Alps
Switzerland
Engelberg
Natural snow at mid-mountain (2,035 m) is reliably skiable from 1 Dec to 15 May. At the peak of the season the village at 1,050 m is unreliable (40% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 59 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Engelberg has changed
Days each winter (November to April) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961/62 to 1990/91 and 1995/96 to 2024/25.
Village, 1,050 m
30 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 2,035 m
5 fewer days a winter with 30 cm or more than in 1961–1990.Modelled from ERA5 weather (Copernicus Climate Change Service), one consistent record for every winter. Checked against measured snow, this model got the direction of change right at 18 of 19 Swiss weather stations and 22 of 25 US snow stations, but overstated its size: a typical loss of 26 days against 17 measured in Switzerland, and 12 against 6 in the US. Read the changes as upper estimates. See the measurements · All 104 resorts since 1950
Month by month
October
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 8% of days.
November
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 64% of days, typically 49 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 189 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
December
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,035 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days, with a typical depth of 116 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 60%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 172 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,035 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 176 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 149 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,035 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 217 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 132 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,035 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 230 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 158 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (2,035 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 208 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 87%. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 165 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 76% of days, typically 98 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. The village is usually bare. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 186 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
June
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 6% of days.
July to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Engelberg?
For natural snow, 1 Dec to 15 May. In that window mid-mountain (2,035 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. March is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Engelberg in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 98% of days over thirty winters, typically 116 cm deep.
Does the snow reach the village at Engelberg?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 1,050 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 22% of days. Expect to ride a lift down at the end of the day.
How high is Engelberg?
The modelled village is at 1,050 m, mid-mountain at 2,035 m and the summit at 3,020 m. The ski area itself spans 997 m to 3,040 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Engelberg?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 144 and 246 days per season, with a typical winter around 194. Thirty winters show how much one season can differ from the next. For how snow has changed since 1950, see the long record below.
What is the nearest airport to Engelberg?
Bern (BRN) is about 69 km away in a straight line. Zürich (ZRH) is 72 km away. Road distances are longer.