Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee

The ski area on the Pitztal glacier (Pitztaler Gletscher) is the highest in Austria: the upper sections of some pistes reach 3,340 m. The villages at the foot of the glacier, Arzl, Wenns, Jerzens and St. Leonard, are about 60 km from Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol. The easiest way to reach the Pitz valley is by car, on the A12 motorway via Kufstein and Innsbruck to Imst, from where a local road continues. The glacier ski area is often used for training by national alpine ski teams, but it also has pistes suitable for beginners and families with children, who are drawn to the region by its favourable prices. The Pitztal region has 8,000 beds in all categories. Skiers have 39 km of pistes and 7 lifts at their disposal. The vast majority of pistes are marked red (difficult). To get to the top of the glacier (Hinterer Brunnenkogel, 3,340 m), you first ride almost 4 km on the Pitzexpress underground funicular and then take the Panoramabahn gondola for the next section. The top station of the Pitzexpress, the transport hub of the glacier ski area, is very modern, with a restaurant, bars, a ski depot and ski shops, among other things. The pistes from the top of the glacier are a challenge for more ambitious skiers, and this is where racers most often train. Lower down there is terrain for more relaxed skiing. There is also a snow park on the glacier. Cross-country skiers can use an 8 km intermediate trail at 2,750 m. In winter the glacier is not the only ski area in the Pitz valley. Above the village of Jerzens lies the Hochzeiger ski resort (1,450 to 2,450 m), and above St. Leonard begin the pistes of the Rifflsee resort (1,600 to 2,800 m). Together with the glacier, this gives about 85 km of pistes in winter.