Good to know
Good to Know
- The best season for hiking is June to October when alpine meadows are in bloom and most trails are snow-free; however the region also offers beautiful winter hiking on specially prepared paths.
- The legendary Maloja wind makes Lake Silvaplana ideal for water sports enthusiasts, blowing reliably almost every day around midday during summer.
- Accessing Lej Hahnensee via car requires 7 CHF in coins to open a barrier gate; paper money and cards are not accepted.
- St. Moritz offers more than 150 winter events, ranging from horse races to cricket matches—all on ice.
- Most summer hikes are free with the Engadin Mountains Railways Inclusive offer, available with multi-night hotel stays.
Hiking
- Best Season
- Late spring to early autumn (June to October), when alpine meadows are in full bloom, the weather is generally pleasant, and most trails are free of snow.
- Trail Network
- Over 580 kilometres of hiking trails surround St. Moritz, with options ranging from leisurely walks to adventurous hikes.
Popular Routes
Around Lake St. Moritz
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Description
- A 2.8 miles (4.6 km) trail that takes approximately 1 hour 11 minutes to complete, offering gentle gradients around the iconic lake.
Emerald Trail (St. Moritz to Sils)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Description
- A moderate 10.2 miles (16.4 km) path featuring scenic views of the Engadin lakes and surrounding peaks.
Lej Da Staz to Samedan
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Description
- A short, easy hike to Lake Staz offering mountain views, a restaurant, picnic spots, a playground, and swimming in warmer months.
Cycling
- Overview
- Hundreds of kilometers of bike routes exist in the valley and mountains of the Engadin, with trails ranging from shore paths suitable for families to flow trails for enthusiasts, and no other area in the Alps offers such a broad range of difficulty and surface conditions.
Popular Routes
Curtins Village (Val Fex) – Lake Silvaplana Loop
- Duration
- 3 hours 33 minutes
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Distance Km
- 47.6
Lake St. Moritz Circuit
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Description
- Routes around Lake St. Moritz, Lake Silvaplana, and Lake Sils provide relaxed rides with picturesque water and mountain vistas.
Outdoor Climbing
Via Ferrata Routes
- Examples
- La Resgia and Piz Trovat I and II, both of which lead to the summit at 3,146 metres, offering varying difficulty.
Rope Parks
- Description
- A rope park located in Prasüras (S-chanf) at the entrance to Val Trupchun, with 4 courses of different difficulty levels set in sparse larch forest.
Indoor Facilities
Serlas Parc (S-chanf)
- Description
- Over 450 m² of climbing surface and 120 m² of boulder walls for every level and difficulty, with two self-locking belays for solo climbing and equipment rental available.
- Proximity Note
- Located in S-chanf, part of greater Engadin region
Water Sports
- Overview
- A wide range of water sports is available in and around St. Moritz, including kite and windsurfing, sailing or stand-up paddling on over 90 mountain lakes.
- Sup And Paddling
- Stand-up paddleboards can be hired at Lake St. Moritz, Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils, with paddleboard yoga and pilates offered every Wednesday morning at the windsurfing school in Silvaplana.
Key Spots
Lake Silvaplana
- Activities
- A vibrant location for kitesurfing with the world's first kitesurfing school in Silvaplana, the highest surfing spot in Europe.
- Wind Conditions
- The famous Maloja wind rises reliably around noon to blow steadily and powerfully across the lake, making it heaven for wind sports enthusiasts.
Lake Sils
- Activities
- Thrilling sailing with strong winds almost every day in summer thanks to the legendary Maloja wind, providing world-class water sports conditions.
Lej Da Staz
- Activities
- A smaller, shallower lake that reaches pleasant temperatures in summer and is ideal for swimming.
Lej Marsch
- Activities
- One of the best lakes for swimming, located in a protected moorland with BBQ areas, picnic tables, toilets, sunbathing lawns, and a sandy beach at 1,812 metres above sea level.
Non Ski Activities
Ice Skating
- Description
- Natural and artificial rinks, ice hockey, curling, and expert lessons are available, with equipment rental options.
Cresta Run
- Description
- Constructed in 1885 as the world's first skeleton-toboggan run, stretching more than 1,214 metres, with over-18s able to ride at their own risk after receiving special introductory briefings.
Olympic Bob Run
- Description
- At 1800 metres above sea level, the world's first bobsleigh track and only natural ice track of its kind, where adrenaline seekers can experience a ride safely with an experienced pilot and brakeman.
Tobogganing
- Description
- Family-friendly tobogganing slopes exist at various locations including Pontresina, Maloja, Silvaplana, Celerina, and Samedan.
Major Winter Events
Snow Polo World Cup
- Access
- Access to the tournament has been free of charge since its inception.
- Timing
- 24 – 26 January 2025, the world's only 'High-Goal' polo tournament on snow takes place for the 40th time on the frozen Lake St. Moritz.
White Turf
- Timing
- 2 – 16 February 2025, when all eyes of the international sports world are on the frozen Lake St. Moritz for horse racing.
Winter Pentathlon
- Timing
- 6-8 February 2025, amateur athletes test their endurance in five disciplines: ski touring, giant slalom, speed skating, cross-country skiing and monobob or curling.
Parks And Natural Areas
Lake St. Moritz Circuit
- Description
- A stunning body of water surrounded by green hills and snowy mountains, with winter polo matches on the ice, offering a charming hillside view from the town and access to an observation deck with breathtaking scenery, plus a large shallow rock beach on the east bank.
Swiss National Park (Nearby)
- Access Note
- Day trip from St. Moritz (45 minutes by train from Zernez)
- Description
- Nature is given absolute priority, making it a sanctuary to marmots, golden eagles, ibex and chamois amongst the lush forest.
Instruction
The Pontresina mountaineering school is the oldest and still the largest in Graubünden, offering carefree mountain experiences.
Guided Tours
Climbing courses are offered at the mountaineering school in Pontresina, and beginners are recommended to go with an experienced mountain guide to conquer a summit.
With a total of 87 World Cup standard slopes and pistes, St. Moritz is amongst the largest and most varied winter sports regions in the Alps.
Ski Areas
Four large ski areas of Corviglia/Piz Nair, Corvatsch/Furtschellas, Diavolezza and Lagalb, plus five smaller ski areas, provide unlimited skiing pleasure.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this nature, parks & outdoor activities research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About St. Moritz
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.