On the border of Salzburg and Bavaria, Waidring’s been around for a while with the first recorded mention being as early as 1147 AD. Fossils have been found on the Steinplatte mountain from the Late Triassic era, when dinosaurs roamed the planet. Suffice it to say, the area is up to its neck in history.
Wander around the village and you’ll find a pretty yellow onion-domed church, surrounded by Tyrolean chalet buildings. It’s a pint sized resort, with 8 restaurants and ski huttes.
Waidring is part of the Steinplatte ski area, which is in turn part of the Schneewinkel ski area. There are 45km of ski slopes in the local area, with 110km in the Schneewinkel which includes St Johann in Tirol, Kirchdorf, Winklmoos and Erpfendorf. The Salzburg superski card covers even more resorts, including the snow sure Kitzsteinhorn glacier. There’s also the Tirol Snow Card which gives access to every ski area in the region (91 ski areas in total!).
Location: Tirol, Austria
Established: 1972
Open: December - April
Downhill: 42 km
View our detailed Waidring snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Waidring snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Salzburg (SZG) | 49km, 1 hour |
Innsbruck (INN) | 111km, 1h40 |
|
|
Top Altitude: | 1860m |
Bottom Altitude: | 1100m |
Resort Altitude: | 781m |
Longest run: | 4km |
Slope Orientation: | N S |
Vertical Drop: | 630m |
Skiable Vertical: | |
Night Skiing: | No |
Glacier: | No |
Downhill Runs: | 42 km |
Beginner slopes: | 66% |
Intermediate: | 31% |
Advanced slopes: | 3% |
Lift Pass Price: | €219.50 (adult 6 day) |
Nearby resorts: Lofer |
Access into the Steinplatte skiing region is via the Steinplatte Gondelbahn, which takes you to an area of gentle, wide blues (including the Familienpiste). Follow blue #1 and you’ll descend the valley on a train through the treeline, stopping off at the Stallenalm restaurant for a pick-me-up if need be. The Snowpark Steinplatte by piste #4 has fun, easy, medium and pro lines besides a Triassic Funslope with waves, banks and slaloms.
The top of the ski area on Steinplatte mountain is reserved for red and black run skiers, with three wonderfully long red runs, and black #8 which forks two thirds of the way down for variety. You can ski over the border into Germany via a wonderfully long blue run into Winklmoosalm.
The wider Schneewinkel area features 57 pistes totalling 110km, in a number of neighbouring ski resorts. The majority of slopes are beginner and intermediate friendly, with a scattering of black runs and marked ski trails for more advanced skiers and snowboarders. There are also a total of four parks and two funslopes.
The Stallenalm’s a favourite stop-off for après ski drinks and snacks. Bag one of the outdoor seats, order a beer and listen to live music. Schirmbar opens its doors in the winter months for more of the same.
Food-wise, Schneidermann serves Tyrolen favourites (try the Schnitzel), while Zardini's Schindldorf specialises in Italian for amazing pizzas and pastas.
Besides skiing and snowboarding, other activities include tobogganing (including floodlit fun after sundown), ice skating and horse drawn sleigh rides.
There’s snowmaking on 47% of the Steinplatte area, and the majority of the Schneewinkel pistes have snow cannons too. This is good news early in the season, when the snow guns work with the sub-zero conditions to add extra cover to the pistes. Steinplatte has some of the highest pistes in the area, making it a safe bet for good snow in the middle of the season. There isn’t a glacier here, but if you’re struggling for snow towards the season’s end, drive over to Kaprun (about an hour away) where the Kitzsteinhorn glacier is one of the most snow sure in the country.
On previous years there’s been a stunning carved Nativity scene in the centre of Waidring at Christmas – we hope it’ll be back!
See in the New Year in Waidring and soak up the traditional village atmosphere – feeling worlds away from everyday life.
The family focussed environment here makes Half Term in Waidring oodles of fun.
On a good snow year, Easter in Waidring has a terrific combination of sun, snow and feel-good skiing and snowboarding. If conditions get slushy, upgrade your ski pass to explore one of the local areas (Kaprun has some of the best conditions in Austria).
The Waidring Ski School runs kids courses that little ones will love – they’ll be aching to explore the rest of the Schneewinkel area in no time at all! The quiet village atmosphere here’s brilliant if you’re looking for a place to enjoy and relax with the brood.
There are so many lift pass options here that each group member can choose which suits them – going for the local Steinplatte mountain, the wider Schneewinkel area or the enormous Salzburg superski. For groups that like a traditional base that soon feels like home, Waidring’s a winner.