Parsenn (ski Zone)

Parsenn is the large ski area above Davos and Klosters in the canton of Graubünden, and it is one of the best-known winter sports regions in the Alps. Davos is often described as the highest town of its size in Europe, at about 1,500 metres, and it became famous in the nineteenth century as a health resort for people with lung disease, before skiing and winter sport took over as the main attraction. The mountain slopes above the town, with their wide, open bowls, proved ideal for early skiers, and Parsenn became one of the cradles of Alpine skiing. Many accounts name it as one of the oldest ski areas in Switzerland.

Its fame was built partly on a race. The Parsenn Derby, first run in the 1920s, was a long downhill descent from the high ridge above Davos to the village of Küblis in the valley below, and it drew skiers from across Europe. The race helped shape ideas about skiing as a challenge of endurance and nerve, and the run that bears its name is still one of the longest in the Alps, running for more than ten kilometres with a vertical drop of close to two thousand metres from the Weissfluhjoch down toward Küblis. The funicular that carries skiers from Davos to the ridge, the Parsennbahn, opened in 1931, making access much easier and helping the area to grow.

Today, the ski area is large and varied, with long, broad runs suitable for intermediates, as well as steeper slopes and off-piste routes for experts. It is reached from Davos on the Parsennbahn and from Klosters on the Gotschnabahn, and the two sides link up so that skiers can cross from one town to the other and back. Mountain huts and restaurants along the pistes serve traditional Graubünden food such as barley soup, air-dried beef and hot chocolate, and sunny terraces offer places to rest. The landscape is open, above the tree line for much of the way, with views toward the Silvretta group and across the high valleys of the region.

In summer the same slopes turn into a hiking and mountain biking area. A large network of marked trails runs across the hillsides, from gentle paths to demanding ridge routes, and the lifts are used to take walkers up to the high pastures. The area also draws runners and athletes who train at altitude, taking advantage of the thin air, and some trails are designed as themed routes with information boards on the landscape and history. Cows graze on the pastures, and mountain restaurants stay open through the season.

Opening dates, lift schedules and prices change from year to year, so check the operator's information before you plan a trip. Winter conditions can vary from season to season, and avalanche risk is a real concern outside the marked pistes, so skiers who leave the slopes should have training and equipment or go with a guide. In summer, weather can change quickly at high altitude, so bring warm layers and rain protection. Parsenn suits skiers of all levels, hikers and families, and the towns of Davos and Klosters offer plenty of accommodation and après-ski.