SpotCheck | Davos/Klosters

Known as a renowned winter sports destination with a long tradition, Davos attracts not only skiers and snowboarders, but also the most influential personalities from politics and business through its annual World Economic Forum. This combination of alpine beauty and global gathering makes Davos a unique destination that appeals to nature lovers and cosmopolitans alike.

But what does Davos have to offer to freeriders? This is the question we'll be exploring here, looking at it from the perspective of an experienced freerider on one hand and a complete beginner on the other.

A surprising freeride hotspot

In my mind, Davos was synonymous with the classic Swiss ski and spa resort, which is more about lifestyle, cuisine and less about the adventures on the mountain. But this assumption turned out to false. From a sports perspective, Davos offers a bunch of opportunities to let off steam all day long, especially for freeriding.

With six different mountain railways - Parsenn, Jakobshorn, Rinerhorn, Strela/Schatzalp, Madrisa and Pischa - the tourist destination Davos/Klosters offers an enormous variety of opportunities to explore the mountains, nature and snow in all directions and aspects. What makes Davos so special is the accessibility of the terrain, as it is located at 1500 metres above sea level, which makes it possible to start ski or splitboard tours directly from the resort practically all winter long.

The terrain itself is particularly remarkable: Compared to other alpine regions in the Alps, where steep and often rocky terrain predominates, it is much more spacious and therefore easy to spot. This is good for both the ascent and the descent and is also beginner-friendly. We like the spaciousness of the slopes and the uniform gradient, which makes it easier to explore the terrain and offerring breathtaking views of nature throughout. But don't worry, Davos is well worth a trip for the more experienced among you.

The lively freeride scene, which is largely made up of locals who know each other, offers a warm welcome and conveys a sense of belonging. This local connection contributes to the unique atmosphere and makes Davos a hotspot for freeriders in search of unspoilt slopes and a community of like-minded people.

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Very wide descent from the Weißfluhjoch in the direction of Arosa
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Timo Macvan

Davos Parsenn

Davos Pischa: a quiet touring paradise

At Pischa, only one old aerial tramway has been preserved, while the remaining lifts have been dismantled. This is the opposite of the hustle and bustle of a typical ski resort, as Pischa has no regular piste operations and is therefore an absolute touring paradise. Pischa is a conscious decision in favour of peace, nature and untouched, snow-covered slopes.

Several marked ski routes lead directly downhill from the Pischa mountain station. However, most winter sports enthusiasts are willing to put up with a few extra metres in altitude here, because they are worth it - and how worth it they are! The ski tour to the Pischahorn is particularly popular, with incredible views of the 4000 metre peaks of the Bernina Alps and, in good weather, as far as the Montafon. There are various options for the descent, but depending on which descent you choose, it may be necessary to skin uphill again and gain a few metres in altitude to get back to the starting point. Depending on how far south you arrive in the valley, you may need to be picked up, as the Flüela Pass is closed at this time of year and there is no bus service. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly worth the experience. Heading east, depending on the snow conditions, it is possible to ski down to Landquart or Klosters. From there, you can return to Davos by bus or cable car.

Pischa is therefore a "hidden" gem for ski tourers and nature lovers looking for the tranquillity of the mountains and unspoilt landscapes.

Parsenn: Nostalgia and diversity

The Parsenn ski resort is the largest in Davos and impresses with 18 lifts and up to 101 kilometres of groomed pistes, which together form a huge area. The highest point is almost 2,850 metres above sea level and can be reached directly from Davos village via a funicular railway and a large-capacity gondola in the last part of the route.

Several freeride descents towards Davos end directly in the village of Davos Wolfgang or in Klosters. Due to the altitude, these runs make it possible to do treeruns for almost the entire season and always end up on the pistes leading down to the valley. For those who ski down to Klosters, there is the option of taking a gondola back to Davos via the ski resort. Those descending to Davos-Wolfgang can simply hop on the free ski bus and return to Davos.

If you want to experience a little more adventure and also use your own physical strength to climb deeply snowed in slopes, you can set off and ski down from the Weißfluh summit to the west and theoretically all the way to Arosa. The descent into the valley basin starts off steeper and becomes flatter and flatter at the end. Simply a descent to enjoy and, with a bit of luck, you might spot chamois or ibex here.

The Parsenn ski resort in Davos is not only huge, but also offers a variety of runs suitable for beginners as well as experienced skiers and snowboarders.

View of the Bernina Alps from the Pischahorn.

Timo Macvan

Fish maple

Jakobshorn: the origin of a legend

The Jakobshorn in Davos is a legend in its own right. Its story begins in 1934, when a Zurich engineer built the world's first T-bar lift on the Bolgen at the foot of the Jakobshorn. Based on a study by the Davos ski school, which showed that only 10 % of skiing time was spent skiing downhill, Ernst Gustav Constam came up with the idea that was to revolutionise skiing worldwide. Today, the Jakobshorn has 10 lifts that not only provide transport to the 42 kilometres of pistes, but are also the starting point for freeride adventures.

But the Jakobshorn has much more to offer. As well as being home to the Davos freestyle scene, the Jatzhütte is internationally popular, especially for its famous "Kaffi-Sex" at 2:33 pm, followed by a whirlpool at over 2000 metres. However, the freeride opportunities are particularly fascinating. The south-west slope of the Jakobshorn is bordered by two side valleys that lead to Sertig and Dürrboden. Both valleys offer a wide range of opportunities for ski touring and freeriding.

Towards Sertig, the terrain above the tree line offers excellent views from the lift. The descents into the Sertig valley are characterised by breathtaking scenery and even slope gradients. You don't have to worry about the return transport with the ski bus either, as it runs at regular intervals from Sertig to Davos. The only confusion is the route payment system, as the Sertig Valley is not included in the price of the ski pass.

There are also freeride routes towards Dürrboden that start at Jakobshorn. Freeride route 14, known as the "Freeride Learnline", starts directly at the summit of the Jakobshorn and leads over 900 metres in altitude through the backcountry to Teufi. The terrain is relatively flat and easy to ski, which also makes it suitable for beginners to make their first turns in deep snow.

In our eyes, Davos is suitable for freeriders of all ability levels. It offers a wide range of freeride and touring options in mostly perfect conditions. A true freeride paradise due to its diversity, the wide slopes and the location, which is far less well-known and therefore less frequented than many other places in the Alps.

A clear recommendation for all tourers and freeride enthusiasts who are not yet familiar with the charms of Graubünden. And the best thing is that you can still use the mountain lifts until mid-April and, of course, your touring equipment for even longer.

We at PowderGuide give you ideas and suggestions for off-piste skiing and tours. However, the current avalanche situation, weather conditions and danger level should always be checked individually and plans adapted accordingly.