Titlis

is a famous mountain that lies in the central region of Switzerland. It can be reached through the village Engelberg, a mountain town in the canton Obwalden. All year around, the Titlis mountain resort offers a variety of outdoor activities to be enjoyed, but it is in winter when this mountain really shines. With favorable snow conditions and huge areas of freeride terrain to explore, Titlis is nothing short of a freerider’s paradise.

The Big 5

The Titlis Ski resort is known for its “Big 5” freeride routes. If you’re on the search for incredible powder runs with spectacular views, these 5 amazing runs are accessible by ski lift and do not require any hiking, allowing for countless runs and turns in powder. The 5 routes are called:

Laub, Sulz, Steintäli, Steinberg and Galtiberg

and they measure for a combined distance of 20km riding with 5.5km in vertical distance. Just between these 5 routes there is a lot of terrain to explore, no wonder that freeride guests come to Engelberg from all over the world! If you are new to the region, it is advised that you hire a freeride guide.

Great Snow Conditions

Titlis has one of the highest average yearly snowfalls in Switzerland. Throughout a winter, the area will frequently receive snow in large amounts. As the ski resort lies on the north face of the mountain, little sunlight reaches the snow, allowing snow conditions to remain powdery. With these factors combined, Titlis can offer some of the most incredible snow conditions. Even an average winter will bring plenty of opportunities for great freeriding experiences.

In the center of Switzerland

Titlis and Engelberg are located in the central part of Switzerland. If you find yourself close to Zurich or Lucerne, Titlis would be the biggest and closest freeride options available to you. The mountain village of Engelberg can easily be reached by car or train for a day trip. From Lucerne it takes around 35min by car (50min by train) and from Zurich you can expect a 1hr 15min car ride (or 1hr 40min by train).

If you’re looking to explore incredible alpine terrain and enjoy deep powder days, be sure to put Titlis on your rider’s bucket list.

Venturing into the backcountry is not for beginner skiers/snowboarders. It is recommended that riders feel secure and have experience in variable snow conditions. If you do not know how to use avalanche rescue equipment (avalanche beacon, probe, shovel) you should take an avalanche safety course to practice the use of these tools.

If you are interested in content on outdoor sports, consider reading my other blog posts:

Ski Touring – What you need to know for your First Tour

Titlis – A Freerider’s Paradise

Surfskating – Surfing the Streets

Bike Kingdom – Mountain Biking in Switzerland

SUP – Stand up Paddleboard

Surfskating – 2 Week Learning Progression

Bike Kingdom – A Beginner Friendly Tour

SUP – 5 Tips for Stand Up Paddling

Engelberg – Titlis Tourimus (2020, Feb 03) Galtiberg. Retrieved from: https://maps.luzern.com/en/tour/backcountry-skiing/galtiberg/35530582/

Engelberg – Titlis Tourimus (2020, Feb 03) Steinberg. Retrieved from:https://maps.luzern.com/en/tour/backcountry-skiing/steinberg/35531434/

Engelberg – Titlis Tourimus (2020, Feb 03) Laub. Retrieved from: https://maps.luzern.com/en/tour/backcountry-skiing/laub/35530911/

Engelberg – Titlis Tourimus (2020, Feb 03) Sulz. Retrieved from: https://maps.luzern.com/en/tour/backcountry-skiing/sulz/35532072/

Engelberg – Titlis Tourimus (2020, Feb 03) Steintäli. Retrieved from: https://maps.luzern.com/en/tour/backcountry-skiing/steintaeli/35531888/