The 5 most challenging ski resorts in Austria for advanced skiers

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You probably know the drill: after years of skiing, you find yourself at the top of a blue slope and are bored. As an experienced skier, you no longer want to share the slopes with beginners; you are looking for challenging red or black runs. You need a greater challenge and more variety in your skiing. In this blog, you will discover five Austrian ski resorts that will challenge and inspire you as an advanced skier.
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This blog was written by René Schwarte, founder and co-owner of Ferienhaus-Tirol.eu. The blog also provides practical tips, such as what to do when travelling with a group of different levels, and as a bonus, an extra area tip for the real enthusiasts. Austria has been a favourite destination for winter sports enthusiasts for years. But while the country is known for its hospitable villages and cosy après-ski, it also has a rugged side that appeals to advanced skiers.

More than just steep slopes

An advanced ski resort offers more than just steep slopes. It's a complete experience. Of course, you want challenging red and black runs, but you also want variety, from long tours to mogul slopes and fun parks. You also want modern lifts that can take you back up the mountain quickly for an extra run.

What makes a ski area challenging?

What exactly constitutes a challenging ski area? Firstly, the slopes: red and black runs make up most of them, often with sections with a gradient of 40% or more. Some are not groomed daily, creating bumps that make you work hard for your turns.  In addition, well-marked ski routes and off-piste areas are important. These require knowledge and equipment, but marked freeride zones are a bonus.

Altitude and snow security also count — the higher up you are (think glaciers), the longer you will have challenging snow conditions during the season.  A modern lift system ensures you spend more time on the slopes and less waiting in line. Finally, consider amenities such as good mountain huts for rest stops, a fun park for tricks and cosy villages for evening relaxation. With these criteria in mind, we will now discuss five top areas in Austria that meet the expectations of advanced skiers.

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental 

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental is known for being family-friendly, but don't be fooled: this huge area, with over 200 km of slopes, has plenty to offer experts too. Some tough runs are hidden away in villages such as Söll, Scheffau and Westendorf. For example, black pistes emerge from the Hohe Salve towards Söll and Brixen.
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From the Choralpe near Westendorf, you can even find one of Austria's steepest groomed slopes, with a gradient of up to 80%. In terms of snow security, things are pretty good: the peaks reach around 1,800 metres and the area invests heavily in snow cannons, ensuring good conditions even in milder winters.
The lift infrastructure is excellent, with dozens of modern gondolas and chairlifts linking all sub-regions so you can enjoy long skiing trips with minimal delay.

Sölden (Ötztal Arena):

Sölden is world-famous among avid skiers, and with good reason. This Ötztal area, home to two glaciers, is considered a true paradise for advanced skiers. Almost everything here exudes a sporting spirit, from the many red and black runs to the long vertical drops. Sölden boasts 95 km of slopes at altitudes between 1,345 and 3,245 metres, and the high altitude means the season is exceptionally long.

The World Cup run on the Rettenbach glacier is a particular highlight for die-hard skiers: a short but steep black run (number 31) covering 300 metres in just 1 kilometre. The world's best race here every autumn during the first World Cup, and you can take on the same challenge.

Do you enjoy freeriding? Then Sölden is the place for you, with countless Tiefschnee routes.  Despite all these challenges, Sölden caters for groups of all abilities: on the Giggijoch, less experienced skiers will find wide, gentle slopes, while experts can seek out the steeper slopes of the Gaislachkogl.

Ski & Gletscherwelt Zillertal 

Near Mayrhofen and Hintertux in the Zillertal lies Ski & Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000 — a fitting name for an area that lives up to its reputation among advanced skiers. This region links the extensive slopes of the Mayrhofen-Penken area with the snow-sure slopes of the Hintertux Glacier. Together, they account for over 200 km of slopes of all colours.

Most of these are red (around 40 km) and black (around 15 km), so you won't get bored. Mayrhofen's Penken mountain is renowned for a challenging descent known as the Harakiri, which every daredevil should try at least once.  With a gradient of 78%, this slope lives up to its name and is one of the steepest groomed descents in Austria. There is even a warning sign at the top of the Harakiri: only attempt it if you are confident in your ability to handle black runs!  Snow safety is excellent here: the Hintertuxer Glacier guarantees snowy slopes.

​​​​​​​Do you want to know more about skiing in Mayrhofen? Please read our blog about winter sports in Mayrhofen.

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

Does the idea of an endless skiing adventure appeal to you? Then the Skicircus near Saalbach is the place for you. With countless kilometres of interconnected slopes, you can explore new routes here every day.  Advanced skiers will especially enjoy the variety: over 100 km of red and 18 km of black pistes await you.

Take the descent from the Schattberg summit to Hinterglemm, for example: a black slope where you can really open up early in the morning.  But the Skicircus offers more than just difficult slopes; it's the combination and length of the tours that really impresses. The Challenge, a famous ski tour across 32 lifts, is highly recommended and offers the ultimate day-long challenge, even for advanced skiers.

Ski Gastein (Gasteinertal)

In the Gastein Valley, you can enjoy a combination of sporty slopes and unique wellness opportunities. Ski Gastein comprises four ski areas, offering around 200 km of slopes in total. Advanced skiers will enjoy the main attractions of Sportgastein and Graukogel.

Sportgastein is the highest (up to around 2,700 m) and offers a variety of off-piste options and long red runs. Graukogel, on the other hand, is a small area above Bad Gastein with challenging, often un groomed black runs through the forest. It is quiet and the lifts are a little older, but precisely because of this, the moguls remain untouched.

Extra tip - Nassfeld (Carinthia)

Would you like to experience something different?
If you're looking for something different and are willing to travel a bit further for a snow adventure, consider Nassfeld. Then consider Nassfeld. This ski resort is located in the south of Austria, close to the Italian border. Nassfeld is a hidden gem.  On average, 7–8 metres of snow fall here every winter, which is exceptional.

There are 69 kilometres of pistes and numerous freeride zones, ranging from wide, deep-snow slopes to tree-lined runs. While the proportion of difficult pistes is small at around 10% black, the red pistes are challenging enough and are often not groomed immediately after snowfall, which is ideal for advanced skiers who like to ski off-piste.

An added bonus is that the sun often shines in Carinthia. Here, you can ski with the Dolomites on the horizon. If you're looking for a new adventure with guaranteed snow, Nassfeld is an excellent choice, offering unparalleled snow and space.

Are you travelling with people of different skiing abilities?

Make sure you agree on how to organise your days. In the large areas mentioned above, everyone is welcome: there are plenty of blue runs and ski schools for those who are less experienced, while experts can take the red or black runs. Agree on meeting points; for example, a panorama restaurant at the top of the mountain is an ideal place to meet again at noon for lunch. This way, everyone can make the most of the day.

When travelling with people of different levels, it is smart to choose a versatile ski area where every type of skier feels at home.  Wide, well-prepared slopes allow less experienced skiers to build confidence, while daredevils can enjoy the other mountain slopes. There are also alternative activities on offer: many large ski resorts provide tobogganing, winter hiking trails and fun parks, so there's something for everyone.

Also read: The practical guide to ski resorts

Freeriding and safety:

As an advanced skier, you may be tempted to head straight off-piste when the snow is fresh. Austria has excellent off-piste terrain, but remember: safety first. Never go under a fence without authorisation — they are there for a reason, such as avalanche danger or cliffs. Check the avalanche report every morning — this is known as the avalanche warning message in every region.

When you go into the powder, carry an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe, and preferably an airbag backpack. No off-piste experience or knowledge of the terrain? Enlist a guide.

Conclusion

You have now learned about five of the best areas in Austria for advanced skiers, as well as a bonus tip. From the 80% gradient of the slopes in SkiWelt to the seemingly endless runs in Sölden and the deep powder snow in Fieberbrunn, these destinations prove that Austria has plenty to offer experienced skiers.