Belalp-Blatten

Belalp-Blatten is a mid-size ski area located in Valais (Wallis) Switzerland above the village of Blatten bei Naters. Belalp is very close to the larger Alestch Arena, in fact you can see the slopes of Reideralp and the magnificent Aletsch glacier from some of Belalp’s slopes. On a clear day, you can also see the Matterhorn of Zermatt, and too many stunning mountain peaks to begin to count.

An Aerial Tramway and a Gondola access the Blatten/Belalp Ski area from the base village. Belalp sits at 2094-meters, it takes 2 chairlifts and a T-Bar to reach the Hohstock summit (3118-meters) 10, 230′. Most of Belalp’s upper mountain skiing is from the Sparrhorn bubble-covered six-pack lift, which accesses a few great trails, mostly low angle – and a huge playground of freeride terrain. My favorite prepared piste is Aletsch, #10 – its a ten and named for the famous local Aletsch glacier (smaller every year but still the largest in the Alps), this trail is scenic and feels so far from the rest of the resort.

Much of Belalp’s ski slopes are south-facing with stunning views of numerous 4000+ meter peaks, including the Matterhorn, the Dom and Weisshorn The high elevation of Belalp-Blatten, especially the Sparrhorn and the two steep summit T-Bars Hohstock at 10,230’ and Sparrhorngrat, makes it very snow-assured. The upper mountain has loads of off-piste skiing, easily reached, but also dotted with rocks, ravines, and avalanche risk, so beware.

To ski off-piste at Belalp, it is best to hire a guide to explore beyond the prepared pistes here. From atop Hohstock, experts can ski through a tunnel to a black diamond ski route called “Tunnel Westseite” and Rote Blatte, a vast snow bowl – but there’s avi risk, rocks and crevasses you can’t see. The upper mountain T-Bars to this summit section were not open during our mid-January visit, not enough snow. We had an amazing guided ski day, we skinned up 30-minutes to the right of Hohstock, and skied a beautiful valley, all the way down to Hotel Belalp – where we had a magnificent lunch with panoramic views including great vistas of Aletsch Glacier – Europe’s largest glacier.

Definitely visit Hotel Belap, if you can find it. With enough snow you can ski to it but many walk, snowshoe or ski tour to this 1856 mountain hotel, which was chicly renovated a decade ago – the cuisine here rivals the view! Staying here on mountain would be special, serene, but remote!

Belalp is typically open Mid-Dec to early April for skiing. Fun festival includes their huge January Hexen race, Belalp Blatten is big on their witches, its their logo and signage everywhere. Its less superstitious, more celebratory about mountain witches, and certain holidays locals dress in witch garb and ski around on broomsticks. Quite a sight! Hundreds of wacky witches in costume arrive for this largest Hexen fest in all of Switzerland. Its very competitive, a 40+ year cult tradition, as hundreds of skiers race 3000’ vertical feet top-to-bottom in about 13 minutes! For most though, its silly and social.

Chiematte at 2000-meters, atop the gondola from the base, feels like a mid-mountain resort village, though humble and car-free, its really quite magical. Here you find ski school, and a few ski in ski out hotels and restaurants, and many chalets for rent.

We loved our stay at Hamilton Lodge, arriving here with our gear by Gondola, on skis, we packed light for skiing après ski, and enjoyed being on mountain while most skiers descend down the mountain by skis, gondola or tram at 4pm. Our cozy alpine themed room had a balcony with a view of the gondola. Hamilton’s spa can be reserved après ski for sauna and outdoor hot tub. For apres ski, you can enjoy the chalet’s fireplace lounge and living room by the restaurant – which is open to the public. Our plentiful breakfast buffet was included in our room, evening dining is a la carte- we enjoyed the food here very much, from traditional Swiss fondue to Chef’s entrees. We especially loved being able to walk from our room in slippers to the bar and lounge, breakfast and dinner, while it snowed outside! The quiet starry nights from our balcony were magical!

For ski-to lunches at Belalp: We had a great ski in lunch at Aletsch – perhaps the best pizza in the Swiss Alps! And we liked the Crystal Bar for salad and goulash soup, or pizza, by the Kelchbach quad lift – which turns into the Wave Lounge with disco balls on certain après ski afternoons. A long ski out, or hike, to Hotel Belap is a treat, with views of Aletsch Glacier and the valley, and excellent food, a small hike/walk/skate back to the ski resort.

Belalp is popular among German and Swiss families who own chalets here, they enjoy in summer and winter. Belalp is very kid-friendly too, with excellent learn to ski programs and all-day ski camp with the legendary Swiss ski school – known as the Red League.

For non-skiers, Belalp offers winter wandering, 13 kilometers of trails to walk in boots or snow shoes, plus sledding – rodeling. Belalp-Blatten is a member of the Magic Pass with nearly 100 ski areas to choose from, many of them within an hour’s drive, like Anzere, Grimentz-Zinal, and Leukerbad, and proximate to Geneva airport.

Belalp-Blatten Ski Stats:
Elevation: 1322 – 3118 M, 10,230′
Vertical: 1796 M, 5,892′
Lifts: 13
Trails: 38.5 km of prepared pistes. 6.3 km Ski Routes and Miles of Freeride terrain.

See more on Top Swiss Ski Resorts for Family Skiing and Top Swiss Ski Hotels