lift status and tickets.
sportbahnen-elm.ch →Webcams
Live images from the mountain on the resort’s official site, usually several locations.
View webcams →Piste maps and webcam images belong to the lift companies and are protected by copyright. That is why we link directly to the original instead of copying it.
What sets this ski area apart
Elm lies at the very back of the Sernf valley and has belonged to the municipality of Glarus Süd since 2011. Twice a year the sun shines through the Martinsloch, a rock window in the Tschingelhorn, precisely onto the village church. Every nineteen years the full moon manages the same.
The village's history has a dark caesura. On 11 September 1881 the Elm rockslide came down, triggered by quarrying slate for writing tablets and slate pencils. In three surges it buried 114 people, 83 buildings and 90 hectares of land, and destroyed the mine. The case is still taught as an example of how extraction can bring down a slope.
Elm is the starting point for four passes, the Panixer, Segnes, Foo and Richetli, and therefore a classic base for ski touring. From 1905 to 1969 the Sernftal railway ran down the valley; on the day of the Glarus open-air assembly so many people travelled that cattle wagons were fitted with benches.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elm_GL
Getting there by public transport
Destination stop: Elm, Dorf. Fastest connection on a Saturday morning in the currently published timetable, from the open Swiss timetable interface, retrieved 10 August 2026. A guide value, not a timetable: the real journey time depends on when you leave and what you connect to, and winter-only bus services are not yet included.
Frequently asked about Elm im Sernftal
How high is Elm im Sernftal?
The ski area runs from 1,020 to 2,105 metres above sea level, a vertical range of 1,085 metres. For snow reliability the lower figure matters more: that is where the snow disappears first, and where a mild December is felt before it is felt at the top.
How many kilometres of piste does Elm im Sernftal have?
40 kilometres on 7 lifts, according to the operator. There is no binding standard for measuring piste kilometres, so the figure is comparable between resorts only to a point. The lift count says at least as much about how big a place feels.
What does a day pass at Elm im Sernftal cost?
CHF 55 for an adult day pass at the standard rate, as of summer 2026. Booked early it is often less; on a peak Saturday it is not.
When does Elm im Sernftal open?
The usual season window is Dec – April. No starting date has been announced for winter 2026/27 yet. Most resorts commit only in the autumn, because a postponed opening costs more goodwill than a late announcement.
How do I get to Elm im Sernftal by train?
The destination stop is Elm, Dorf. From Zürich HB the fastest connection on a Saturday morning takes 1 h 38, changing 2 times; from Bern 2 h 48. A guide value, not a timetable.
Where this resort stands
Elm im Sernftal is one of 2 ski areas in the canton of Glarus, and it is quickest reached from Zurich by train, in 1 h 38.
Nearby ski areas
Distances are straight-line, not driving time. In the Alps a ridge between two valleys can turn 12 km into a two-hour drive.
Key figures
- Region
- Glarus
- Season
- Dec – April
- Kilometres of piste
- 40 km
- Elevation
- 1020 to 2105 m (1,085 m of vertical)
- Lifts
- 7
- Adult day pass
- around CHF 55 (guide value)
- Summer skiing
- no
- Glacier
- no
- Snow park
- rated 3/10
- Coordinates
- 46.918, 9.174
- Official website
- sportbahnen-elm.ch
All values are guide figures still being verified. For day-to-day information, use the resort’s official website.