Skiing Austrian Alps: Summer Options

While the Austrian Alps are known for their winter sports, the summer months also offer skiing opportunities. The Hintertux Glacier, located in the Ziller Valley, is one of only two ski areas in Europe open year-round, with skiing available even in the middle of July. The Kaunertal Glacier in Tirol is another option, with snow guaranteed from late September to June. These glaciers provide the chance to ski during the summer, but the availability of such opportunities is decreasing due to environmental concerns and the impact of global warming.

Hintertux Glacier is open for skiing all year round

If you're looking to ski in the Austrian Alps during the summer, the Hintertux Glacier is the place to go. It is one of only two ski areas in Europe that is open all year round. The other is Zermatt in Switzerland.

The Hintertux Glacier ski resort is located in the Zillertal Valley, close to the mighty Olperer mountain at 3,476 m (11,404 ft). The high-altitude glacier, which in some places is nearly 400 feet thick, offers excellent conditions on the slopes well into spring and even summer. While only a fraction of its trails are open in summer, skiers and snowboarders can still enjoy the top powder skiing and fantastic views. The resort offers a large network of pistes catering to all abilities, including a 12-km run, the longest in the Zillertal Valley.

During the summer, skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of the summer skiing downhill fun, with up to 20 km (12.4 mi) of slopes available. The Hintertux Glacier is also part of the ""Ski- und Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000", a large network of interconnected villages and resorts, including Finkenberg and Mayrhofen, which can all be accessed with one lift pass.

With its year-round snow-sure runs, stunning nature, and great food, the Hintertux Glacier is the perfect destination for skiers and snowboarders looking to hit the slopes even during the hottest months. So if you're looking to combine a ski trip with a swim in a beautiful lake and a visit to a historic town, the Hintertux Glacier is the place to be.

The Kaunertal Glacier has snow from late September to June

The Kaunertal Glacier in Austria is a prime example of how, in some areas of the Alps, the skiing season can be significantly longer. The Kaunertal Glacier is located in the Tyrolean Oberland, which comprises the three main villages of Ried, Prutz, and Pfunds. It is Tirol's youngest glacier and one of its highest ski resorts, with altitudes ranging from 2,100 to 3,100 meters. The high altitude is what makes it possible to have snow from late September to June. This extended season provides skiers with the unique opportunity to enjoy the slopes during times when much of Europe is experiencing warmer weather.

The Kaunertal Glacier offers a diverse range of skiing experiences. It boasts wide glacier slopes with natural snow, ensuring a snow-covered landscape throughout the year. The area provides ample room for skiers, with broad pistes that aren't overcrowded. For those seeking a challenge, the black slopes from Karlesjoch to the valley station Ochsenalm offer a thrilling experience with a height difference of 1,000 meters. Combined with a unique 170-meter-long ski tunnel, this route includes the "Steinbockwand," a section with a steep gradient of 75% that will get your adrenaline pumping.

The Kaunertal Glacier is also known for its accessibility. All ski lifts on the glacier are accessible, and the staff is trained to assist monoskiing enthusiasts. The glacier is easily reachable via the Kaunertal Glacier Road, which winds over 29 turns to an altitude of 2,750 meters. The road trip itself is an experience, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Once you reach the top, you'll find not only the ski area but also the highest year-round bus stop in Austria.

The Kaunertal Glacier is committed to sustainable winter sports. They employ modern snowmaking technologies and energy-efficient lifts to reduce their ecological footprint. Additionally, environmentally conscious construction projects support the preservation of the Alpine landscape. The glacier also promotes gentle tourism, offering ski tours and snowshoe hikes away from the crowds of mass tourism. This allows visitors to explore the impressive glacier world while contributing to the conservation of this unique natural area.

The Kaunertal Glacier provides a unique opportunity for skiers seeking snow during the late autumn and early summer months. With its high altitude, diverse skiing options, accessibility, and commitment to sustainability, it is a prime destination for those looking to extend their time on the slopes beyond the traditional winter season.

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun stays open into the summer

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, located above Kaprun in the Zell am See-Kaprun region, is a popular destination for skiing and other outdoor activities. The glacier is part of the Hohe Tauern mountain range and offers a unique experience with its impressive peaks and year-round snow-reliability.

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier ski resort provides an extended ski season, usually lasting from autumn to early summer. This means that skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the slopes even during the warmer months, taking advantage of the snow-covered terrain while the valleys below experience higher temperatures.

During the summer, the glacier offers a range of activities besides skiing. Visitors can explore the glacier and the surrounding area through hiking trails, with experienced Nature Park rangers or hiking guides available to accompany them. The glacier also features mountain biking trails, with three freeride trails leading from the Alpincenter at 2,500 meters above sea level down to the valley. These trails are typically open between June and mid-September, providing a thrilling experience for freeriders.

In addition to the outdoor activities, the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier also boasts quaint huts and various mountain restaurants, providing the perfect opportunity for a leisurely break during your visit. The "Top of Salzburg" viewing platform is another highlight, offering impressive panoramic views of the surrounding area, including Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner.

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier is easily accessible thanks to modern mountain railways, which allow visitors to glide comfortably and safely to altitudes above 3,000 meters. This accessibility, combined with its diverse range of activities, makes the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier a top-notch destination for a memorable summer experience in the Austrian Alps.

The Stubai Glacier has challenging runs and stays open until June

The Stubai Glacier is the biggest ski resort under the Innsbruck area. It is also the only Innsbruck resort that offers summer snowboarding. The Stubai Glacier is a great mountain to ski or snowboard on, with wide, open runs that are well-groomed and serviced by a set of efficient, modern lifts. The resort is located at an altitude of 3,000 metres, and it offers a snow-sure and family-friendly experience with top groomed pistes, regional specialties, and a fantastic mountain panorama.

The Stubai Glacier is known for its challenging ski routes and is a popular destination for advanced skiers. The Wilde Grub'n ski route is a very nice, challenging slope. The Fernau ski route leads first through a tunnel and then becomes a narrow, challenging slope. It is recommended that beginners take the lift down to the valley instead of attempting this run. In addition to the challenging routes, there are also many easy and intermediate slopes available at the Stubai Glacier.

The Stubai Glacier is typically open from September until June, and it can get quite crowded, especially on weekends. The resort is easily accessible, located only 45 minutes from Innsbruck, and it offers a great selection of runs. There are two rental places at the top of the eisgrat and gamsgarten gondolas, and they offer a 20-minute board service.

The Stubai Glacier provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Alps from the higher slopes. It is situated in the Tyrolean region of Austria, which is known for its stunning scenery and popular ski resorts. The area boasts dramatic landscapes of jagged, snow-capped peaks that stretch across Austria and into Italy.

The Dachstein Glacier is open for skiing all year round

The glacier, located in the Austrian region of Styria, is part of the greater Schladming-Dachstein area, which operates several alpine resorts, cross-country skiing, and ski jumping. The Dachstein Glacier is a popular tourist destination, offering a wide range of sports activities, including ski-touring, cross-country skiing, and mountaineering. It also features several attractions, such as the Dachstein suspension bridge with its stairway to nowhere, the Dachstein Ice Palace, and the Dachstein Skywalk viewing platform.

However, the future of skiing at the Dachstein Glacier is uncertain. In 2022, the glacier was deemed unsafe for snowsports due to below-average snowfall and extreme heat, and it did not open for the season. The extreme snow and ice melt caused massive instabilities, with crevasses opening up and parts of the glacier collapsing. While this was the first time in its history that the glacier did not open for skiing, it may not be the last. Due to global warming, the Austrian glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate, and the skiing season has already become shorter in the past ten years.

The Dachstein Glacier is not the only glacier in Austria that offers year-round skiing. The Hintertux Glacier, located in Tyrol, is one of only two ski areas in Europe that is open all year, along with Zermatt in Switzerland. The Kaunertal Glacier in Tirol also offers skiing from late September to June, and the Pitztal Glacier, also in Tirol, has guaranteed snow from early December to late April.

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