Mountain Layout — Skiing

Here is a larger, more detailed trail map.

There are two major areas: Zell am See’s Schmitten-höhe lifts take skiers to the 6,500-foot level, while Kaprun is famed as a year-round ski area with runs on the glacier beneath the peak of the 10,506-foot Kitzsteinhorn. This year is has a new six-pax chairlift move even more skiers.

To ski the Schmittenhöhe, avoid the main cablecar from town and take either the Sonnenalmbahn or better still, the newly-extended Areit gondola from neighboring Schüttdorf direct to the Breiteck peak. You can also take the Zeller Bergbahn and work your way up the left side of the mountain.

The runs are good for intermediates with some expert challenges too, particularly the two runs used in the World Cup and regional downhill races. Our favorite is the trail from the Kapellenlift summit to Breiteckalm and then down a wonderful turning slope parallel to the woods. From there, it’s black to the bottom. Locals call this run the Trass. Intermediate skiers may enjoy the Standard—it drops from the top to Breiteck but then breaks back to the right over the Hirschkögel trail.

Kaprun is about six miles from Zell am See and it’s an-other 3-1/2 miles to the base of the area’s lifts. Take the two-stage cablecar up to the glacier to Alpincenter. A third section of the aerial cablecar contin-ues to the top of the Kitzsteinhorn at 9,935 feet.

Kaprun’s skiing is for the most part intermediate. Experts will want to tackle the final part of the run from the top of the Gletscherbahn to the Langwied midstation, run 8 from the Sonnenkarbahn, or run 2 on the left side of the glacier. While up at the peak of the Kitzsheinhorn, take your skis off and walk the 360-meter-long tunnel for a 360-degree panorama view of the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Grossglockner, a 12,460-foot-high giant of a mountain.

Finally, for the area’s ultimate in off-piste expert skiing, hire a guide (contact any ski school) and leave the back side of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and ski to the valley of Niedernsill.

Mountain rating
Zell am See is outstanding for intermediates; its network of trails and connecting lifts offers new challenges and different aspects to the slopes as you work your way across the area. For the beginner there are training slopes and plenty of room to take a fall or two without serious suffering. Experts will head for the glacier at Kaprun, where there are also challenging intermediate runs. The combined ski region offers 54 lifts and 130 km. (80 miles) of trails. A very efficient bus system, included with your Europa Sport Region ski pass, serves both areas.

The Kitzsteinhorn glacier is an easy intermediate area. Though there are ultra wide, gradual runs, the vast number of skiers and the altitude make it an intimidating experience for the beginner. Experts will have to search for ravines (renne) or gullies (wassarkar) to the sides of the groomed pistes for bumps and steeps filled with powder.