Spring Skiing in the Austrian Tirol

26th January 2022

Last modified on January 31st, 2022

Who doesn’t love spring skiing? The days are longer, the pistes are quieter, there’s often fabulous late season snow and lots of fun events to enjoy. But it’s important to pick your resorts carefully. We look at good bets for spring skiing in the Austrian Tirol.

St. Anton am Arlberg

St Anton is a good choice any time in the season but we love it in the spring.

Known as the “Cradle of Alpine skiing”, its slopes reaching 2,811 metres and there’s plenty of terrain.

There are more than 300 km of pistes, plus 200 km of off-piste itineraries.

Off-Piste in St Anton – photo © TVB St. Anton am Arlberg, Jakub Sedivy

You can challenge yourself to complete the Run of Fame – a circuit that winds its way through the entire Arlberg ski area with 65 km of slopes and 18,000 metres vertical.

On 23rd April 2022, it’s the famous White Thrill race.

When the lifts close, around 555 skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers assemble on the Valluga Ridge for the mass start, keen to beat the record of eight minutes and 14 seconds that was achieved by Paul Schwarzacher in 2011.

More information here

Stubai

It’s the largest glacier ski resort in Austria that is ideal for all levels of skier and snowboarder.

Its mountains, which peak at more than 3,000 metres above sea level, guarantee snow until June.

Stubai – photo © Andreschoenherr

For families, there’s the Big Family Ski Camp, the Kids’ Line in the Stubai Zoo snowpark, and the children’s restaurant at Gamsgarten mountain station.

Plus, on 17th April 2022, Stubai will run an Easter Egg Hunt at Schlick 2000, with each treasure hunter receiving an Easter surprise.

Freeride skiers and snowboarders can tackle the Powder Department, which offers a wide range of lines for backcountry addicts.

At the end of the day you can enjoy a meal at the Schaufelspitz – the world’s highest-located toque-awarded restaurant with views across the valley.

It’s at the top of the Eisgrat cable car.

Visitors interested in culture will find several museums nearby, plus a birds of prey centre in Telfes.

More information here

Ötztal

Home to Tirol’s highest mountain, the largest glacier ski resort in the Eastern Alps, and the tallest waterfall in the region, the Ötztal Valley is a great choice for spring.

The valley includes Sölden and Sölden Glacier, the high elevation ski resort of Gurgl, and the family-friendly Hoch-Oetz.

Hoch-Oetz – Photo © Nadja Frischmann (Bergbahnen Hochoetz)

Sitting at 1,930 metres, Obergurgl is known as one of Europe’s most snow-sure resorts, and even if it’s running low on the white stuff, snow cannons cover approximately 99 %.

Sölden has access two glaciers.

On 7th – 8th April 2022, Sölden will celebrate the end of the season with the Electric Mountain Festival.

The Aqua Dome – home to 12 pools, seven saunas and four restaurants and bars – is worth a visit.

It has a ‘Moonlight Bathing’ package on Friday, so there’s no need to leave when the stars come out.

More information here

Kühtai

Austria’s highest resort is just 34km from Innsbruck.

Part of the Ski Plus City Pass, a ski carousel made up of 13 winter-sports areas, Kühtai has 12 ski lifts accessing more than 40 km of well-groomed slopes ideal for confident skiers and snowboarders. Plus 75 per cent of the runs are serviced by snowmaking machines.

There are north-facing pistes under the Alpenrosenlift and Hohemutbahn lifts.

For freestylers there’s the KPark, complete with a series of jumps and rails. while beginners and children can enjoy a more relaxed session at the KidsPark.

There’s ski-touring terrain to explore, especially around the Sulzkogel (3,016 m) and the Pirchkogel (2,828 m) mountains.

There’s night skiing too with the piste down from the Zum Kaiser Maximilian hut open until 11:30 pm twice a week.

The Ski Plus City Pass allows you to visit other resorts close by.

More information here

Paznaun-Ischgl

The end of season Top of the Mountain Spring Concert is famous.

This season a classical artist will perform on Ischgl’s open-air stage at 2,300 metres on 2nd April 2022.

Concert entry is free with a valid lift pass, which is necessary to access the concert arena.

Ischgl has snow-sure slopes, a traditional-style village with a traffic-free core and a modern-lift system.

Despite not having a glacier, the resort is high and most of the 238km of pistes are north facing and above 2,000 metres.

There are several bars and award-winning restaurants.

More information here

Serfaus

Home to the second smallest underground railway in the world, and a car-free village, Serfaus – together with Fiss and Ladis – form part of a popular and well-known ski area, known to the locals as the ‘Oberes Gericht’.

With slopes reaching 2,828 metres above sea level, it’s ideal for some late season turns.

Families love Serfaus because of its cruisey-blue slopes, large children’s area and Murmlipark – operated by the Skischule Serfaus – which has plenty of attractions for kids.

With almost 70 lifts and cable cars connecting the network of pistes, the three fun parks, and exciting backcountry skiing, there’s plenty of options for more confident skiers and snowboarders.

More information here

Hintertux

Hintertux Glacier is home to the only ski resort in Austria open 365 days a year (subject to weather conditions).

It’s at the end of the Zillertal Valley, close to the Olperer mountain at 3,476 metres.

It offers powder skiing in winter and excellent conditions on the slopes well into spring.

As the season starts drawing to a close in April, it’s still possible to carve down the 12 km run in front of the Frozen Wall or make the most of the kickers at the Betterpark and at the new fun slope near the Sommerbergalm cable car.

After each day of skiing, the Hohenhaus Tenne Hintertux can be found at the bottom of the gondola where you can sit back in the sun with a pint, soaking up the end-of-season rays.

More information here

For more information about the Tirol region, visit www.visittirol.co.uk

COVID-19: On 24th January, Austria eased restrictions for travel from the UK. The website www.welcome.tirol provides an overview of the number of cases in Tirol, updated daily, as well as information on travel restrictions currently in place, safety measures in the regions and details on what you need to know when travelling back to your home country.

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