Surrounded by the amphitheatre of snow-capped Alps, the lake is not only one of the treasures that have helped make St. Moritz the legendary premier winter destination in the world. It is also the most incredible and spectacular stage that nature could create for The I.C.E. St. Moritz.
At the time of the event, the lake’s icy crust is solid enough to be safe for those driving over it, and at the same time thin enough to give a shiver at the thought of being suspended above the icy waves of a liquid abyss.
In this delicate balance lies the whole exciting aspect of The Ice St. Moritz, which allows participants to feel at ease without giving up the sense of adventure that makes the two days so exciting.
It is only when the gentlemen-drivers drive their cars over the access ramp to the lake, at the precise moment when their tyres bite into the crunching snow that lays on the ice, that they really realise the feat they are accomplishing.
Over the past decades, a special society, with the help of the renowned glaciologist Felix Keller, has turned the study of the frozen lake from art into science.
Drivers know that as soon as the thickness of the ice reaches 27 centimetres, it is tested for safety. By the time their cars step onto the frozen expanse, its thickness is solid enough to guarantee stability. However… a vague ancestral fear vibrates in the soul, giving the adventure that ultimate touch of pushing a limit, of courage and conquering a new, never imagined goal.
When coming from the north (e.g. Zurich) or west (e.g. Bern or Lucerne), take Highway A13 direction Chur; then you have the following options:
pass Chur and follow A13, direction San Bernardino, exit at Thusis from where you drive to Tiefencastel and via Savognin and the Julier Pass to Silvaplana near St. Moritz (the alternative road via Filisur, Bergun and the Albula Pass is normally closed during winter).
When coming from the south (Ticino), the fastest route is via the San Bernardino Pass to Thusis from where you have the options as above;
via Chiavenna and the Maloja Pass (taking approx. 20 minutes more), when coming from Italy (Milano).
The indications above are suggestive; please ask your transport provider to assess the best solution, the weather forecast and road conditions for the service.
A journey with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is an adventure in itself, promising a delightful first holiday experience even before you have reached your resort. And since your route takes you to the magnificent Engadin, you have an additional treat in store: a ride on the region’s Rhaetian Railway (RhB), one of the most spectacular pieces of railway engineering in the world with one of the most picturesque of all routes. No wonder UNESCO added the RhB’s Albula/Bernina line to its list of World Heritage Sites in 2008, declaring it of “universal outstanding“ importance.
You can travel into the Engadin along this line from either direction: from Chur through the Albula tunnel, or from Tirano in Italy over the Bernina Pass. You can also reach us here in the Engadin via the RhB line from Landquart through the Vereina tunnel.
Set off from Zurich main station, for example, and you could be breathing the pure Engadin mountain air in just 3 hours.
Flights …
… to Europe’s highest-altitude airport, 1,707 metres above sea level, are straightforward by private jet or air taxi. Helicopters and gliders can also land at Engadin Airport (St. Moritz-Samedan).
