Rinerhorn night toboggan - 3.5km sled run ending with Glühwein by firelight

Every Thursday and Friday evening in winter, the Rinerhorn opens its 3.5km toboggan run under floodlights. Rent a wooden sled (CHF 10), ride the gondola up, and hurtle down through dark pine forests at insane speeds. At the bottom, a fire pit and Glühwein station awaits. The adrenaline-to-warm-wine pipeline is pure Swiss mountain genius.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Conquer One of the Most Challenging Toboggan Runs in the Alps Adventure · Price: low

   3.5km toboggan run with 33 bends and "exceptionally steep turns that demand great steering and braking skill." This is NOT a gentle tourist sled ride. It starts with a STEEP section including a tunnel - locals describe it as "packs a punch from the very start." One TripAdvisor review: "one of the most challenging around." If you can't steer, you WILL hit a bank. Rent a wooden sled at the Rinerhorn cable car station in Glaris village (~CHF 10), board the 10-minute cable car to summit, and read the safety signs CAREFULLY. Push off, lean into turns, brake BEFORE bends not during. Count the 33 bends if you can - most people lose count after 10 because adrenaline erases memory.

   Backup: If night sledding (Wed/Fri 7pm-10:30pm, mid-Dec to end March) is too intimidating, go during daylight hours. Same challenging run, better visibility.

   Log Memory
2. 2 Earn Mulled Wine at the Middle Station Wine · Price: low

   After surviving the steep upper section + tunnel, you reach the middle station where mulled wine (Glühwein) awaits. This is the Alpine reward system: risk your life on a toboggan, earn hot spiced wine. The Glühwein is made from Swiss red wine (often Pinot Noir), heated with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, orange peel, sugar. It tastes like VICTORY mixed with RELIEF. Stop at the middle station (marked with signage), order Glühwein by the mug (~CHF 5-8), and drink it standing by the fire pit. Your hands will be COLD from gripping the sled rope. The hot mug will feel like salvation. Finish the mug, but do NOT get back on drunk - the lower section still has 20+ bends.

   Backup: If you're doing night sledding and middle station is closed, the wine station at the BOTTOM (base of run) always operates during sledding hours.

   Log Memory
3. 3 Toast with Locals Who Do This Weekly Adventure · Free

   At the bottom, there's ALWAYS a group of locals who do this EVERY Wednesday/Friday night during winter season. They're Davos residents who've been sledding this run since childhood. Their sleds have worn wooden runners, their gloves are patched, their Glühwein orders are automatic. Watch them: they don't wear helmets (stupid but traditional), they take steep turns WITHOUT braking (showing off), they arrive laughing. Order your Glühwein, stand near the fire pit at the base station, and listen to Swiss German conversations. If you made it down without crashing, you're allowed to feel smug. If you crashed, laugh about it - they ALL crashed when they were learning.

   Backup: If the base station scene is too crowded, walk 5 minutes into Glaris village and find a quieter bar. Same wine, less chaos, but you'll miss the communal energy.

   Log Memory
4. 4 Upgrade to Fondue at Jatzmeder Summit Restaurant Wine · Price: moderate · Optional

   Before OR after sledding, Jatzmeder restaurant near the Rinerhorn mountain station serves traditional Swiss fondue - melted Graubünden cheese with white wine, garlic, nutmeg, served with bread cubes. This is the COMPLETE Alpine experience: cable car up → fondue at 2,000m+ → toboggan down through darkness → Glühwein at bottom. Reserve ahead if possible (especially Fri/Sat nights), order the classic fondue (serves 2 minimum), and pair with Bündner Herrschaft Pinot Noir. Budget 45-60 minutes. THEN go sledding - the food will have settled, the wine buzz will make you brave (maybe too brave).

   Backup: If Jatzmeder is fully booked, grab a quick snack at the summit cable car station kiosk, sled down, THEN have a proper meal with wine in Glaris village afterward.

   Log Memory