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Silvretta Montafon Ski Resort
The Montafon valley is located in the Voralberg region of the Austrian Alps, where the Silvretta Nova, Hochjoch, Schafberg, Golm and Grabs mountains make up the Silvretta Montafon ski area.
The area is home to 11 small villages which have access to the skiing via 5 main lift systems.
Once home to Ernest Hemingway, Schruns-Tschagguns is the largest village, with excellent rail and road links. It’s also the valley’s most accomplished destination in terms of tourism, with various shops, cafes and après ski activities and a pedestrianised centre.
At the foot of the extensive Silvretta Nova piste network, Gaschurn-Partenen and St Gallenkirch attract a large volume of visitors and have a charismatic buzz about them throughout the season. Close by is the renowned Silvretta Bielerhöhe region; home to numerous high altitude snowshoe and cross-country trails as well as the highest peak in Vorarlberg (Piz Buin 3,312 m).
At the foot of the Golmerbahn cable car, Vandans balances rural charm with modern amenities; traditional chalets and the stunning Lünersee Lake meet exciting attractions like the alpine rollercoaster and a 3km long toboggan run.
Gargellen oozes all the charm of a tiny alpine village. Perched in a side valley, it’s blissfully quiet and you can ski to the door of most hotels.
With no through road, Silbertal overlooks the unspoilt scenery of the Natura 2000 nature reserve. The picturesque St Agatha miners’ chapel is its focal point and the Kristberg cable car takes visitors to some of the best family skiing in the region.
The village of St Anton (not to be confused by the legendary ski resort over in Arlberg) is a pastoral idyll, with a 30m waterfall and a variety of snowshoe trails, whilst Bartholomäberg – a historic mining village – is best known for its baroque church and stunning views of the valley.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Voralberg, Austria
Established:
Open: December - April
Downhill: 158 km
View our detailed Silvretta Montafon 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 Silvretta Montafon snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck | 140 km - 1.5 hours |
| Zürich | 150 km - 2 hours |
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| Top Altitude: | 2395m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 680m |
| Resort Altitude: | Gaschurn 1000m, Schruns 700m |
| Longest run: | Hochjoch Totale 12km |
| Slope Orientation: | N/E |
| Vertical Drop: | |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 158 km |
| Beginner slopes: | 42% |
| Intermediate: | 37% |
| Advanced slopes: | 21% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €223.00 |
| Nearby resorts: Galtur, Ischgl, St Anton | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Silvretta Montafon
The ski area is made up of the Silvretta Nova, Hochjoch, Schafberg, Golm and Grabs peaks.
Beginners are well catered for, with ski schools and nursery slopes in every area. The Kristberg region is a jewel in terms of its uncrowded learner runs and Schafberg has nursery slopes at the back of the village as well as blues all over the mountain. The red piste 1 is a scenic descent from the summit of the Schafbergbahn, passing through the trees, down to Gargellen.
Hochjoch has two main ski areas: Kapellalpe and Grasjoch. The skiing involves mostly relaxing blue runs with occasional reds. For more excitement, there’s also a Black Scorpion under the Sennigrat Bahn. Voralberg’s longest unbroken descent, the Hochjoch Totale, spans a vertical distance of 1,700m – beginning at Grasjoch Bahn and finishing in Schruns. The route is mostly blue with some challenging red terrain amongst the lower tree line. There’s also a race track alongside the Platina drag lift in Grasjoch.
The Silvretta Nova area is snow-sure and has five of the resort’s most challenging runs. Ominously referred to as ‘Black Scorpions’, they reach a gradient of 80% at some points: Nova is a sheer, technically demanding descent. Intermediate skiers can also challenge themselves on blue racing tracks 20a and red Spatla.
Golm is known as the ‘Sports Mountain’. The World Cup run stretches from its peak to the Matschwitz chair. Check out the Diabolo Black Scorpion run and the race area on the Eastern ridge. Golm has a few blues above the trees, and the Standard II which meanders down towards the Alpine Rollercoaster at Latschau.
There are a number of off-piste tracks on each mountain as well particular routes which are nothing short of legendary. The Bielerhöhe region provides a challenging array of high-altitude trails. For a demanding, highly technical run, catch the Zamangspitze from Hochjoch to St. Gallenkirch.
Gargellen’s Nidla route includes no less than 387 slalom turns, beautiful panoramic views and heaps of powder to tear through.
The cross park on Silvretta Nova and Nike Snowpark Montafon are excellent opportunities polish your freestyling skills. Having hosted the FIS Ski and Snowboard Cross European Cup and the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in 2014, the freestyle terrain here is truly world class.
Silvretta Montafon Apres Ski
Various mountain venues draw in the crowds towards the late afternoon, with live music and of course a constant flow of drinks. The state-of-the-art 1500 seat Nova Stoba at Versettla is a hit with locals and tourists alike. Often host to an open-air disco, the restaurant also has a sun terrace – ideal for catching up with your group and basking in the last of the day’s rays.
In each of the villages, there are a number of umbrella bars and après ski venues to keep the party going. Particular favorites are the Heuboda and Ausrutscher in Gaschurn and St. Gallenkirch’s Tanzbar – these usually offer very generous drinks deals, as well as providing a buzzing atmosphere with live music and DJ sets.
Gaschurn’s Pizzeria Capriola is a family favourite, whilst Restaurant Frieda delivers gourmet cuisine, perfect for couples or special occasions. In Schruns, enjoy some authentic alpine dining at Gasthof Zum Kreuz - the restaurant specialises in meat and cheese fondues, with staff usually dressed in traditional Austrian attire.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy the thrill of plummeting down the Silvretta Nova on a 6km floodlit toboggan run to St. Gallenkirch. The Brunellawirt mountain hut sits atop this toboggan course and is an ideal spot to begin the evening with a warming drink or even a taste of Dutch courage before the exhilarating descent.
If the toboggans aren’t enough of a hair-raiser, the Alpine Coaster at Vandans should certainly satisfy the daredevil in you.
Ski schools have also been known to host adventure nights, which usually involve a torchlit walk followed by a hearty meal and hot refreshments. Other active choices involve the Schruns ice rink and the Flying Fox zipwire in Golm.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Silvretta Montafon
Best time to visit & ski Silvretta Montafon
Snow conditions are usually pretty reliable from mid December through to the end of the season (often mid April). Earlier in the season, a fleet of snow cannons are employed to restore a fine layer of powder to the piste if necessary. There aren’t a great deal of tree-lined runs to escape to in poor visibility, but you’ll find one on Schafberg and a couple on the Hochjoch.
The resort’s North-East facing ski areas are protected from the glare of the sun throughout the day, allowing for good preservation of the snow. With a top altitude of 2395km, the uppermost of the runs are usually snow-sure until the season’s close. Many of the mountain restaurants also boast terrace bars with stunning panoramic views – perfect for reclining after a testing run and basking in the warmer weather.
Peak Dates
The picturesque Austrian villages are transformed into wonderlands of festive activity, including sleigh rides and traditional markets during Christmas in Montafon. The churches at Bartholomäberg and Silbertal also provide a beautiful setting for Christmas services.
The valley’s many après ski venues deliver an electric atmosphere where you can welcome in the New Year in Montafon. On New Year’s Day, the resort traditionally puts on a firework show, with live music and DJs, whilst the occasion is marked in the local hotels with specialty menus.
Commended for its facilities for children, half-term in Montafon is an ideal choice for a family. The range of ski schools in the area ensures that beginners are well-catered for, whilst the comprehensive and efficient lift systems prevent crowding.
The North-Eastern orientation of the slopes usually ensure that skiing can continue through Easter in Montafon. The end of the season is a pleasant time to visit and there are lots of lovely terraces for soaking up the sunshine.
Families in Silvretta Montafon
Recognised by the International Ski Area Test as a resort with fantastic offerings for children, Montafon is a brilliant destination for a family ski holiday. Guests with young children will love our accommodation in the town centre, near the gondolas, so the week is nice and forgiving for little legs. Some properties have the ski bus stop right outside the front door, giving easy transport to the closest children’s facilities. Look out for accommodation with games rooms too, giving you the chance to get together for evening tournaments!
At the summit of the Hochjochbahn and Zamangbahn gondolas, which connect Schruns to the Hochjoch runs, is the NTC Dreamland. This is the resort’s main hub of children’s activities, where beginners can safely find their feet on high-altitude nursery slopes adorned with colourful obstacles and decorations. On Silvretta Montafon, find Hugo’s Colourful Mountain World – another nursery park exclusively for kids – and head to Kristberg to ski gentle blues as a family.
More confident youngsters might want to try the Children’s Ski Safari on Golm, which combines off-piste skiing with jokes and stories told by the excellent instructors. For outgoing teens who want to practice freestyling, the Nike Snow Park is well worth a visit – or for serious piste-cred, check out the resort’s notorious Black Scorpions.
Montafon’s variety of activities for family groups is pretty extensive and ranges from traditional choices such as ice skating at the Aktivpark, to riding a zip wire and rollercoaster on Golm mountain. There are also a number of toboggan runs in the resort – the most impressive without-doubt the 4 mile floodlit stretch from Garfrescha to St Gallenkirch. Going swimming in the Aquarena pool, followed by sharing a massive pizza at Pizzeria Capriola is a holiday highlight and a sure-fire way to entertain the kids off the mountain.
GroupsGroup Holidays Silvretta Montafon
Group getaways are perfectly suited to Montafon, as the resort’s variety of runs and choice of activities accommodate every level of skier (and non-skier!) and ensure there’s plenty to do together. The area’s ski pass, the Montafon Card, covers the entire Silvretta Montafon valley which is ideal for groups of mixed abilities as beginners and experts can split off to their favourite ski areas but still be able to meet for lunch.
Beginners might want to stick to the Kristberg region of the resort – home to some low and gentle nursery slopes – gradually building confidence to tackle the higher altitudes of the Schafberg mountain. Intermediate members of the group have the biggest choice in the area - the peaks of the Silvretta and Hochjoch ski zones are the most snow sure, whilst there’s plenty of healthy competition to be had battling each other on the Platina and Spatla race tracks. Experts should head to the region’s six Black Scorpion runs, test themselves on Golm’s World Cup run, or brave the Bielerhöhe, whose high-altitude, off-piste trails are truly second-to-none.
In past seasons, some of the most renowned runs in the resort have been possible to book for an early morning descent, making for an unforgettable experience as your group enjoys untouched pistes and a fantastic sense of owning the mountain. The Hochjoch Totale and Nova Black Scorpion are the most popular of these runs, and many tickets include the reward of a hearty breakfast at the bottom. Montafon’s mountain restaurants make super meeting points where you can chill out together and absorb the Voralberg atmosphere. The Nova Stoba at Versettla has a wonderfully big sun terrace, perfect for gathering on deckchairs and enjoying a round of schnapps, whilst Schafberg’s Obwaldhütte is rather notorious for its knockout shots…
If not everyone in your group wants to ski every day, the villages have plenty to do off the slopes – from indulging in health programs at various wellness centres to browsing the area’s shops and museums. Helga’s Natur Leben in Bartholomäberg is an excellent place to pick up local-made speciality foods and cosmetics, while Art Fontana in Schruns has a lovely selection of homemade gifts which make wonderful souvenirs. The Montafon museum in Silbertal also gives a fascinating insight into the area’s local history or, for something a little more active, the swimming pool at Aquarena and the Nova tennis centre are great places to spend a day off the mountain.
As far as après ski goes, the Montafon villages have venues to suit any kind of night. The more raucous destinations of Ausrutscher and Heuboda in Gaschurn are great for a shindig, whilst the Haller lounge in Schruns has a lovely bar in which to unwind and discuss the day over drinks.
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