Lyla Lindsey
Austria is home to some of the highest ski resorts in the Alps, with the second-highest ski resort in Europe. The highest ski area in Austria is the Pitztal Glacier, with a top height of 3,440 meters. The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in the south of Salzburg is also one of the highest ski areas in Austria. These high-altitude ski resorts offer breathtaking views, reliable snow conditions, and long winter seasons, making them popular destinations for skiers of all levels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Highest ski resort in Austria | Pitztal Glacier |
| Altitude of highest ski resort | 3,440 meters |
| Second-highest ski resort in Austria | Sölden |
| Altitude of second-highest ski resort | 3,340 meters |
| Highest non-glacier ski area in Austria | Obergrugl |
| Altitude of highest non-glacier ski area | Over 3,000 meters |
| Second-highest ski resort in the Alps | Hochgurgl |
| Altitude of Hochgurgl | 2,150 meters |
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What You'll Learn
Pitztal Glacier: 3,440m
The Pitztal Glacier in Tyrol is Austria's highest ski area, with a top height of 3,440m. It is known for its breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding three-thousand-metre peaks of the Pitztal mountains, including Mt. Wildspitze (3,774 m). The Pitztal Glacier is accessible from St. Leonhard by the Glacier Cable Car, which offers a comfortable ride up to the alpine high mountains. The area boasts state-of-the-art cable cars, including the futuristic Wildspitzbahn cable car, which takes visitors up to Café 3440, Austria's highest café, offering coffee, homemade cake specialties, and stunning views.
The Pitztal Glacier is a popular destination for ski mountaineering and other winter sports, with 44 km of ski slopes, high-altitude cross-country ski tracks, and a snowboard fun park. The skiing season typically starts as soon as the autumn snows arrive, sometimes as early as September, and lasts through May. In addition to skiing, the glacier is also a popular spot for weddings, with couples able to tie the knot in Austria's highest registry office.
During the summer months, the Pitztal Glacier transforms into a natural hiking area, offering panoramic high-altitude hikes, a raft ride, climbing gardens, and family-friendly hikes around the picturesque Rifflsee lake. The Gletscherexpress and Pitz-Panoramabahn lift facilities provide easy access to the hiking trails, and the glacier is well-connected and easily reachable for visitors.
The Pitztal Glacier is known for its unspoiled natural beauty, with colourful mountain meadows, clear mountain water, and high peaks often hidden in the snow. It offers a unique mountain experience, with the freedom of wide-open spaces and breathtaking views of the surrounding Alpine landscape. Whether visiting in winter or summer, the Pitztal Glacier promises an unforgettable experience with its combination of adventure, leisure, and Tyrolean hospitality.
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Sölden: 3,340m
Sölden is one of the highest ski resorts in Austria, with skiing up to 3,340 metres above sea level. The resort is located in the Ötztal Alps in the federal state of Tyrol and is a very popular destination for skiers and snowboarders.
Sölden offers a long winter season, with skiing often possible from October through to June. The resort has two glaciers, the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach, which offer a total of 34 kilometres of slopes. The Rettenbach glacier features a World Cup slope and is also the starting point of a 15-kilometre-long super piste. The highest piste point in Sölden is at Rettenbachferner, at 3,340 metres, while the Tiefenbach Glacier can be crossed at an altitude of 3,240 metres.
The ski area of Sölden is known for its modern infrastructure, including a tunnel at an altitude of 3,240 metres that connects the two glaciers. The resort also offers a wide variety of accommodation, bars, restaurants, and shops. Sölden is easily accessible by road from Innsbruck Airport, which is about a two-hour drive away.
In addition to its high altitude and long season, Sölden is known for its spectacular scenery. The resort is surrounded by towering peaks, including the Wildspitze, which, at 3,774 metres, is the highest mountain in North Tyrol. The area also boasts a number of beautiful lakes, such as the Söldener See, which is a great spot for a refreshing swim in the summer months.
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Hintertux Glacier: 3,250m
Hintertux Glacier, located in the Zillertal valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol, is one of the highest ski resorts in Austria, reaching a height of 3,250 meters (10,660 feet) above sea level. It is one of only two ski resorts in the world offering skiing 365 days a year, with the other being Zermatt in Switzerland. The Hintertux Glacier is accessible from the valley station at 1,500 meters via 18 lifts, including three large gondola lifts of the Funitel type, known as glacier buses, which can carry 24 people each.
The ski resort offers 62 to 64 kilometers of slopes for skiing and snowboarding, with pistes suitable for all levels of ability. The slopes are groomed to perfection, providing a mix of challenging moguls and gentle terrain. The area also boasts excellent gastronomy, with award-winning cuisine to satisfy hungry skiers and snowboarders.
The Hintertux Glacier is renowned for its breathtaking views. From just under 3,250 meters, visitors can take in a panoramic view of the surrounding three-thousand-meter peaks, including the striking summit of the Olperer, which towers at 3,476 meters. The panorama terrace and sun terraces offer the perfect spots to relax, soak up the sun, and admire the majestic Alps.
In addition to its winter sports offerings, the Hintertux Glacier is a popular excursion destination year-round. It provides opportunities for mountaineering, with several Alpine huts managed all year round, such as the Spannagelhaus, located next to the Spannagel Cave, the largest cave system in the Austrian Central Alps. Visitors can also explore the Natural Ice Palace, a crevasse with steps and ladders that allow adventurous explorers to descend about 25 meters into the ice.
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Obergurgl-Hochgurgl: 3,082m
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is one of the highest Austrian ski resorts, with a peak elevation of 3,082 metres. The resort is situated at an altitude of 1,930 metres in the Austrian Tyrol. Obergurgl-Hochgurgl offers reliable snow cover and a long winter season, which usually runs from November to May. The villages of Obergurgl (1,930m) and Hochgurgl (2,150m) are connected high-altitude villages offering a range of hotels, apartments and chalets. The nearest airport is Innsbruck, which is a two-hour drive away.
Obergurgl is Austria's highest non-glacial ski area, with a top height of over 3,000 metres. Hochgurgl, which accesses the skiing area, is the second-highest resort in the Alps, located at 2,150 metres.
Other high-altitude Austrian ski resorts include the Tyrolean ski resort of Kuhtai, which sits at 2,020 metres, and St Anton am Arlberg, which sits at 2,811 metres. The Pitztal Glacier is the highest ski area in Austria, with a top height of 3,440 metres.
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St Anton am Arlberg: 2,811m
St. Anton am Arlberg is a village and ski resort in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is located in the Tyrolean Alps, with chairlifts and aerial tramways reaching a height of 2,811 m (9,222 ft). St. Anton has a long history of skiing and was the host of the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2001. It is a popular destination for skiers of all levels, with 43% of its runs designed for beginners, 41% for intermediates, and 16% for advanced skiers. The resort also offers a wide range of off-piste routes for experienced skiers to explore with a guide.
The ski season in St. Anton typically runs from early December to late April, and the resort boasts 94 lifts, including 11 gondolas and 51 chairlifts. The longest run is 10.2 km (6.3 mi) from Valluga to St. Anton, with a vertical drop of 1,507 m (4,944 ft). The area also offers 41 km (25 mi) of cross-country skiing trails and 220 km of mountain biking trails.
In addition to its renowned winter sports, St. Anton am Arlberg is also a beautiful summer destination. The Tirolean mountains provide a stunning backdrop for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, paragliding, and canyoning. The village of St. Anton lies on the Rosanna River and is easily accessible by train or car from nearby airports such as Munich, Zürich, Innsbruck, and Friedrichshafen.
St. Anton am Arlberg and the neighbouring villages of Pettneu, Schnann, Flirsch, and Strengen offer unique and stunning recreation destinations for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The region boasts beautiful mountain summers, with turquoise mountain lakes, green Alpine meadows, and traditional mountain culture combined with modern facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Pitztal Glacier is the highest ski resort in Austria, with a top height of 3,440 meters.
Sölden is the second-highest ski resort in Austria, with skiing above 3,250 meters on the twin Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers.
The Hintertux Glacier is the third-highest ski resort in Austria, with skiing up to 3,250 meters.
Obergrugl is Austria's highest non-glacier ski area, with a top height of over 3,000 meters.
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is the highest ski resort in the Austrian Tyrol, situated at an altitude of 1,930 meters.
