Is Your Planned Mountain Excursion Even Open? Don’t Make This Mistake

One of the most complicated parts of traveling in Switzerland is knowing if your mountain excursion is open.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but these guys have to close the trains and gondolas to keep them 100% safe and functioning for you and me :>

Some close for short periods in shoulder season, so they rarely stay open 365 days a year, and some close for long periods after summer.

So, if you are heading to Interlaken, Lucerne, or Zermatt and wondering if your trip will be ruined, just scroll down to find out…

Interlaken Region

The Interlaken region is complex because of the three major areas (Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen) plus all of the gondolas and trains running in these areas. If you want a great overview of the whole region and things to do then check out my detailed guide

Here are the closures for the majority of the mountains you care about!

• Jungfraujoch: Open year-round
• Grindelwald First: Closed Oct 28 – Nov 29 2024
• Harder Kulm: Closed Dec 1 – Late March
• Wengen – Männlichen: Closed Oct 21-Dec 6 2024
• Grindelwald – Männlichen: Closed Oct 21-Dec 6 2024
• Eiger Express (Grindelwald Terminal – Eigergletscher): Closed Nov 13-14
• Pfingstegg: Closed Oct 20 – Early May
• Schynige Platte: Closed Oct 20 2024 – Mid June 2025
• Lauterbrunnen – Wengen: 365 days a year
• Wengen – Kleine Scheidegg: Closed Nov 4-29 2024
• Mürren via Grütschalp: Closed 21 Oct-8 Nov 2024
• Mürren – Allmendhubel: Closed Nov 4-Dec 6 2024
• Schilthorn: is a little special due to the new gondola
  • Stechelberg – Gimmelwald – Mürren: Close: 18 – 29 Nov 2024
    Shuttle buses running instead
  • Mürren – Birg (new cablecar): Opens 13 Dec 2024
  • Birg – Schilthorn: Closed 14 Oct 2024 – 15 Mar 2025
  • From 15 March 2025 Schilthorn will be 365 days a year!
• Brienzer Rothorn: Closed for the season due to the landslide
  • Reopens May 2025

Lucerne Region

Mt. Rigi

Mt Rigi is a great year round destination where locals ski, walk, mountain bike and more. And with three major ways up the mountain, you can always find a way up (Vitznau, Weggis or Arth-Goldau).

• Weggis – Rigi: Closed for maintenance Nov 18-22, Nov 25-29

Pilatus

You can generally do this trip year round except for a short time in October/November, but the Cogwheel train closes for long periods over winter.

• Kriens – Fräkmüntegg – Pilatus (Gondola): Closed for maintenance Oct 21-Nov 8
• Alpnachstad – Pilatus (Cogwheel): Closed Nov 17 2024 – Mid May 2025
  • Lucerne – Alpnachstad ferry stops on Oct 21 2024 (Use the train instead – Silver round trip)

Titlis

Titlis is a ski resort so is open for most of the year. Just a few small sections are closed for maintenance.

• Stand – Titlis: Closed Nov 4-15 2024
• Engelberg – Gerschnialp: Closed Sept 30-Dec 6 2024

Stanserhorn

Typically closes over winter from 24 Nov 2024 – Mid-April 2025

Stoos

Stoos is another ski resort open for most of the year except for short maintenance periods. Of course, the full Stoos Ridge walk is not possible in winter, but you can do a short walk around Fronalpstock at the top for the best views.

• Schwyz – Stoos: Closed Nov 18-22 & Nov 25-29 2024
• Morschach – Stoos: Closed Nov 4-8 & Nov 11-15 2024

Zermatt

Zermatt is another major ski resort that is open for summer and winter. The Gornergrat has the smallest closing window in November, while the others close for weeks over the fall.

• Gornergrat: Closed Nov 2-7 2024
• Trockener Steg – Glacier Paradise: Open year-round
• Zermatt – Furi: Open year-round
• Furi – Schwarzsee – Trockener Steg: Closed Sept 30-Nov 15 2024 (Use Furi Trockener Steg instead)
• Furi – Trockener Steg: Closed from Nov 16 (so the whole route is open via one or the other)
• Zermatt – Sunnegga: Closed Oct 14-Nov 29 2024
• Sunnegga – Blauherd: Closed Oct 7-Nov 29 2024
• Blauherd – Rothorn: Closed Sept 30-Nov 29 2024