0
Wildschonau Ski Resort
The Wildschönau valley is a thoroughly pastoral area, home to over 250 farms and four old villages filled with farmhouses and scallop-trimmed chalets.
First you reach Niederau, postcard-ready with a tall church steeple backed by the Markbachjoch peak. You’ll recognise Oberau for its striking baroque church; this is a larger base made up of tiddly hamlets like gorgeous Mühltal. Auffach (sometimes called Schatzberg after its local mountain) is the most ski-centred base, with a cable car from the middle of the village. Then there’s Thierbach - the smallest of them all – which happens to be the highest village in the Kitzbühel Alps. It’s also the only village of the four without its own ski slopes (you’ll need a quick bus ride to reach the nearest pistes).
Throughout, the architecture is gorgeously traditional and locals welcoming, most greeting you with a ‘Griaß di’ whether they know you or not.
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau is the official name of the ski area, covering the slopes of Niederau, Oberau and Auffach as well as Alpbach on the other side of the Schatzberg mountain.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Kitzbühel Alps, Austria
Established: 1947
Open: December - April
Downhill: 109km
View our detailed Wildschonau 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 Wildschonau snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck (INN) | 77km, 1h10 |
| Salzburg (SLZ) | 132km, 1.5 hour |
|
|
| Top Altitude: | 2128m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 828m |
| Resort Altitude: | 828m, 936m, 875m, 1175m |
| Longest run: | 7km |
| Slope Orientation: | |
| Vertical Drop: | |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
|
|
| Downhill Runs: | 109km |
| Beginner slopes: | 28% |
| Intermediate: | 58% |
| Advanced slopes: | 14% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €221.50 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Niederau, Oberau | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Wildschonau
Neiderau’s Lanerköpfl and Markbachjoch mountains are north facing, with gentle slopes on the Kropfrader ridge and challenging valley runs like the Sixtweise ski route and Gipfel-Hochberg Abfahrt from the Lanerköpfl top station. There are drag lifts for learners and little ‘uns, while speedsters can find out how fast they can go on the Race n Boarder Arena.
The drag-lift-served Schiesshüttl ski area in Oberau is brilliant for beginners, and you’ll also find a night skiing piste at Roggenboden which is floodlit in the evenings.
Auffach and the Schatzberg mountain have more choice of runs for intermediates, with links over to Inneralpbach and a 7km top-to-bottom descent. The Schatzberg Family Park has features for beginners and pros, as well as a halfpipe. There’s also the Snowpark Alpbachtal on the Wiedersbergerhorn, which has a 150m half pipe and newbie, intermediate and pro-standard obstacles.
Wildschonau Apres Ski
You’ll find bars in each of the ski areas – not the rowdiest in the Alps, but brilliant after a day on the snow. Schnapshütte, by Niederau’s cable car base station, hosts themed parties fuelled by all different kinds of Schnapps. Oberau’s home to the Starchent Stüberl, which puts on disco music and serves pizza and snacks. In Auffach, there’s the Koglmoos Ski Bar at the mid-station. Wherever you end up, look out for Krautinger beet schnapps – a local speciality and a Marmite drink if ever there was one, but something that has to be tasted while you’re here whether you end up loving or hating it...
In terms of other activities, sleigh rides from the Penning sleigh company take you across the landscape wrapped in blankets. The Z’Bach Museum in a 200-year-old farmhouse tells of the region’s farming history. On the Schatzberg and Lanerköpfl mountains, the toboggan runs are over 5km long for hours of fun whooshing down and heading back up for more. There are also 40km of winter walking paths throughout the region, while snow shoe walks take you over snow-covered pastures.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Wildschonau
Best time to visit & ski Wildschonau
Early season conditions are backed up by snowmaking on 85% of the pistes, while towards the end of the season, Niederau’s north facing runs usually hold onto the snow best. When it comes to natural snowfall, January and February generally see the best ammount of snow.
Peak Dates
‘Alpine Advent’ has been the lead up to Christmas in Wildschönau on previous years, with a Christmas market in the Z’Bach Farming Museum and performances from the Anklöpfler singers.
Celebrate the New Year in Wildschönau with sleigh rides and an incredible firework display by Oberau’s Schiesshüttl Arena.
The relaxed atmosphere and family friendliness here makes Half term in Wildschönau a brilliant choice, with some of the best snow of the season falling at this time of year.
Under 15’s can usually ski for free over Easter in Wildschönau, excellent news for families skiing on a budget!
Families in Wildschonau
There are five family ski schools dotted around the area, including BOBO’s Kinderland and AKTI’s Adventure Land in Niederau. Pick one near your accommodation for a hassle free week of next to no ski school runs. If you’re travelling towards the end of the season, look out for deals like free ski passes for under 15’s over the Easter holidays which can save some precious Euros.
Don’t miss the special slopes for kids in the Schatzberg and Markbachjoch areas - little ones will love the hollow nature of the Schatzberg’s Gipfel slope like a natural halfpipe, and the adventurous Märchenwiesen ‘fairy tale meadow’ in Niederau.
At the end of the day, treat them to some night time tobogganing in Niederau or snuggle together under a blanket as a horse drawn sleigh trots through the landscape.
GroupsGroup Holidays Wildschonau
Spend a week exploring the wonderful Wildschönau with a bunch of friends – whether you’re all beginners or a mix of different levels, the Ski Juwel pass has you covered. This place doesn’t hold a candle to St Anton in the après ski department, but if your party prefer quiet evenings in your local pub it’s perfect. Any non-skiers thinking of coming along have museums, winter walking paths and nearby villages to explore. There are also some brilliant group activities, like tobogganing and night skiing. If you’re a big group, look out for special lift pass offers (last time we checked, every 10th person got a free pass).
© 2024 SNO Group Ltd • company no. 5995288 • VAT no. 946 9394 63 SNO, Apsley House, 176 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 2SH.
| why log in? |
Save Wish List view on any device
Share Holidays choose with friends
020 7770 6888
