Stock photo Elsigenalp – Frutigen
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Stock photo (does not show Elsigenalp – Frutigen): Santiago Gomez iamsantiago · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
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Elsigenalp – Frutigen lies in the Bernese Oberland and is a small, family-run ski area: 30 kilometres of piste served by 6 lifts.
The area runs from 1350 to 2340 metres above sea level, giving around 990 metres of vertical. The high starting point helps when there is no snow down in the valley.
The season usually runs Dec – April.
An adult day pass costs CHF 50.
Of note: Snow-sure high plateau above Frutigen
Pistes by difficulty
- Leicht (blau)16 km53%
- Mittel (rot)5 km18%
- Schwer (schwarz)9 km29%
Distribution calculated from OpenStreetMap and applied to the 30 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.
elsigen-metsch.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
The valley station is at Elsigbach, a hamlet of the municipality of Frutigen at 1319 metres, right on the old Adelboden road. Since the new road was built lower down the valley in the 1920s, the only way up is a roughly three-kilometre spur road, mostly single-lane and steep, which at times in winter requires snow chains.
From there a cable car climbs to the Elsigenalp at around 1800 metres. A second area, the Metschalp, is reached by road and drag lift. Together they make up terrain that lies between Frutigen and Adelboden and is barely noticed by either.
That is exactly the appeal. Anyone willing to make the drive finds a quiet area at decent altitude in a region where Adelboden and Lenk otherwise take all the attention and all the queues.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsigenalp
Getting there by public transport
Destination stop: Elsigenalp. 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 Elsigenalp – Frutigen
How high is Elsigenalp – Frutigen?
The ski area runs from 1,350 to 2,340 metres above sea level, a vertical range of 990 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 Elsigenalp – Frutigen have?
30 kilometres on 6 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 Elsigenalp – Frutigen cost?
CHF 50 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 Elsigenalp – Frutigen 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 Elsigenalp – Frutigen by train?
The destination stop is Elsigenalp. From Zürich HB the fastest connection on a Saturday morning takes 2 h 54, changing 4 times; from Bern 1 h 47. A guide value, not a timetable.
Where this resort stands
Elsigenalp – Frutigen is one of 9 ski areas in the canton of Bern, and it is quickest reached from Bern by train, in 1 h 47.
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
- Bern
- Season
- Dec – April
- Kilometres of piste
- 30 km
- Elevation
- 1350 to 2340 m (990 m of vertical)
- Lifts
- 6
- Adult day pass
- around CHF 50 (guide value)
- Summer skiing
- no
- Glacier
- no
- Snow park
- rated 2/10
- Coordinates
- 46.560, 7.640
- Official website
- elsigen-metsch.ch
All values are guide figures still being verified. For day-to-day information, use the resort’s official website.