Are you looking for a fun and memorable winter activity in Switzerland that is also suitable for non-skiers and absolute beginners? Look no further than the 8km long sledge run in Melchsee-Frutt, Switzerland. This breathtaking run offers stunning views of the Swiss Alps and a thrilling sledge ride that will leave you feeling exhilarated. Sledging in Switzerland is hands-down one of our favourite winter activities in Switzerland and highly recommended! We are convinced you’ll be having an unforgettable experience as well.
The 8km sledge run in Melchsee-Frutt is the longest sledge run in Central Switzerland and is perfect for both thrill-seekers and those who just like to slide down the hill at their own (slower) pace. The run starts at the top of Melchsee-Frutt and winds its way down through the snowy landscape, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The sledge run is well-maintained and offers a smooth and fast ride (depending on snow conditions), making it perfect for both experienced and novice sledgers. Our top speed was approx. 42km/u! Not bad for our first time / for a sledge run. We will try to break this record next time we’ll visit again. Watch our Reel on instagram below to get an impression of this sledge ride!
Sledging in Switzerland: Melchsee-Frutt – some facts and figures
- Sledge run total length: 8km / 4.97miles (longest sledge run in central Switzerland)
- Altitude difference: 1000m / 3281ft
- Start of the run: Melchsee-Frutt (travel by cable car from Stöckalp – see also picture of map below)
- End of the run: Stöckalp
- Difficulty level: due to the sledgerun / track being relatively wide, it is suitable for novices. However, be careful and aware of the conditions! It is very difficult to break on an icy track! Trust me, we have experienced this first-hand and it is not fun.
Always check whether the sledge run is opened or closed. Please note that outside of opening hours the sledge run (schlittewege in German) will always show status closed. In the morning the status changes, therefore please always check the status in the morning prior to departure. Useful links, including links to check whether the sledge run is opened or closed can be found at the end of this post (or check the table of contents above for quick navigation)
Get an impression of the Sledge run: our Reel on insta
How to get there / where to park:
If you travel by car, we suggest parking at Parkplatz Stöckalp, see google maps link for exact location below. It is a relative big parking, and the times we visited we were always able to find a parking spot.
Traveling by public transport is possible, however depending on your location (e.g. Zurich) may take quite some time to reach compared to traveling by car. From Luzern travel time is little over an hour – see example below.
How to rent a Sledge and get started with sledging in Switzerland, Melchsee-Frutt
Once you arrive at Stöckalp walk towards the cable car – at the counter you can buy a ticket for the cable car, including tickets for renting a sledge.
Once you purchased your tickets pass the turnstiles and walk towards the back. On the right side when facing the cable car you’ll find the sledge rental station. It can’t be missed as you’ll see tons of sledges. Please note that you will have to leave a form of ID (e.g. driving license) as deposit for the sledge. You also have to fill out a form with your details. Once this is taken care of you will be handed over your sledge! Now you are ready to go up!
To reach the start of the sledge run at Melschee-Frutt take cable car ‘A Stöckalp – Melchsee-Frutt‘ (refer to map mentioned before in this post). The cable car is just a few meters away from the area where you just picked up your sledge – you can’t miss it. In case you may wonder – yes you will be taking your sledge with you in the cable car (see pic below) Train those biceps! 😀
Further tips on what to wear when Sledging in Switzerland (or any location for that matter)
- Always wear a helmet!! Sledging may seem ‘innocent’ and harmless, but you can reach some serious speeds when going downhill
- Make sure to bring warm – and more importantly – waterproof gloves. Any wintersport type glove would work (e.g. Skiing gloves). Your hands will get wet when using them for cornering. We once used improper gloves and our hands were FREEZING, not cool
- Wear winter/snow pants when Sledging – as you slide down, snow will move onto your sledge at times and get ‘stuck between yourself and the seating area of the sledge. Therefore snow pants are recommended. The more waterproof they are the better.
- Skiing glasses are recommended (especially on a Sunny day)
- Proper winter jacket – we usually wear a skiing jacket
- Waterproof / water repellent shoes – we use shoes with Goretex
Useful links – Sledging in Switzerland: Melchsee-frutt
- Info on whether cable car / sledge run is opened or closed: https://www.melchsee-frutt.ch/en/lifts-winter/
- Sledge rental: https://james.melchsee-frutt.ch/de/pages/schlittenmiete
- Other sledding runs that may be of interest: https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/the-seasons-in-zurich/winter/tobogganing-near-zurich
Sledging or sledding?
Is it called sledging or sledding? We still don’t really know. Regardless.. whether we slide down the Swiss alps sledging or sledding.. it’s always guaranteed fun and laughter. We may avoid these two words altogether and just adopt the German word ‘Schlitteln’, which means Sledging.. or Sledding..? :O
Alternatives: Sledging in Switzerland a bit too exciting for you?
There’s plenty of other stuff to do in winter that we recommend, for example check out our family-friends winter hike around lake Lungern in this post: https://swiss-insider.com/exploring-the-beauty-of-lungern-see-a-guide-on-hiking-around-this-beautiful-swiss-lake/