Run for Bears
September 13. 2025
The Run for Bears - Charity Run for Arosa Bear Sanctuary combines two goals:
It aims to encourage more exercise and simultaneously raise funds for Arosa Bear Sanctuary.
The charity run in support of Arosa Bear Sanctuary is a bear-inspired experience for everyone.
Total donations in 2024: CHF 13'445.40
About the Run for Bears
The Run for Bears - charity run for the Arosa Bear Sanctuary combines two aims: to motivate people to exercise more and at the same time raise funds for the Arosa Bear Sanctuary.
The charity run offers a simple and effective way to support animal welfare. The amount donated helps to rescue animals in need and give them a new home and new freedom in Arosa.
After the start, participants will have the opportunity to visit Bear Sanctuary free of charge and find out about the background, vision and guiding principles of Arosa Bear Country. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour of Bear Country at 1.30 pm.
Participation charity run
Anyone can take part at the Arosa Bear Sanctuary charity run! Big and small, young and old, fast and leisurely, local and visiting, diverse and straight, abled and disabled. It's not about top performance, but about togetherness.
The charity run is aimed at people aged 10 and over. For all children (from the age of 3) who are keen to run and take part, there is the children's run.
- from 8 to 10 am: Start number distribution at Sportplatz Ochsenbühl
- 10.30 am: Start of all routes at Sportplatz Ochsenbühl
- 10.45 am: Departure shuttle Prätschli (for runners of the short distance)
- from 11 am: Finish lines at the top of the Arosa Bear Sanctuary
Throughout: Festival area around the Arosa Bear Sanctuary, food & drink offers, music
Free entry for all participants of the Charity Run for the Arosa Bear Sanctuary
- Register
- Choose the form of donation (amount per kilometer or fixed amount)
- Find private sponsors or companies to “boost” the run
- Run
- Pay the promised donation (invoicing is done by Arosa Bärenland)
As a runner, money is collected for the Arosa Bear Sanctuary with the help of personal sponsors. The sponsors support the runner with a contribution per kilometer run or with a fixed amount. The aim is to win over as many friends, neighbors, relatives, work colleagues or companies as possible.
As a company, you can sponsor your own employees. You can support them with an amount per kilometer run, define a cost ceiling or donate a fixed amount as a company - get involved together and experience a great company event while jogging! If it is not possible for the company to make a financial commitment, the employees simply take part as a running team and the financial commitment is made exclusively through the runners' private sponsors.
As a club or school class, the members / students run as a “team”. The club / school can support the runners with an amount per kilometer run, define a cost ceiling or donate a fixed amount; if it is not possible for the club / school to make a financial commitment, you simply run as a team and the financial commitment is made exclusively through the private sponsors.
Afterwards, all kilometers run will be evaluated. The participants will receive an invoice with the predetermined/specified donation amount/amount X according to the kilometers run (calculated). The donations are collected and officially handed over to Arosa Bärenland.
The start area is at the Sportplatz Ochsenbühl in Arosa. The finish is at the top in Bärenland.
For all those who want to run shorter or cannot run as long, there is another start at Prätschli. There is a shuttle service from the Start area at Ochsenbühl to Prätschli.
The exact route can be found below.
Runners can drop off their bags at the Weisshorn valley station between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. These bags will then be carried up to the finish line at the middle station.
The event area is located around and in the Arosa Bear Sanctuary.
Offer:
- Various food and drink stands
- (DJ/live) music
- Children's face painting
- Hands-on activities (selfie campaign for social media)
- Regional market stands
- Visit from mascot Jöri
- Start and finish area with Arosa archway
- Bear Sanctuary merchandising sale
- Runners can drop off their bags at the merchandise reception at the Weisshorn valley station between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. These bags will then be transported up to the finish line at the mid-station.
Mountain railway tickets:
- All runners will receive a free cable car ticket from the Weisshorn mid-station/Arosa Bärenland back to Lake Obersee. This ticket will be given to them at the finish line.
- Accompanying persons can receive the cable car ticket at a special price of CHF 5.00 (mid-station one-way) or CHF 8.00 (mid-station return) upon presentation of their wristband (available at the race number collection point).
Arosa Bear Sanctuary:
- Admission to Arosa Bear Sanctuary is free for all participants and accompanying persons of the Arosa Charity Run upon presentation of their wristband.
Weather:
- Please dress appropriately for the weather! Feel free to pack a change of clothes for the finish line and leave them with the luggage transport.
Refreshments:
- There will be a light refreshment stop at the finish line (apples, bananas, Peak Punk bars, and water). Hot drinks and hot meals are available at the Brüggerstuba next door.
Getting there:
- Train: Take the R16 train from Chur to Arosa. Once there, the starting area is a maximum of a 5-minute walk away.
- Car: Parking is available directly next to the event site: Ochsenbühl parking garage
registration
The course
About the arosa bear sanctuary
The Arosa Bear Sanctuary is an experience for young and old. Here, bears rescued from poor living conditions are given a species-appropriate home. Bears that previously had to live in a tiny, dirty cage are rescued by FOUR PAWS from this miserable situation and brought to Arosa.
In the middle of the natural mountain landscape with pastures, bushes, rocks, streams and forest, the bears can learn their natural behavior. And visitors can watch them do so.
During a visit to the bear platform at over 2,000 m above sea level, guests learn about the bears' stories and many other exciting bear facts.
The adventure trail, the bear mini-golf, the adventure playground at the middle station, the Weisshorn bear and the Bärenland adventure trail are further attractions.
