Glacier 3000

Glacier 3000 Ski Area Map – Click on Map to Enlarge and launch a new browser

As Glacier 3000 name implies, this is Swiss “Glacier” skiing, at 3000-meters, almost 10,000’ in elevation. With such high elevation in the Alps, Glacier 3000 has a long ski season – often October to May, and spectacular views from the summit. What’s especially cool about the Glacier skiing here, pardon the “cool” ice pun, is the mountaintop skiing on a high plateau with vast intermediate terrain – not too steep or difficult. Because it’s glacial, and served by 3 T-Bars.

The rest of Glacier 3000 is mostly expert skiing and extreme free-ride skiing at that as you descend from the high-elevation summit back toward the base, off-piste. The freeride opportunities are wild, steep and extreme with extreme consequences. From the summit they drop (and we mean DROP) precipitously over the face under the Tram, with cliffs and extreme chutes (yes, we repeated “extreme”)! You can scare yourself silly here… You’ll see paragliders and kite skiers launching into the wind from the summit – which is crazy!

Glacier 3000 is just 15 minutes south of the famous chic ski resort town of Gstaad and 10 minutes north Les Diablerets ski resort which connects to Villars and Gryson. There is no lodging or hotels at the base of Glacier 3000 but there are many lodging options in lovely and charming Les Diablerets and in the famous and fancy Gstaad, a short drive or free bus away!

It takes two tram rides to reach the summit of Glacier 3000… “Scex Rouge” summit, and the most scenic skiing on the upper mountain plateau. From Scex Rouge, at 9,850′, The Devil’s Thumb rock formation is stunning, as are the views of many other 4000-meter peaks. Glacier 3000 ski terrain is easy intermediate on the summit glacier with 5 well-groomed wide runs served by 3 long T-Bars, the skiing is high and heavenly despite the “devil” diable thumb references.

On a clear day, Glacier 3000 is beautiful for any level skier. BUT, on a cloudy or snowy day, its tricky since you are entirely above treeline. Occasionally, the Glacier peak will be above the clouds, which is an amazing phenomenon, skiing above the clouds! Below the gently pitched summit plateau, a quad chair serves one steeper prepared Red Run – 8 kilometers, on the front side. Plus there is hundreds of acres of mega steep off-piste terrain which warrants a ski guide.

An amazing Alps experience is Glacier 3000’s Peak Walk – the highest suspension bridge in the world connecting two peaks. Climb the stairs and walk the metal bridge, included in your lift ticket, to see the wonder of engineering, and the wild drop below this wiggly cabled walkway. Fun that the Peak Walk is sponsored by “Tissot,” the famous Swiss Watch company.

At the Glacier 3000 summit is a modern square glass metal lodge, four stories, from the 1st floor Tram entry and Swiss watch gift shop (yes! sponsored by Tissot) to the self-service restaurant on 2, the 3rd floor lovely table service dining at La Botta with amazing views. Above this is a rooftop terrace! Heather’s ski tip: ask for a La Botta restaurant table with a view of the Peak Walk to watch the kite skiers and freeriders launch down the steeps!

It’s a glacial playground at Glacier 3000 summit aside from the skiing, the Peak Walk, and dining. There’s also a snow coach glacier tour, dog sledding, Nordic skiing, and winter wandering, all weather-permitting in this high alpine environment.

If you prefer a more cozy Swiss chalet lunch, ski the Red Run down to Cabane Diablerets chalet for traditional homemade Swiss fare of soup, Rosti, Croute with a view.

“The Black Wall” is a cool tunnel at Glacier 3000 bringing you 200-meters in length (on snow and ski-able carpet) through the mountain (seriously!). This tunnel opened in 2023 from mid-mountain to a steep black diamond 3-kilometer ski trail on the front side. Ussually mostly ungroomed and 40-degrees steep, to the base of Col du Pillon. Other options are to download the Tram (smart for everyone but experts). The “Black Wall” terrain under the tram is tricky and challenging.

We skied down Glacier 3000 top to bottom all three ways, for the full 5,500′ vert, groomed Red Run then through the The Black Wall, offpiste on The Combe D’Audon down into the forest to the old Reusch tram (which rarely, if ever, runs anymore) to catch a bus back.

Glacier 3000 is a truly special ski day, and can be combined in a Swiss ski safari, visiting Gstaad and their Gstaad Super Ski Region including Zweisimmen and Saanemoser. Glacier 3000 is on the Magic Pass along with Diablerets Villars Gryon just 10-minutes away, and nearby Vercorin, Grimentz Zinal, St-Luc/Chandolin, Leukerbad, Les Marecottes, Nax Mont Noble, Anzère, Saas Fee, and many more.

Glacier 3000 Stats:
Elevation 1300-3000, 4,265- 9,842’
Vertical: 1700M, 5,577′
10 lifts, 16 prepared trails, 28 kilometers of slopes
Snowpark, Peak Walk, Nordic skiing, and a beginner area

Traveling to Glacier 3000: Fly into Geneva or Zurich. The train to Gstaad is about 2.5 hours from Geneva and 3.5 hours from Zurich.