Ski tours in Tyrol

Ski touring around the Mariasteinerhof

The peaks around Mariastein already draw hikers and mountaineers in the summer. When winter then wraps everything in a white blanket, ski tourers enjoy the mountain slopes around the valleys in the Hohe Salve holiday region.

The tranquillity off-piste in particular and the charm of secluded runs are what make ski touring so attractive. You can head for several valleys from the Mariasteinerhof which all offer fantastic opportunities for ski tours. Climbing up high step by step, standing at the peak after all that effort, letting your gaze wander over the Tyrolean mountains and then finally launching yourself into the downhill run: ski tours are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to skiing.

You can find the following ski tour areas around Mariastein:

Kelchsau

Kelchsau is a long valley running north to south that branches off into the Brixental valley at Hopfgarten. The valley divides into the Kurzer Grund and Langer Grund at the toll booth. Gasthof Wegscheid (1,148 m), the Neue Bambergerhütte (1,213 m) and Erla Brennhütte (1,213 m) serve as bases. Peaks such as the Lodron, Schwaigberghorn or Schneegrubenspitze, where each one of them reveals a stunning view over the Hohe Tauern with the Großvenediger, are ideal from here.

Windau

The Windau valley runs parallel to the Kelchsau valley. Gasthof Jägerhäusl, situated halfway into the valley, is the starting point for numerous tours. Tours up the Lodron (1,925 m) and Brechhorn (2,037 m) lead from here. Two kilometres into the valley you can take tours from Gasthof Steinberghaus up the Gerstinger Pass (2,035 m) and Steinbergstein (2,215 m), while the Gamskogel (2,206 m) and Geige (2,084 m) entice you at the valley head.

Spertental

The Spertental valley branches off south of the Brixental valley. Just after Aschau there is a large car park that is the starting point for several tours. Various options up the Brechhorn and Gerstinger Pass are also ideal from here, further down in the valley you can even venture up the Großer Rettenstein (2,366 m).

Auracher Graben

The easy to reach, varied Auracher Graben with guaranteed snow is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Next to the road to Auracher Wildpark there is a car park from where you hike along a forest trail for 30 minutes first of all. You then have to choose between the individual peaks: Gebra (2,057 m), Bischof (2,127 m), Sonnspitz (2,062 m), Staffkogel (2,115 m) or Saalkogel (2,006 m).

Wilder Kaiser

Ski tours are often possible well into May in the Kaiser mountains, for example up the Schneekar or Griesner Kar. There are also lots of other exciting tour options in peak winter though. The starting point for Wilder Kaiser tours are the Wochenbrunnalm, the car park below Graspoint-Niederalm and the Kaiserbach valley.