Braunwald has announced the end of its traditional winter ski operations.

In a telling sign of climate change’s mounting toll on lower-elevation alpine resorts, the mountain village of Braunwald in the canton of Glarus has announced the end of its traditional winter ski operations.

Following a comprehensive operational review, officials confirmed that continuing "as before" is no longer a viable option. The strategic shift will take effect starting with the 2026/27 winter season.

The stakeholders have now jointly launched a process to shape the future. “The challenges are too great to be tackled in isolation,” said Richard Bolt, chair of the board of directors of Sportbahnen Braunwald.

Climate Realities Force a Strategic Pivot

Situated at an altitude of 1,256 meters, Braunwald has faced increasingly restricted ski seasons in recent years due to a severe lack of reliable snow cover. With global climate trends pointing to further warming, local operators determined that long-term investments into maintaining standard winter slopes were unsustainable.

Historically, the resort was a favorite hidden gem primarily used by Swiss locals. Its footprint included:

• 26 kilometers of groomed slopes.

• 10 ski lifts transporting skiers up to an elevation of 1,901 meters.

With traditional skiing off the table, the destination is shifting its focus to securing a stable economic future by transitioning into a major summer operations hub and introducing alternative, weather-independent winter attractions.

Financing a New Vision for Braunwald

The announcement does not mark the end of Braunwald's tourism industry, but rather a complete reinvention. The canton of Glarus has officially pledged its support to help navigate this transition through existing regional funding schemes.

Federal and Cantonal Backing

Authorities are currently examining whether financial aid can be allocated to the resort under the federal government's New Regional Policy (NRP) alongside cantonal economic resources.

A core strategy group has been assembled to design the roadmap for the town's multi-season transformation. The comprehensive planning process, which will involve workshops to outline specific summer and alternative winter concepts, is expected to take approximately six months to finalize.