Skiing in Hintertux

Hintertux’s famous glacier and 365-day-a-year skiing make it a great snowsure destination, particularly outside the peak season. But with a relatively limited 60km of prepared pistes, most visitors will need to travel the short distance to access 196km of pistes within the wider Ski & Glacier Zillertal 3000 area, encompassing nearby Mayrhofen.

Hintertux Ski Area Overview

The Hintertux ski area is set high up at the top of the Tux Valley, predominantly above the tree line. Its runs are characteristically wide, open cruisers suited to intermediates. While most pistes are classed as red runs, there are generally few steep sections and their width makes them a possibility for more confident beginners.

Many of the runs in the Hintertux area are situated in the glacier bowl itself, between the Gefrorene Wand and Grosser Kaserer peaks. Compared with many other glaciers, Hintertux offers a variety of pistes, and confident beginners and intermediates will be happy for a day or two – although the runs are fairly short and most lifts are t-bars. This area, above the 2660m station, is the limit of skiing in the summer.

The area between the Sommerberg at 2100m and the top of the Gletscherbus 2 lift at 2660m, offers only 2 red runs, although these are supplemented by a number of unprepared pistes and a range of off-piste opportunities. Hintertux boasts the longest run in Zillertal, a 12km and 1,750m descent from the Gefrorenen Wand down to Hintertux village (including the unprepared 1a from Sommerberg to the village).

Under the Tuxer Joch peak a small number of easier blue runs provide scope for beginners to find their feet in Hintertux, and the FamilyPark Hintertux provides the opportunity for children and beginners to have a go at freestyling.

While on the face of it Hintertux has little to offer advanced skiers and boarders, with only one short black run, there are a number of off-piste opportunities which can be accessed with a guide and the ‘Betterpark Hintertux’ provides the prospect of a snowsure park. Even so, with a relatively limited ski area, intermediate and advanced skiers will want to explore the other parts of the Zillertal 3000 area with 196km of prepared pistes across six peaks and taking in the ski area of Hintertux’s more famous neighbour Mayrhofen. The main area covering Eggalm, Rastkogel, Penken and Horberg peaks is mostly easily accessed from Lanersbach village, a short bus ride from Hintertux village. The free Tuxer Sportbus shuttles between the villages every 15 minutes.

The Hintertux glacier allows skiing 365 days a year, a fact the village is proud to boast. With the highest peak within the wider Zillertal 3000 area, at 3250m [check], and with most runs above 2000m, Hintertux is a safe snowsure bet. The height and exposure of the glacier can, however, see lifts closed before nearby areas when the weather closes in.

Beginner Skiing in Hintertux

With only 8 runs suitable for beginners, and some more difficult to access, Hintertux itself has a relatively limited offering. While the nearby Rastkogel area provides more beginner-friendly options, the short bus ride may not be convenient for all.

For novices and small children the babylift in the village centre provides access to a small nursery area. From there most will progress to the main area for beginners in Hintertux – around and above the Sommerberg, served by the Ramsmoos and Tuxerjoch chairlifts. Wide cruisers provide the opportunity for beginners to gain confidence and progress – blue run 17 under the Tuxerjoch is a longer but potentially more interesting test.

For variety the blue runs around Olperer 1 and 2 on the glacier are fairly easily accessed, although with only red runs from there down to the Sommerberg area most beginners will need to get the cable cars or gondolas back down the mountain.

More confident beginners may want to explore the nearby Rastkogel area, which has a number of rolling blue runs as well as a nursery area. The Rastkogelbahn in Vorderlanersbach, a short bus ride from Hintertux, provides direct access to the area. 

Ski Schools & Ski Lessons in Hintertux

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Intermediate Skiing in Hintertux

Hintertux offers a handful of interesting, long runs for intermediates, but with only 60km of pistes, visitors will want to explore the larger areas nearby which are included within the Zillertal Superskipass.

Hintertux provides a range of wide, open pistes well-suited to intermediates although with a relatively limited ski area, most will need to venture further afield within the Zillertal Superskipass area after a day or two. This offers a much wider range of skiing – the nearby Rastkogel and Eggalm areas are a good place to start, with fairly quiet but interesting pistes which can be accessed from Lanersbach, a short (free) bus ride from Hintertux.

In Hintertux itself over half the pistes are classed as red runs (or ski routes). The main area high up on the glacier under the Gefrorene Wand provides a number of shorter red runs, and red number 5 which drops down onto the Schlegeis glacier behind offers some fantastic views. Some of the longer runs that are possible all the way down to Hintertux village, with an altitude difference of over 1500m, provide a more interesting ride. When conditions are good the area under the Larmstange is a must, with a number of ski routes down to Sommerberg, and the whole of the Hintertux area has good off-piste potential, although on the glacier itself the presence of crevasses under the surface make this extremely dangerous, so a guide is vital.

Once Hintertux is exhausted intermediates will want to explore the larger area available between Mayrhofen and Lanersbach, with a further 135km of pistes, including a number of fairly steep red runs. The pistes under the Lammerbichl chairlift and down into the valley between Rastkogel and Eggalm areas are a welcome change from the wide, open pistes of Hintertux, and provide some interesting tree-runs – they can also be a refuge when the weather is worse high up on the glacier.

Another particular highlight within main Penken area above Mayrhofen, is the red run 66 which runs along the ridge separating the Penken from the Rastkogel before dropping back into the Penken bowl.

Advanced & Expert Skiing in Hintertux

While there are a limited number of genuinely challenging pistes on the glacier, Hintertux does provide potential for off-piste skiing and ski touring means that there are options for those willing to head away from prepared pistes.

With only two fairly short black pistes, there is not a great deal of steep and testing runs for advanced skiers in Hintertux. In good conditions, however, good off-piste can be found on the glacier, and there is plenty of accessible off-piste in the nearby Zillertal 3000 ski area.

In nearby Mayrhofen, the terrain is somewhat more challenging – there are only another six runs classified black, although some of the many red runs are also steep in parts. Real experts will want to test their mettle on the Harakiri (black 34), the steepest piste in Austria! A more leisurely ride, although still stimulating, is black 12 under the Schneekar chairlift.

The other popular option for experienced skiers and boarders is ski touring, and there is a very good offering in this respect both within Hintertux itself and across the wider area. Visitors should always use a guide, particularly in Hinterux where crevasses in the glacier under the snow present a real danger.

Boarding & Freestyle in Hintertux

Hintertux punches above its weight in terms of park facilities, with a Familypark suitable for all levels open during the winter season and the Betterpark with pro-lines open during the summer season.

The presence of the glacier, and a remarkable 365-day skiing, means that Hintertux attracts pro-riders searching for guaranteed snow year-round, and it hosts an opening party annually on the first weekend in October.

The Betterpark Hintertux, open from April to December (with a short break over August) is perched high up on the glacier, alongside the Olperer t-bars – providing snowsure opportunities for freestyling throughout the year. With a range of kickers, boxes and rails the park offers an easy, medium and pro-line, as well as a 120m Superpipe.

During the winter season the Familypark Hintertux takes over (open December to April), and offers a range of freestyle opportunities, including for families and beginners.

The presence of a number of t-bar lifts and generally limited beginners pistes, don’t make Hintertux the ideal place to learn to snowboard, although intermediates will enjoy the wide cruisers and opportunities for exploring off-piste – in particular the large area under the Larmstange chairlift.

Hintertux Mountain Restaurants

There are a number of good mountain restaurants on the Hintertux Glacier, and a host of further options across the Zillertal 3000 ski area. There is a cluster of good culinary destinations at the top of the Gletscherbus 2 ski lift, making it a good spot to head for lunch.

The Tuxer Fenerhaus is one of the best mountain restaurants on the Hintertux Glacier, offering traditional Tirolean specialities as well as international cuisine. Situated at the top of the Gletscherbus 2 ski lift, the Tuxer Fenerhaus has an outdoor sun terrace, and a large indoor area comprised of a spacious self-service area or a good quality a la carte restaurant.

The Spannagelhaus is an intentionally high-end mountain restaurant renowned for its large sun terrace and champagne breakfast. The Spannagelhaus has a broad menu which offers salads, soups and a wide choice of traditional mains and deserts, while there is plenty of indoor dining space if conditions are windy.

More detail on the Hintertux Glacier mountain restaurants is available at http://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/en/summer/alpine-huts-restaurants.html.

More detail on the mountain restaurant options across the Zillertal 3000 ski area can be found at Mayrhofen Mountain Restaurants.