Skiing In Austria: May Options

Austria is known for its ski resorts, which offer a wide range of slopes for beginners and advanced skiers. The Austrian ski season typically runs from December to April, but some resorts offer skiing outside of these months. So, can you ski in Austria in May?

The Kaunertal Glacier in Tirol has snow from late September to June

While it is possible to ski in Austria in May, your options are limited. One of the best choices for May skiing is the Kaunertal Glacier in Tirol, which has snow from late September to June. Kaunertal is Tirol's youngest glacier and one of its highest ski resorts. It offers wide glacier slopes with natural snow and hardly any lift queues. The ski area is accessible via the Kaunertal Glacier Road, which winds over 29 turns to 2,750 m above sea level, revealing a year-round mountain world.

The Kaunertal Glacier is known for its accessibility for all, including those with physical restrictions. The journey over the Gletscherstraße offers perfect conditions for monoskiing, and all ski lifts on the glacier are accessible. The staff at Kaunertal are trained and experienced in monoskiing, making the glacier a barrier-free zone. The Karlesjoch cable car takes visitors up to 3,108 m above sea level, where even wheelchair passengers can easily reach the mountain station.

The ski resort provides a mix of prepared pistes and natural ski routes. One of the highlights is the black slopes from Karlesjoch to the valley station Ochsenalm, with a height difference of 1,000 m, making it the longest ski run. This route also includes the "Steinbockwand", with a gradient of 75%, offering an adrenaline-pumping experience.

In addition to skiing, the Kaunertal Glacier offers a true glacier experience with pristine nature and breathtaking views. The area boasts boundless outdoor activities, including snowboarding, hiking, and mountain climbing. The region combines peaceful tranquillity with wild nature, making it a versatile destination for visitors seeking both adventure and relaxation.

The Hintertux Glacier in Tyrol is Austria's only year-round ski resort

The Hintertux Glacier in Tyrol is Austrias only year-round ski resort. Located at the end of the Zillertal Valley, close to the Olperer mountain, it offers excellent conditions for skiing and snowboarding 365 days a year. The resort caters to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, with a large network of pistes to explore.

During the winter months, the Hintertux Glacier is part of the "Ski- und Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000", a network of interconnected villages and resorts, including Finkenberg and Mayrhofen. Skiers can access all of the slopes using just one lift pass and take on the ultimate challenge of 15,000 vertical metres and 60km of skiing in one day.

In the summer, the resort offers up to 20km of ski runs, with fresh snow on wide, sunny slopes. The most modern cable cars take visitors from Hintertux (1,500 meters) up to a breathtaking height of 3,250 meters. Here, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the excellent conditions on the slopes, while taking in the stunning views and cool mountain air.

The Hintertux Glacier also offers a range of exciting summer attractions beyond skiing and snowboarding. Visitors can explore the hiking area Sonnenberg, with its adventure course, or try out the mountain biking and e-mountain biking trails, with free bike transport available to Sommerbergalm. For families, there is the Flohpark Sommerberg, a fantastic playground with a play castle, giant slide, and pedal go-kart track, located at the Sommerbergbahn restaurant.

The resort also boasts the Natural Ice Palace, a spectacular natural wonder with an underground world of ice and light. Visitors can explore the crystal chamber, crevasses, frozen waterfalls, glacier lake, and the ice chapel, all located within the ice palace, which stands at an impressive 15 meters high. The ice palace can be accessed all year round and is a unique experience for both adults and children.

With its year-round skiing, stunning natural surroundings, and a host of summer activities, the Hintertux Glacier in Tyrol is a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

The Pitztal slopes are a classic glacier ski area at the end of a long valley in Tyrol

The Pitztal slopes offer a wide range of winter sports opportunities for all levels of ability. The area features 68 kilometres of pistes, 30 kilometres of variant descents, and 120 hectares of slope area. The wide natural snow slopes, which are mostly above 2,000 metres, cater to beginner and returning skiers, while freeriders can explore countless gullies for off-slope adventures. Ski tourers can conquer the K2 at Rifflsee before embarking on a summit tour of North Tyrol's highest mountain, the Wildspitze.

The Pitztal Glacier also offers cross-country skiing, with the cross-country centre providing skating and classic trails for training teams during the glacier autumn. Additionally, the high cross-country skiing trail at Rifflsee offers a more relaxed experience. The X Park on the Pitztal Glacier provides alternatives to skiing and snowboarding, including a fun park with different zones, freeriding, and ski and boardercross for training teams.

The Pitztal area also boasts mountain restaurants with free WiFi, as well as the Café 3440, Austria's highest café, where you can enjoy regional delicacies and coffee with a view of Tyrol's highest mountain peak, the Wildspitze.

The Stubai Valley glacier ski area is one of the most convenient, close to Innsbruck

The Stubai Valley glacier ski area is one of the most convenient, being close to Innsbruck and offering a diverse skiing experience for all ability levels and age groups. It is Austria's largest glacier ski area, with pistes starting at over 3,200m above sea level, guaranteeing perfect, natural pistes from October until June. The resort is just a 45-minute to 50-minute drive from Innsbruck. You can also get there by taking a 20-minute drive from Innsbruck to the Stubai Valley on the A13 Brennerautobahn, exiting at Schönberg, and then taking the Stubaitalstraße (B183) to the Stubai Glacier. From Ranalt, a private road leads to the glacier.

There is also a free ski bus in the Stubai Valley. All public buses are free for passengers with winter equipment, a valid ski pass for the region, or a Stubaier Guest Card during the ski season. The Stubai Tirol Tourist Board provides holidaymakers with a voucher for one-time free use of bus line 590 (Stubai-Bus) or the Stubai Valley tram.

The Stubai Valley glacier ski area offers modern cable cars and lifts, with impressive 3,000m peaks providing the perfect challenge for skiers of all levels. The 10km-long "Wilde Grub'n" downhill run from the Wildspitz mountain station (3,210m) to the valley station (1,750m) is a highlight for very fit skiers. The ski area also has a snow park for freestylers and boarders, and a 200m-long ice cave to explore.

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun is the only glacier on the list outside of Tyrol

While there are several glaciers in Austria where you can ski in May, The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun is the only glacier on the list outside of Tyrol. Located in the Hohe Tauern range of the Central Eastern Alps, Kitzsteinhorn is a prominent peak that shapes the appearance of the Zell am See-Kaprun region. The glacier offers a long ski season from autumn to early summer, with diverse pistes and the best piste conditions between 3,029 and 2,000 metres above sea level.

The summit of Kitzsteinhorn can be easily accessed via the Glacier Aerial Tramway, which departs from the valley station at 911 metres above sea level. The tramway features the world's tallest cable car pylon, standing at 113.6 metres tall. At the summit, visitors can enjoy panoramic views from the "Top of Salzburg" platform, which is the highest point in SalzburgerLand accessible to everyone.

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier ski resort boasts a variety of pistes suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. For freeriders, the glacier offers challenging off-piste runs, freeride lines, and ski touring routes. The resort also features snow parks and a superpipe for freestylers. In addition to skiing, Kitzsteinhorn offers a range of other attractions, including guided tours with National Park rangers, hiking trails, and mountain restaurants.

The glacier has a long history of skiing, dating back to the early 20th century when the German and Austrian Alpine Club erected a mountain hut in the region. Today, the resort faces environmental challenges, with scientists measuring a significant reduction in glacier surface area since the 1960s. Despite this, Kitzsteinhorn remains a popular ski destination, offering a unique combination of winter sports and breathtaking alpine scenery.

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