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Ski Resort Chäserrugg - Toggenburg in Toggenburg: Position on map

Chäserrugg - Toggenburg Ski Resort

Unterwasser, Alt Sankt Johann

Trail Map Chäserrugg - Toggenburg

The Ski Resort

Over 50 kilometers of groomed runs await skiers and snowboarders here.
Over 50 kilometers of groomed runs await skiers and snowboarders here. © Bergbahnen Toggenburg

Chäserrugg in the Toggenburg region is a winter sports adventure for snowboarders, freestyle fans, pleasure-seekers and nighttime skiers. Especially the more advanced skiers and experts will love the exciting runs offering incredible views in different types of terrain.

Beginners will feel more at home on the runs around the Berggasthof Iltois, which present good opportunities for practicing. More highlights are found in the night run Alp-Sellamatt – Alt St Johann and the cross-ski park Ruestel Cross.

Start your ski day right on top of the Chäserrugg mountain and enjoy your way down the East slope surrounded by the nature of the High Alpine Churfirst mountains. If you're looking for the really exciting areas, try the run from the mountaintop on the Mittelschwendi run down to the Stöfeli track. Afterwards, reward yourself with the “winter journey” (Winterreise) across forest runs and snowy slopes between the Berggasthof Stöfeli and Alt St Johann valley.

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Interesting facts

  • Offering 32 miles of slopes and terrain, Chäserrugg - Toggenburg is among the 3 largest Ski Resorts in Eastern Switzerland.
  • Chäserrugg - Toggenburg is among the 15 best rated Ski Resorts in Switzerland.
  • Elevated between 2953 ft and 7421 ft, the Ski Resort is among the 3 highest elevated Ski Resorts in Eastern Switzerland. The vertical drop from summit to base is 4469 ft. The average difference in altitude between base and summit of Ski Resorts in Switzerland is 2871 ft. Most runs are therefore relatively long.
  • Average snow depth during the season is 63 " at summit elevation and 13 " at base elevation. Snow coverage is usually best during February, offering an average snow depth of 71 " at summit elevation and 17 " at the base. Therefore Chäserrugg - Toggenburg is among the 5 ski Resorts with best snow conditions in Eastern Switzerland.
  • Chäserrugg - Toggenburg features 54 sunny days on average per season. The average for all ski Resorts in Switzerland is 51 sunny days. January is the sunniest month with an average of 13 sunny days. This makes the ski resort one of the 5 sunniest in Eastern Switzerland.

Snow Safety & Snowmaking

Snowmaking Share
25%
Snow Making Machines: 60
Snowphone0848 84 15 06
Average snow depth of the last years (Summit)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Mai
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
(in ")

On Mountain Dining

You can enjoy some very tasty meals at the mountaintop restaurant of Chäserrugg. Located at an altitude of 2,262 meters (7,421 feet), the restaurant offers an incredible view across six countries.

Berggasthaus Stöfeli serves traditional mountain dishes made with meat and cheese from local suppliers. Its sun terrace invites guests to stay and enjoy the view and the atmosphere.

The mountain restaurant of Iltois is also equipped with a sun terrace, offering a view of the Churfirsten mountains. The restaurant is accessible via the funicular railway from Unterwasser.

Must-Ski Runs

Test your skills at the Ruestel Cross Park! Wild waves, hollows, steep face curves and jumps offer a one-time ski-cross experience.

The five-kilometer (3.1-mile) East run offers a breathtaking mountain panorama. Marked as an intermediate route, the slope stretches from the Chäserrugg mountaintop down to Espel pavilion, leading winter sports fans through terrain in untouched natural surroundings.

A wonderful route through the forest starts at Chäserrugg's back and leads to Iltois, overcoming an altitude difference of 1,000 meters (3280 feet) on its seven-kilometer path.

The Winterreise is Chäserrugg's longest run. It begins at the mountaintop and runs across the forest piste at the Berggasthaus Stöfeli and the snowy run down to the St Johann valley station.

Longest Runs

Chäserrugg-Ostabfahrt-Schwendi-Unterwasser
Length: 7.9 km
Vertical Drop: 1,352 m

Most Difficult Runs

Sureboden Piste
Length: km
Vertical Drop: 250 m
Warmtobel Piste
Length: 1.7 km
Vertical Drop: 350 m
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Nightskiing

In good conditions, the night run between Alt St Johann and Alp Sellamatt is open every Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. The lively bar at the Alt St Johann valley station is open during that time as well.

Nightskiing possible
Lighted runs: km

Videos

01:54
So klingt der Winter in der Ferienregion Toggenburg
03:31
2K Ski Edit Toggenburg - GoPro HERO 4 Black
07:09
Piste Ruestel-Sellamatt-Alt St. Johann - Chäserrugg - Toggenburg - Schweiz
04:20
Sessellift Zinggen-Ruestel - Alt St. Johann - Toggenburg - Garaventa 4-CLD
03:04
Piste Stöfeli-Espel (Simon Ammann Piste) Chäserrugg - Toggenburg - Schweiz

Activities

Chäserrugg's mountaintop also offers great opportunities for winter hikes.
Chäserrugg's mountaintop also offers great opportunities for winter hikes. © Switzerland Tourism - By-Line: swiss-image.ch/Dolores Rupa

Tobogganing fans, young or old, will enjoy themselves on the Schlittelstrecke from Stöfeli to Unterwasser. The 6-kilometer ride takes visitors through a fascinating mountain world across Iltios and Espel. Another tobogganing run can be found at the Tanzboden. The toboggans have been altered to make them compatible with T-bars. This way, visitors can get to the tobogganing run comfortably and race down to the valley station.

The winter hiking trails in the Obertoggenburg area are especially idyllic. The panorama loop Rosenboden, for example, starts at the Chäserugg mountain station and can be completed in 45 minutes or two hours, depending on the route. To get to the starting and finishing point, first take the funicular railway from Unterwasser to Iltios and then the cable car to Chäserrugg. The trail starts at the mountaintop restaurant and leads you across the high plateau to the Rosenböden and back. The loop offers unique views of Lake Walensee, Toggenburg and the Rhine valley.

A number of snowshoe trails can also be found in the region. The Sellamatt tour is relatively easy to complete, takes about two-and-a-half hours and gives you some impressive mountain panoramas of the Churfirsten. The route's starting point is at Sellamatt Alp.

Number toboggan runs: 2
Toboggan hire
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Après-Ski and Nightlife

Enjoy a couple of après-ski beers at the Zinggen pub near the valley station of the Ruestel chair lift. Another bar is located directly next to the St Johann valley station.

In March, music is played at the Espel pavilion every Saturday evening, letting guests have fun dancing the night away.

Number of Bars and Pubs: 3

Dining and Restaurants

The Espel pavilion near the Stöfeli lift's valley station serves real Toggenburg Flammkuchen with Mostbröckli (smoked ham) and Sennenkäse (a type of Swiss cheese). If the weather's good, relax on one of the deck chairs on the sun terrace. Otherwise, stay inside the wooden hut and enjoy the cozy atmosphere.

A special culinary highlight is the Full Moon Dinner at the mountaintop restaurant. On certain dates, you can enjoy a four-course menu full of exquisite local specialties. The restaurant offers a beautiful, romantic view of the dark and snowy mountain world. More special events at the restaurant include the Valentine's Dinner and the Easter Brunch.

Number of Restaurants: 5
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Infrastructure & Rental

Besides ski and snowboard lessons, the resort also offers a guided ski tour. Special technique lessons for advanced winter sports fans are also available and help you improve your technique on and off the piste. Ask for an “Experience card” (Erlebniskarte) at the ski school's office. This way, you can test your strengths and weaknesses to find the right course for you.

Skischools

Number of Skischools: 1
Number of Snowboard Schools: 1
Cross Country Lessons
Carving Lessons
Freestyle Lessons

Number of Ski Rental

Ski Depot
Sports Store
Ski Rental
Snowboard Rental
Cross Country Ski Rental
Backcountry Ski Rental
Telemark Rental

Getting here

By car

The valley stations of the Chäserrugg-Toggenburg resort are found in Unterwasser and Alt St Johann. 

Coming from Eastern Switzerland, St Gallen and Thurgau, take the Autobahn A1 to Will SG and then drive towards Wattwil and on to Toggenburg. 

Coming from Zürich and Central Switzlerland, drive towards Rapperswil and over the Rickenpass to Wattwill. From here, drive on to Toggenburg. 

Coming from Southern Germany, take the A13 to Haag via Bregenz and St Margrethen and then drive on to Toggenburg. Alternatively, take the A1 to Will SG via Konstanz and keep going towards Wattwil and then Toggenburg. 

Coming from Vorarlberg, drive to Feldkirch via Haag and then on to Toggenburg.

By public transportation 

If you're arriving by train, take the one to Nesslau-Neu St Johann or Buchs SG and then the Postauto (bus) to Unterwasser or Alt St Johann. The stops here are only five minutes away from the valley stations. 

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Current Offer

  • Accommodation as booked
  • Board as booked
  • 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 6 days or 9 days lift pass Toggenburg (value of lift pass up to 315 ,-) Exceptions see booking process
  • Use of spa area (as per description)
  • Bathrobe hire
About the author
last update on Aug 29, 2024
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Contact

Toggenburg Bergbahnen AG
Talstation Chäserrugg
CH-9657
Unterwasser
E-Mail
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Phone+41 (0)71 998 68 10

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Mountain Stats

Elevation2953 ft - 7421 ft
Opening DayDec 7, 2024
Closing DayApr 21, 2025
Capacity 13190 Persons/Hr.
Hours8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Lifts

14
3
2
2
1
1
2
3
Total 14

Skiable Terrain

32.3 miles
Easy
Moderate
Advanced
Ungroomed
Overall Slope Length 32.3 miles
Number of Slopes 23

Weather (4429 ft)

Open Lifts & Trails