Schmittenhohe Total: 77 km 25 kmEasy 27 kmMedium 25 kmDifficult 9Drag lifts 10Chair lifts 7Gondola

Kitzsteinhorn & Maiskogel Total: 61 km 32 kmEasy 22 kmMedium 7 kmDifficult 11Drag lifts 7Chair lifts 5Gondola

The Zell am See - Kaprun region is one of the leading skiing destinations of Austria. Unique, fantastic ski slopes and grand lakes ensure that the tourist season lasts almost all year. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier enables skiing in Kaprun for 10 months of the year, from September to June.

The resort of Zell am See, beautifully located by Lake Zell, at an altitude of 757 m above sea level, along with the nearby village of Kaprun, creates one of the most popular and renowned ski areas in Austria. After entering the local ski area, which is the Schmittenhöhe summit (1,965 m), it’s worth checking out the “Schmitten-Cafe” observation deck or the “Berghotel” hotel to feast your eyes upon a stunning panorama of almost thirty three-thousander peaks surrounding the locality. The surrounding views are considered to be the most beautiful in Austria.

Thanks to very diverse runs, the ski area in Zell am See is perfectly suited for both beginners and for families with young children, freestylers and those who ski only down black routes. It’s worth trying the No. 14 black trail, going down to the TrassXpress gondola lift. Advanced skiers can get a lot of enjoyment out of it for a large part of the day. Ski lovers have a choice of 77 km of pistes.

On Schmittenhohe there are numerous ski rentals and ski schools for both adults and children. Toddlers can also be safely left at the nursery or the ski kindergarten. You should steer clear of areas around routes 1 and 2 - there are usually huge crowds there because of groups of learning beginners. In Zell am See skiing is possible from November to mid-April, also at night down the 4-km route.

Hearing the name Kaprun, most ski enthusiasts will immediately think of Kitzsteinhorn, the first glacier in Austria, on which a resort was built (in 1965). It rises to a height of 3,029 m above sea level, while the highest terrain available to skiers is located at an altitude of 2,900 m above sea level

Wide, abundant in snow slopes, three snow parks (one of them is Austria’s largest superpipe with a length of 150 m) and interesting off-piste trails make Kitzsteinhorn a paradise for skiers. The natural properties of the glacier ensure that it’s snowy here all year round. Thanks to that the ski season in Kitzsteinhorn lasts for ten months - lifts operate from mid-September to mid-July. The glacier offers skiers 22 km of blue runs, 16 km of red runs and 3 km of black trails, which amounts to a total of 41 km of perfectly prepared pistes. Recently a 1 km long black trail with the catchy name “Black Mamba” has been opened.

Beginners and adults spending their winter holidays with children will enjoy the second ski area in Kaprun, the family mountain of Maiskogel (1,855 m.a.s.l.). You can ski down 21 km of slopes here from early December to mid-April. There are mainly easy blue trails, although there’s also one black ski run - all are accessible from eight lifts. The inexpensive ski passes (valid only on Maiskogel) and a large number of parking spaces attract a lot of skiers. On Maiskogel there are ski schools for children, and the restaurants offer kids menus.

At an altitude of 2,900 m above sea level, a nearly 3-kilometer cross-country trail has been set, where - starting from autumn - cross-country skiers meet, attracted by the fame of the glacier.

Although the slopes on Schmittenhoehe, the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and Maiskogel amount to over 120 km of slopes, you can find more trails in Saalbach Hinterglemm, which is just 20 minutes away by car.

The region consists of two main towns: Zell am See, situated on a peninsula on the lake, and Kaprun, just 5 km from the glacier. Zell am See has a typical city atmosphere, which is embodied by the very modern district of Schuettdorf. On the other hand, it also has a charming old town and a beautiful promenade by the lake. Kaprun, which is smaller, is more like a cozy, alpine resort. It’s worth visiting the modern spa resort in Kaprun, comparable with the hot springs in the Gastein Valley. Skiers also often stay in the villages of Piesendorf and Bruck an der Grossglocknerstrasse.