Alpbach Ski Facts
LOCAL SKI AREA: Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau:
Alpbachtal: Inneralpbach, Reith im Alpbachtal / Wildschönau: Auffach, Niederau
SEASON START & END: Early December to mid April
SKI ALTITUDE IN METRES: 637 m (Reith im Alpbachtal) to 2128 m (Wiedersberger Horn mountain)
PISTES: 113 km of pistes/ 30 km easy (blue) / 54 km medium (red) / 13 km difficult (black) / 16 km ski routes
LIFTS: 45 lifts // 9 cable cars / 7 chair lifts / 26 drag lifts / 3 conveyor belts
SNOW: 516 snow cannons
LIFT TICKET PRICES: See Online
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: approximately 120 km throughout Alpbachtal & Wildschönau
LANGUAGE: German
AIRPORT: Innsbruck: 60 km / Salzburg: 140 km / Munich: 120 km
TRAIN: Nearest stations Wörgl, Jenbach & Brixlegg. Followed by 15 minute bus ride
SKI FACTS:
-The highest point in the ski area: “Top of Alpbachtal” viewing tower located directly at the top station of Hornbahn 2000
–Night skiing at the Reither Kogel, night tobogganing in Oberau:
-Ride as a piste basher co-pilot
-Two children’s areas (Kinderland JUPPI-DO, Schatzberg Zwergenland):
Alpbach Village
Alpbach is located within the Kitzbühel Alps in the Tirol, it is part of the Ski Juwel region which encompasses the Alpbachtal and the Wildschönau areas. In the 15th century, the local area was being mined for copper and silver, with the Böglerhof acting as the main office for the mining operation and is still a hotel to this day and where we stayed on our visit.
The valley stayed fairly isolated until the main road was built in 1926 meaning that many local traditions were preserved, for instance, there were 105 working farms in the valley 100 years ago, and there are still 105 farms to this day. Tourism started up after this, but with about 2500 beds for tourists, the area does not become overcrowded, which we like.
In 1953 a local planning law was put in place so that all new buildings must follow the traditional style of architecture, which explains why Alpbach looks so charming with its small winding streets and wooden chalets; arguably one of the most attractive Alpine villages.
The British have a little bit of a love affair with Alpbach, back in the late 1950s Major Billy Patterson visited from his barracks in Germany and that was it, he and his wife Dinny started up the Alpbach Visitors Ski Club in 1968 and to this day the British army still practices and races on the local mountains.
Alpach Skiing
The Ski Juwel area covers 4 separate skiing mountains with two valleys, Alpbachtal valley has skiing on the Wiedersberger Horn mountain accessed from Inneralpbach and skiing on Reither Kogel accessed from Reith Im Alpbachtal near the entrance to the valley.
The Wildschönau valley has skiing on the Schatzberg mountain accessed from Auffach as well as Inneralpbach and the 4th skiing mountain is Markbachjoch from the village of Niederau.
To ski the two largest areas on Schatzberg and Wiedersberger Horn from Inneralpbach one must catch a bus or drive to the base stations. Top tip, get there early to get your parking spot at weekends. There are also buses to Niederau and to Reith Im Alpbachtal, worth going for the night skiing.
With 113 km of pistes spread over these 4 areas, there is a good amount to explore. The Alpbachtal has a range of pistes mostly above the tree line with some lower sections descending into the forest. The area seems to be popular with families, with blues spread across the mountain, but also many long red pistes with some steeper sections.
We loved the pistes #53, #54 and #55 by the new Hornbahn 2000 ‘Top of Alpbachtal’, it tends to be a little quieter in this area and there are great views across to the Zillertal valley. This area is great in the morning. As for mountain restaurants we loved the Kafner Ast mountain hut on #52 blue and #44 red; after a bite to eat here, the red piste #47 down to Inneralpbach is a great piste and we found the snow stayed in good shape over the day.
A local tip is to head over to the Schatberg mountain once the sun starts to leave the pistes on Wiedersberger Horn. We loved the rolling, wide pistes below Schatzberg, a little more gentle but perfect carving material. Head over to red piste #12 for some gliding fun, but all the rolling pistes #8, #9 and #10 are great fun with space for all.
The red pistes #2 followed by #1 down to Auffach is 8 km long and so much fun. Starting above the trees and gently descending down through the forests to the cute village of Auffach. We regularly visited the Gipfö Hut for food to sit outside and take in the stunning views.
BEGINNER
Alpbach itself has a small beginner and nursery area with 1 drag lift, no bus is required. Otherwise, head to the base of Inneralpbach or up to the Gmahkopf for the best beginner pistes and lifts.
INTERMEDIATE
Go out and enjoy it all my friend, the mountain is your oyster. From carving to steeps there is something for every type of intermediate skier.
EXPERT
Black pistes #54 and #55 from the ‘Top of Alpbachtal’ are great fun with some steep sections. Alternatively, head over to Auffach and catch the bus to Niederau for their selection of black pistes through the trees can be found.
Ecology & Sustainability
-All lifts in Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau have an electric drive, for which 100% Austrian green electricity is purchased.
-The hydropower station at the Schatzbergbahn bottom station produces more than a quarter of the annual electricity consumption in the entire Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau.
-Photovoltaic systems are used across the area.
-Continuous investment in efficient snow guns. i.e. 40% were replaced in 2023 consuming 35% less electricity.
-Snow groomers are fitted with a digital snow depth measurement system for more efficient snowmaking and management.
-9 reservoir ponds with capacity for 494,100m³ capture snowmelt and rain to make snow for the future.
-Regular sustainable investment- i.e. Hohnbahn 2000 ski lift built for 2022/23, bottom station mostly built underground with a green roof, the service room serves as the base and heat source for the ‘Top of the Alpbachtal’ observation tower where timber is the main building material. Direct Drive technology has been used on the cable car to increase energy efficiency by 15%
-Rail travel to Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau is already available from Germany, Netherlands and Austria with public buses to the various locations. Trains from the UK are also becoming easier to find.
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau
Alpbach
Tirol
Austria
