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- Written by: Roger Fulton
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The beautiful Lenzerheide region is something of a hidden gem when it comes to summer outdoor activities. This 'World of Wonders', located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, with clean air and spectacular views, has hiking and mountain biking at top of the list of things to do, along with watersports, making it a perfect choice for families.
Located at 1,230 to 2,865m, Lenzerheide sits in a high sunny valley between Chur and the Julier Pass, at the foot of the Rothorn peak and beside the scenic Lake Heid (Heidsee), in the canton of Graubunden in the east of the country. It was lift-linked to neighbouring Arosa, with which it shares its extensive Arosa Lenzerheide ski area, via an aerial tramway built in 2013. This link is open during the peak summer season of late-June to mid-October, though the shoulder seasons may see partial opening only.
In summer, the mountain peaks are perfect for hiking and biking and are home to around 300km of marked trails. The peaks are all higher than 2000 metres and offer far-reaching panoramic views. A highlight for mountain bike fans is the Bike Kingdom Park with five different trails. Add to these a plethora of water-based sports and activities in the cooling waters of the Heidsee, and Lenzerheide makes a great base for an all-round activity holiday for families.
The pirate ship at the Heidsee, the slide in the H2Lai water world and the marble run on Scharmoin provide fun for young and old. There is also the Globi hiking trail, helping young ones learn about nature and the environment, the Autschliweg and the Pradaschier adventure mountain with toboggan run, rope park and zipline. And in the squirrel forest, the cute little critters eat hazelnuts right out of your hand.
Summer in Lenzerheide is certainly an experience. Tap into gorgeous, inspiring mountain scenery, enjoy a sunrise breakfast on the Rothorn at 2,865m, stretch out with yoga in the crisp morning air, combine a scenic hike with a refreshing swim; go for an e-bike loop through the Lenzerheide world of wonders; try your hand at dinghy sailing or windsurfing. And when you’ve worked up an appetite, visit the numerous mountain huts, lakeside restaurants and cosy cafes to sample delicious regional cuisine.
Here’s what you can look forward to in Lenzerheide:
Summer Hiking in Lenzerheide
With its majestic mountains and breathtaking scenery, Lenzerheide is a tranquil paradise for hikers. Countless hiking tours take you through fragrant forests, over blooming Alpine meadows and up to breathtaking peaks. Whether you're a leisurely hiker, a long-distance runner, a summit seeker, or on a family outing, nature lovers will find the perfect hike for a peaceful summer day in the mountains on up to 300 km of marked trails. Children will enjoy the walk through ‘Squirrel Forest’ to the Sanaspans waterfall, while for experienced hikers the Heidi & Gigi Trail, which connects Lenzerheide and Arosa via the Urdental valley, is not to be missed.
Here are some of the hiking route highlights:
Summer Heidi & Gigi Trail
Distance: 18.8km
Duration: 18hrs
Ascent: 1512m; Descent: 1,109m
Difficulty: Moderate/difficult
An exciting mountain route connecting the two areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide. Although long, the route can be considerably shortened by using the various mountain cable cars. The undoubted highlight has to be the Urdenbahn mountain tramway (opened January 2014) which cuts out the need to cross the Urdental valley on foot.
Piz Scalottas – Brambrüesch
Distance: 16.6km
Duration: 7hrs 26mins
Ascent: 880m; Descent: 1611m
Difficulty: Moderate/difficult
Incredibly scenic day-long ridge hike from the Piz Scalottas summit for sure-footed hikers. Parts are somewhat exposed, but easily manageable for experienced mountain hikers. Extensive views include the opposite side of the valley, the village of Lenzerheide, and the Heinzenberg. You can also shorten this hike to a little over 4hrs and about 11kms, by catching the Heidbüel gondola from Alp Statz, down to Churwalden.
For more information about this route, go to maps.arosalenzerheide.swiss
Crap La Pala
Distance: 2.4km
Duration: 1hr 15mins
Ascent: 402m; Descent: 2m
Difficulty: Easy
An easy and short summit hike from Tgantieni to Crap la Pala. An ideal route for sunrises and sunsets or as a stopover on the way to Piz Scalottas. This well-marked and easily walkable hiking trail is suitable for a wide range of hikers, including families with children.
Panorama Trail Scharmoin
Distance: 18.4km
Duration: 5hr 40mins
Ascent: 670m; Descent: 670m
Difficulty: Moderate
A round trip starting and finishing in Lenzerheide village centre, this is a beautiful panoramic route along the Rothorn valley side. Enjoy the view of the opposite mountain peaks and the Heidsee and be sure to pop into Restaurant Tschugga for refreshments. The hike can also be shortened by taking the gondola up to Scharmoin.
For more information about this trail, go to arosalenzerheide.swiss
Autschliweg
Distance: 4.3km
Duration: 1hr
Ascent: 413m; Descent: 391m
A short, themed hike with children in mind. The Autschliweg leads from the Scharmoin mid-station back to the village of Lenzerheide. Along the way, with the help of Autschli, the magical bear, children can make exciting discoveries about the forest habitat around them.
Mountain Biking trails in Lenzerheide
Lenzerheide and its near-neighbours Arosa and Chur are part of what the canton of Graubunden modestly calls Bike Kingdom. Its majestic offers include an abundance of single trails with technical descents and leisurely circular tours with epic views. Hikers and bikers do share trails a lot in this area, so always be alert – it’s worth remembering that those on foot have priority.
There are over 50 trails for every level in the Bike Kingdom, the most famous being The Great White, Hörnli Trail and the Bike Kingdom Park in Lenzerheide which offers five varied trails with different lines, jumps and obstacles. However, there are also many lesser-known trails that are often more difficult to reach but offer a unique and unforgettable MTB experience.
On top of tremendous terrain, the Bike Kingdom offers you many tailored services, from bike shops, rental, bike schools, bike guides and bike hotels.
Here is a trio of must-dos for mountain bikers:
BikeTicket 2 Ride
The tagline for this is ‘the most beautiful bike trails in Graubünden between Arosa, Lenzerheide and Chur in one tour’. You get a choice of three different routes – blue, red, and black – with varying levels of difficulty and distances, making it easy to discover ‘the most beautiful trails’ between Lenzerheide, Arosa, and Chur. Tickets are available online or from mountain railway stations.
Switchbacks Overkill
One of the most challenging trails in the Bike Kingdom, known for its relentless switchbacks and technical terrain. It's 2.4km and 20mins of unrelenting excitement and is not for the faint-hearted!
Great White Trail
As its name suggests, this one bites. One of the most popular and technically challenging MTB trails in the Bike Kingdom, this is a 3 km black-rated, rocky, alpine singletrack trail known for its challenging rock gardens and features. It’s a mix of enduro and bike park terrain.
And for something less intense…try the Lenz Round
The Lenz Round is a leisurely (think 2hrs for 15.4km) valley round trip route to Lantsch/Lenz with a stop at the viewpoint Crap la Tretscha to take in the fabulous mountain and valley scenery. This stop also comes with a cosy barbecue area, where you can kick back for a welcome break, before a gentle descent back to Lenzerheide. Also suitable for e-bikes.
Event for 2026
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Lenzerheide, 19-21 June 2026
Watch as some of the world’s best mountain bikers put their skills on the line in this major biking event. Go to mtbworldcup.ch for more info about the event.
Water Sports and more
If hitting the trails on foot or two wheels aren’t enough for you, stick with us, because you'll find plenty of alternatives here. You can aim for the golf course or the biathlon shooting range, clamber around the rope park, slide out onto a sledge run, make a racquet on the tennis court or hurl yourself into the air from the paragliding launch site.
And in the midst of it all, Lake Heidsee promises action-packed days on and in the water, including a family-friendly lido with a water sports centre. Here you can learn to wingfoil, windsurf, sail and stand-up paddle. Or perhaps just potter about on a pedalo. Or maybe you'll be in the mood to cool off with a refreshing swim after a hike or bike ride. No one goes home dry.
The idyllic lake, with its spacious lakeside meadows is the central hub for trying new water-sports, surrounded by glorious mountain scenery as well as being an ideal place to just relax and sunbathe.
How to get to Lenzerheide
The nearest airport to Lenzerheide is Zurich, two hours away. Direct flights are available from London (City, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted), Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, usually via British Airways, Swiss, or easyJet. You can rent a car or take a private transfer from Zurich. Alternatively, take the train from Zurich to Chur – the oldest city in Switzerland, and worth a visit itself! From Chur station, take the yellow postal bus (number 182) toward Lenzerheide/Lai. Transfer time from Zurich to Lenzerheide is about 2hrs 30mins.
Chur is also the start point for a scenic train ride on the historic Rhaetian Railway to Arosa.
For more information about taking a trip to Lenzerheide, go to arosalenzerheide.swiss
