Hotels in Gibswil
Gibswil is a village of the upper Töss valley in the Zurich Oberland, part of the municipality of Fischenthal, and in winter it matters for one reason: it is the station for the cross-country trails around the Bachtel. Zurich Tourism counts 25 km groomed for classic and 19 km for skating in the area, including the Panoramaloipe Gibswil, 12 km and classic only, and a 4 km floodlit night trail at the Sportzentrum Amslen, where a heated soup wagon waits for cold skiers. Hotel Gibswilerstube, on Tösstalstrasse about 100 m from Gibswil station, is the one hotel listed here, rated 9.4 from 170 reviews; it is family-run, has a restaurant with Swiss cooking, free parking, and for children an indoor playroom and a playground with a petting zoo. The trap is the snow: this is low pre-Alpine country, and the trails only open after a real snowfall, so watch the trail report before you book. There is no downhill ski area here. I would choose Gibswil for nordic skiing within an easy train ride of Zurich, with children in tow, not for a week of alpine skiing.
Gibswil suits cross-country skiers and families who want trails a few minutes from a train station rather than a ski resort. The village, in the upper Töss valley of the Zurich Oberland, is the starting point for the groomed loops around the Bachtel, from the 12 km Panoramaloipe to a 4 km night trail at the Sportzentrum Amslen. Hotel Gibswilerstube, about 100 m from the station, is the place to sleep, and the trails depend entirely on fresh snow.
Gibswil in numbers
What to expect
- Panoramaloipe Gibswil: 12 km, classic technique only
- 25 km groomed for classic and 19 km for skating around the Bachtel
- 4 km floodlit night trail at the Sportzentrum Amslen, with a heated soup wagon
- Hotel Gibswilerstube about 100 m from Gibswil station, with a playroom and petting zoo for children
Local tips
- ✓Bring classic skis if you plan to ski the Panoramaloipe: its 12 km are tracked for the classic technique only, with no skating lane.
- ✓Use the 4 km night trail at the Sportzentrum Amslen for an evening session after work or after arriving by train, and warm up at the heated soup wagon.
- ✓For beginners or a gentle outing, the flat Rietliloipe in Fischenthal, about 4 km, runs from the Rietli pond past Gibswil and back on the other side of the valley.
- ✓Check the trail report before you travel: at this low pre-Alpine altitude the loops close quickly when the snow melts, and a green winter is possible.
- ✓Leave the car at home: the trails are easy to reach on foot from Gibswil station, and the hotel is about 100 m from the platform.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
Can you ski in Gibswil?
Yes, but cross-country only. Gibswil is the starting point for the groomed nordic trails around the Bachtel: 25 km for classic and 19 km for skating, including the 12 km Panoramaloipe and a 4 km night trail. There is no downhill ski area or chairlift in the village.
How long is the Panoramaloipe Gibswil?
The Panoramaloipe Gibswil is 12 km long and is tracked for the classic technique only. Skaters should use the other loops of the Bachtel network, where 19 km are prepared for the free technique when snow allows.
Is there night cross-country skiing near Gibswil?
Yes. A 4 km floodlit night trail runs at the Sportzentrum Amslen, and a heated soup wagon is set up there for cold and hungry skiers. It is the easiest way to fit a session into an evening after a day in Zurich.
How do I get to Gibswil from Zurich?
By train: Gibswil has its own station in the upper Töss valley, and the cross-country trails are easy to reach on foot from it. Hotel Gibswilerstube is about 100 m from the station, so a nordic weekend works without a car.
Is Gibswil good for families in winter?
For families who like gentle outdoor days, yes. The flat 4 km Rietliloipe in Fischenthal suits first steps on cross-country skis, and Hotel Gibswilerstube has an indoor playroom and a playground with a petting zoo. Families who want ski school on alpine slopes should look elsewhere.