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 a 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
Set in the Kitzbühel Alps in Tirol, Alpbach forms part of the Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau area, linking the Alpbachtal with Wildschönau. It feels pleasingly tucked away, though thankfully no longer cut off from the outside world.
Back in the 15th century, this was mining country. Copper and silver were the prize, with the Der Böglerhof acting as the headquarters for operations. Rather wonderfully, it is still standing and still welcoming guests. We checked in, not to clock on for a mining shift, but to sample its hospitality, which felt like the better end of that particular bargain.
The valley remained largely isolated until the main road arrived in 1926. That late arrival did Alpbach a favour. Traditions held firm, and the farming community endured. A century ago, there were 105 working farms here. Today, there are, remarkably, still 105. Some places measure progress in high rises. Alpbach counts farms.
Tourism followed the road, though in sensible proportions. With around 2,500 guest beds, the village never feels swamped. You can stroll its winding lanes without performing evasive manoeuvres around selfie sticks, which is always a plus.
In 1953, a local planning law decreed that all new buildings must follow the traditional architectural style. The result is a village of timber façades, carved balconies and chalet charm at every turn. It is, arguably, one of the most attractive villages in the Alps, and unusually, it knows it.
The British, for their part, have long held a soft spot for Alpbach. In the late 1950s, Major Billy Patterson paid a visit from his barracks in Germany and promptly fell under its spell. He and his wife, Dinny, founded the Alpbach Visitors Ski Club in 1968. To this day, the British Army trains and races on the surrounding slopes, proving that even military precision can appreciate a pretty backdrop.
Our base was the ever dependable Der Böglerhof. There is a reason we return. The food is excellent, the atmosphere warm without trying too hard, and the spa delivers the sort of post-ski contentment that makes you briefly consider missing the first lift the next morning. Briefly.
Alpach Skiing
The Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau domain stretches across four separate mountains and two valleys, offering far more variety than its understated name suggests. In the Alpbachtal valley, skiing centres on the Wiedersberger Horn above Inneralpbach and the Reither Kogel above Reith im Alpbachtal, close to the valley entrance.
Over in Wildschönau, the Schatzberg rises above Auffach and links neatly back towards Inneralpbach, while Markbachjoch watches over the village of Niederau. Four mountains, two valleys and one lift pass. It is refreshingly straightforward once you have had your morning coffee.
To access the two largest sectors, Schatzberg and Wiedersberger Horn, from Inneralpbach, you will need to hop on a bus or take the car to the lift bases. Arrive early at weekends if you are driving, unless your idea of a warm-up involves circling a car park. Buses also run to Niederau and Reith im Alpbachtal, the latter well worth a visit for night skiing under floodlights.
With 113 kilometres of pistes spread across the area, there is ample ground to cover. Much of the Alpbachtal terrain sits above the tree line, with scenic descents dipping into the forest lower down. Families are well catered for, with generous blue runs weaving across the slopes, though confident intermediates will appreciate the long reds, some with satisfyingly steep pitches to keep things interesting.
We found ourselves repeatedly drawn to pistes #53, #54 and #55 served by the Hornbahn 2000 at the Top of Alpbachtal. This corner tends to remain quieter, and the views stretching towards the Zillertal valley are reason enough to linger. Mornings are particularly good here, especially with a stop at the Hornalm for coffee accompanied by a panorama that politely demands you pause.
Mountain dining is strong throughout. The Dauerstoa Alm on blue #61 delivers classic Alpine hut charm with plenty of space and fine views. Slightly lower, the Kafner Ast, positioned between blue #52 and red #44, became a regular haunt. From here, red #47 back to Inneralpbach offers an enjoyable descent that held its snow well throughout the day, which is not always a given by mid-afternoon.
A useful local tip is to migrate towards Schatzberg once the sun slips away from the Wiedersberger Horn slopes. The pistes below Schatzberg are wide, rolling and made for carving. Red #12 is particularly enjoyable for long, gliding turns, while runs #8, #9, and #10 provide plenty of space to find your rhythm without feeling hurried.
For a leg-burning finale, take red #2 into red #1 all the way down to Auffach. At eight kilometres in length, it begins above the trees and gently threads through the forest to the picture-perfect village below. The Gipfö Hit provided a regular lunch stop for us, largely because it is difficult to resist sitting outside with a plate of something hearty and a view that insists you order another coffee before heading off again.
For a little evening entertainment, point your skis towards Reith im Alpbachtal. From 26 December until early March, the slopes light up on Thursday and Friday evenings between 18:30 and 21:15. A handful of pistes are floodlit, transforming the mountain into a crisp, high contrast playground. We were particularly taken with the red piste #72 beside the T bar, which delivers the sort of rhythm and pitch that encourages you to channel your inner slalom champion, however fleeting that moment may be.
If you can lay your hands on a pair of touring skis, Tuesday night in Reith im Alpbachtal offers a superb introduction to ski touring under floodlights. Skinning uphill on a quiet piste has a certain meditative quality, especially when followed by the reward of an unhurried descent. It is an ideal way to try touring for the first time without committing to a full alpine expedition.
Across in the Wildschönau valley, touring evenings take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday on either the Markbachjoch above Niederau or the Schatzberg above Auffach. A head torch is essential. Forget that, and your evening adventure may become rather more adventurous than intended.
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 blue piste #62 for the best beginner piste and lift.
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. The majority of pistes on both Alpbachtal and Wildschönau are red,
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, where 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 a capacity of 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, the 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
