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Best summer activities in Arosa for active families - Arosa Tourismus
Arosa is a strong fit for families whose idea of a holiday is moving outside all day. The valley sits between 1,775 metres and 2,653 metres, has more than 200 kilometres of marked hiking trails, a dedicated bike region with graded family flow trails, eight rope park circuits and two alpine lakes you can swim in. For families with children aged eight to sixteen, the brief is different from a holiday with toddlers: kids at this age can handle real distances, real altitude and real adrenaline. They also lose interest fast if the activity is built for younger children.
This guide picks the activities that genuinely work for active families with older kids and teenagers, with realistic half-day scope. For the wider summer overview and what the Arosa Card covers, see our companion guide on things to do in Arosa with kids.
Book your active family stay at Altein
1. The two-lakes hike: Älplisee and Schwellisee
This is the standout half-day hike for active families. The route starts at the Weisshorn middle station (gondola free with the Arosa Card), loops around two alpine lakes and returns to the village, covering roughly seven kilometres. Älplisee has steel cable sections along the steeper passages near the lake, which means real surefootedness is required but also gives older kids the satisfaction of a properly alpine experience rather than a graded path. Schwellisee is the calmer of the two, a clear lake reflecting the surrounding peaks where families often stop for a picnic and a swim if the day is warm enough. Allow three to four hours including stops.
If anyone in the group is not ready for the cable sections, the Weisshorn middle station to Schwellisee section on its own is excellent and avoids the exposed parts entirely.
2. The Hörnli flow trail for biking families
Arosa is part of the Bike Kingdom region and the Hörnli Trail is its signature family flow trail: 6.8 kilometres of purpose-built singletrack with 113 banked curves, four rest stops along the way and, importantly, blue and red versions. The blue line is rideable by competent eight-year-olds with some flow trail experience. The red line is intermediate, with stones and tighter corners that suit confident teens. Both finish back at the Hörnli-Express valley station.
Most families warm up at the Bike Skill Centre at the Hörnli valley station first. It is free, includes four graded practice trails, a conveyor belt that takes riders back to the top, dirt jumps and a pump track. An hour here lets younger or less confident riders build the technique before committing to the full descent. The Arosa Bike School also runs guided sessions for groups of older kids who want to push their riding without parents micromanaging the line.
Bike transport on the cable cars is not free with the Arosa Card, but card holders get 30% off day tickets and single journeys at the Arosa cash desks.
3. The Rope Park for height and rope work
The Arosa Rope Park at Untersee has eight courses of increasing difficulty. For families with older kids and teens this is more than just a play structure: the harder courses include long zip lines, exposed crossings between trees and elements that demand grip strength and balance. Adults can do the same routes as teenagers, which makes it a rare activity where everyone is genuinely engaged at their own level rather than parents standing at the bottom watching.
Entry is free with the Arosa Card for all family members. Equipment costs an additional fee. Allow two to three hours for the full park, longer if your group wants to repeat the harder circuits.
4. Weisshorn summit and the descent on foot
The Weisshorn cable car runs from the village to 2,653 metres and is included free with the Arosa Card. The view from the summit, with the architect-designed panorama restaurant, is the obvious reason to go up. The active family version is the descent on foot: an honest mountain walk from the summit back down to the middle station or, for the fitter members, all the way to the village. It is around three hours of descent at a steady pace from the summit, with good paths and varied terrain. Older kids tend to find it more rewarding than another flat trail because the altitude, the views and the genuine elevation drop give it the feel of a real mountain day.
5. Themed trails with substance: Lucky Stone and Solar System
The themed trails in Arosa are usually pitched at younger children, but two of them work surprisingly well with older kids if you frame them right. The Lucky Stone Trail is a geology trail that explores rock formations and alpine flora through hands-on stations, with a quiz booklet that older kids will engage with rather than dismiss. The Solar System Trail scales the distance between the sun and Pluto along the route, which appeals to teenagers who like the maths of the thing. Both work as a relaxed half-day if a full hike is too much.
6. Swimming the lakes: Untersee and Obersee
Both lakes are included free with the Arosa Card. Lido Untersee has a heated children's pool but the open lake itself is properly cold alpine water and fine for older kids who want a real swim. Obersee has pedalos and rowing boats free with the card, plus the Ochsenbühl pump track and lakeside playground. For an active family afternoon, pick Obersee: take a pedalo for forty minutes, then ride the pump track on whatever wheels you brought.
Putting it together
A genuinely active three-day weekend looks like this: one big hike (the two-lakes loop), one half-day on the bikes (skill centre then Hörnli flow trail), and one Rope Park afternoon. Add a Weisshorn summit ascent for the morning of the third day and you have used the gondolas, the trails, the bikes and the ropes. Most families will not run out of things to do in a week.
For teenagers who want longer routes, the Arosa Tourism guest information desk at the sports and congress centre keeps current trail booklets and can advise on the harder routes outside the immediate Weisshorn area, including the Aroser Alpen Trail which links a series of higher routes for the fitter days.
Where to base yourself
Hotel Altein sits between the two Arosa lakes, a short walk from the train station, the Weisshorn gondola valley station and Lido Untersee. For active families this matters more than it might sound: most of the activities in this guide start within ten minutes on foot, which removes the need for a car or extra transport. The hotel also has a 950 m² wellness area with two indoor pools, an outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam bath, plus a fitness centre, which is the right kind of recovery setup after a full day on the trails. Bike rental, secure storage, a repair workshop and laundry for biking gear are on site for families who want to ride.
Plan your active Arosa family holiday
The Arosa Card removes the running cost of mountain travel, the trails and bike infrastructure suit older kids without dumbing down, and the rope park gives genuine adrenaline at every age. For a planning-grade weekend itinerary, see our 3-day family summer itinerary for Arosa. For booking, Hotel Altein sits at the centre of the action.