Chäserrugg - Toggenburg Ski Resort

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.