Pizol lies in eastern Switzerland and is a manageable ski area: 43 kilometres of piste served by 9 lifts.
The area runs from 1630 to 2227 metres above sea level, giving around 597 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 68.
Of note: Five-lakes region; the Pizol glacier was symbolically laid to rest in 2019
Pistes by difficulty
- Leicht (blau)15 km35%
- Mittel (rot)20 km46%
- Schwer (schwarz)8 km19%
Distribution calculated from OpenStreetMap and applied to the 43 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.
pizol.com →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
At 2844 metres the Pizol is the highest mountain lying entirely within the canton of St. Gallen. It became widely known for a sadder reason: the Pizol glacier east of the summit broke into separate pieces during the drought and heat of summer 2018, was surveyed for the last time in 2019, and was given a memorial ceremony on 22 September 2019. It was the first funeral held for a Swiss glacier, and it went around the world.
The area was developed in 1953/54 from two sides, with a gondola each from Wangs and from Bad Ragaz. The Bad Ragaz installation ended up as the oldest cable car in Switzerland and ceased operating on 9 April 2007. Today eight-seat gondolas run on both sides, up to Pardiel and to Furt.
In summer the Pizol is best known for the Five Lakes hike, one of the most walked high trails in Switzerland. It starts at the Pizolhütte and crosses the Wildseeluggen at 2492 metres.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizol
Snow’n’Rail at Pizol: up to 30% off the ski pass
This resort takes part in Snow’n’Rail, the combined offer from SBB RailAway: book the journey and the ski pass together and the pass costs less.
Getting there by public transport
Destination stop: Wangs, Pizolbahn. 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.
Worth knowing: this resort is in the Snow’n’Rail scheme, so the lift pass is up to 30 per cent cheaper if you arrive this way. From Zürich HB that is 1 h 08 on the train instead of behind the wheel.
Frequently asked about Pizol
How high is Pizol?
The ski area runs from 1,630 to 2,227 metres above sea level, a vertical range of 597 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 Pizol have?
43 kilometres on 9 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 Pizol cost?
CHF 68 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. Arriving by public transport takes up to 30 per cent off through the Snow’n’Rail scheme.
When does Pizol 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 Pizol by train?
The destination stop is Wangs, Pizolbahn. From Zürich HB the fastest connection on a Saturday morning takes 1 h 08, changing 1 time; from Bern 2 h 14. A guide value, not a timetable.
Is there Snow’n’Rail at Pizol?
Yes. Pizol is one of the destinations in SBB RailAway's combined offer: book the journey and the ski pass together and the pass costs up to 30 per cent less. That percentage is the maximum SBB advertises; what actually comes off depends on the ticket type and the date, and only SBB can tell you bindingly.
Pizol in the magazine
Where you can practise transceiver searching: 27 facilities in Switzerland
More than two dozen Swiss ski areas have a permanent practice facility for avalanche transceiver searching. Use is mostly free and needs only a valid lift pass. The complete list, linked to our resort pages, and what such a facility can do.
Skiing in Switzerland without a car: what actually works
17 ski areas are under two hours from Zurich, 26 from Bern. Direct trains are another matter: of 85 resorts, exactly one is reachable from Zurich without changing. What the railway does well, where it fails, and what Snow'n'Rail is really worth.
Snow'n'Rail: every Swiss resort in the scheme, and what it actually saves
All 27 SBB Snow'n'Rail destinations with verified discounts, plus the arithmetic on when taking the train really pays. Between CHF 5 and CHF 28 a day, and that is not the whole difference.
What does skiing in Switzerland actually cost?
Day passes from CHF 40 to 95, median 58. What a ski day really costs once you add travel and food, where you get the most piste per franc, and which discounts are worth it. Numbers from all 85 resorts.
Where this resort stands
Pizol is one of 5 ski areas in the canton of St. Gallen, and it is quickest reached from Zurich by train, in 1 h 08.
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
- St. Gallen
- Season
- Dec – April
- Kilometres of piste
- 43 km
- Elevation
- 1630 to 2227 m (597 m of vertical)
- Lifts
- 9
- Adult day pass
- around CHF 68 (guide value)
- Summer skiing
- no
- Glacier
- no
- Snow park
- rated 3/10
- Coordinates
- 47.025, 9.430
- Official website
- pizol.com
All values are guide figures still being verified. For day-to-day information, use the resort’s official website.