Ski Lifts in St Johann in Tirol
The St Johann ski area features 17 ski lifts, but more than half are surface lifts and there is a need for greater investment to improve lift access throughout the ski area.
St Johann Ski Lifts
Access to the mountain is channelled through the Harschbichl cable car – a stone’s throw from many of the resort’s hotels and a ten-minute walk from the main square. The cable car is the focal point of the ski area – so it can become busy during peak holiday periods – and provides direct access to the highest point on the piste map, 16 minutes and 943 vertical metres from the lift base station.
The Bauernalm is the resort’s other cable car, reconnecting advanced skiers to the heart of the ski area after a run down the long Saureggabfahrt black run. There are four chairlifts in the St Johann ski area, the most significant of which are the Penzing and Jodlalm lifts which carry intermediate skiers around the central network of red runs. Two chairlifts operate lower down the mountain to serve the resort’s nighttime tobogganing and floodlight skiing.
The continuing presence of long and inconvenient Eichenhof T-bars. lifts hinder the resort and deter skiers from enjoying the pistes in the Eichenhof region. The resort is gradually making progress in securing investment and gaining the permissions needed to replace T-bars with a new and more efficient alternative.
There are three free practice lifts for beginners spread across the ski area, and there is free access to night skiing on Wednesdays and Fridays via the Hochfeld lifts.
St Johann Lift Passes
Due to the size of the ski area lift passes solely for St Johann are only offered for half a day or 1-2 days.
Visitors staying for more than two days have a choice between three major lift passes. The cheapest option is the Schneewinkel lift pass, which offers access to 170km of pistes across several nearby ski areas including St Johann, Oberndorf, Steinplatte and Fieberbrunn. This is a popular option among families looking to explore the many discreet areas within reach – by car or bus – of St Johann, and freeriders planning a visit to Fieberbrunn.
The two other, more extensive, alternatives are the All-Star Card, giving access to 1,000km of skiing locally, and the 2,500km Salzburg Super Ski Card.