Stubnerkogel (Bad Gastein) Total: 39 km 13 kmEasy 24 kmMedium 2 kmDifficult 3Drag lifts 3Chair lifts 4Gondola

Gasteinertal Total: 207 km 57 kmEasy 125 kmMedium 25 kmDifficult 11Drag lifts 17Chair lifts 13Gondola

Gastein Valley is just 90 km away from Salzburg. In the four resorts that make up the ski area are 205 km of trails of varying levels of difficulty. The hallmark of the Gastein Valley are hot springs, which can be used in the thermal complexes of the biggest towns - Bad Hofgastein (Alpentherme) and Bad Gastein (Felsentherme).

In and around the Bad Gastein ski area you can go skiing to one of four different resorts. The largest number of runs is offered by the combined ski resorts of Stubnerkogel and Schlossalm. The first of these is accessible directly from Bad Gastein, the second from Bad Hofgastein. Together they offer 91 km of slopes, spanning from 850 to 2250 m above sea level. Trails on both sides are mostly marked red, but fans of easier routes won’t have any reasons to complain. You can end the day by skiing directly down to either of the towns. Both resorts are combined and make up the Angertal Ski Resort. For beginners, there is a ski school here, a lot of gentle and wide slopes and special training runs.

The Dorfgastein-Grossarltal network, a ski resort situated at the entrance of the Dorfgastein valley, offers a similar amount of trails - 82 km. 60% of these routes are marked red and connect the Gastein Valley with the neighbouring Grossarl. The resort will definitely appeal to those who like to ski off the beaten track – there are three off-piste runs here that are regularly controlled to check their safety. Almost 15 km of trails here are marked black.

Graukogel, which is slightly on the sidelines of Bad Gastein, is a small resort that offers 14 km of slopes, of which only 3 km are easy. However, this is where the most difficult trail of the valley runs. It is the Graukogel trail, which possesses FIS homologation and has a length of 4.2 km and a 650 m difference in altitude.

The icing on the Gasteinertal cake is the Sportgastein resort, not far away from Bad Gastein. 19 km of trails run here at altitudes between 1585 m and 2650 m above sea level - this height ensures good quality snow until late spring. The Sportgastein ski season usually ends in the first weekend of May. Sportgastein is visited by amateurs of off-piste skiing, who have at their disposal two long, secured ski runs in the immediate vicinity of the slopes.

Cross-country skiing enthusiasts can enjoy well-prepared trails with a total length of 90 km. The highest altitude cross-country track is located at an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level, making it very attractive in terms of the scenery (7 km, the Sportgastein resort).

Gasteinertal consists of three main localities: Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein and Dorfgastein. Each of them possesses a well-developed network of hotels, although they differ a lot in terms of character. Bad Gastein is a famous town situated at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. It has the unique charm of an old spa, numerous thermal and medicinal baths and the most famous open-air thermal pools in the region. The town literally lies on the slopes, ensuring stunning views of the entire valley, but travelling even small distances can take a lot of time.

Bad Hofgastein is lower and definitely more flat. The main advantage of the town are the centrally located thermal pools and the lower station of the gondola lift to Schlossalm. Dorfgastein has a somewhat homely character with numerous agritourist farms, but also expensive hotels.