Flachau is one of the most famous ski areas in the Salzburger Sportwelt and is located in the heart of Ski amadé. The lively village of Flachau and its districts meander around the spectacular local mountain Grießenkareck (1991 m), which forms the Flachau ski area, also known as the Snow Space Salzburg. Thanks to G-Link, Wagrain and Alpendorf are also easily accessible by cable car. This ski season Snow Space Salzburg is expanding its reach substantially with a new connection to the ski areas Shuttleberg and Ski Paradise Zauchensee.

In Flachau the ski lifts lead directly to the Grießenkareck. There you will find one of the highlights in the Flachau ski area. The Hermann Maier World Cup route is 3 km long and offers a real challenge for experienced ski pilots. The other slopes on the mountain are smoother and forgiving. These are mostly easy to moderate and lead up to 5 km in length over wide alpine pastures and wonderful forest aisles down into the valley.

Flachau proudly boasts it is the home of Hermann Maier, the Herminator, Austria’s World and Olympic Downhill champion, so one has to assume the skiing has much to recommend it. And it does, if you are an intermediate skier, that is. With a large array of wide, cruisey, beautifully groomed runs, most skiers will have a great wonderful time. Expert skiers, too, will find that the area is not without its challenges, not least the 6km run from the Griessenkar ridge.

Thanks to the wealth of easy blue runs, beginners will find themselves with plenty choice when the time comes for them to graduate from the nursery slopes and skiers of all standards will be able to enjoy exploring the area together.

Snow Space Salzburg is known for its immaculately groomed slopes. The hand full of black run pistes are deliberately left untouched so that you can enjoy the powder snow conditions. In addition, the lift system in the ski area is modern, fast and high-capacity. Although, the ski area can be quite busy, especially near Flachau, there is little to no waiting at the lifts. It is quieter towards Wagrain and Alpendorf.

Most likely, the crowds are a thing of the past; in the 2020-2021 ski season, the slopes of Flachau-Wagrain will be connected with those of the Shuttleberg (Flachauwinkl / Kleinarl). The new Panorma Link cable car connects both ski areas. Snow Space Salzburg is taking the next step in connecting the three different valleys with a lift connection to Zauchensee.

The Panorama Link cable car will enable the crossing from the Grießenkar above Wagrain to the Shuttleberg above Flachauwinkl / Kleinarl . The construction of the new cable car has been delayed, partly due to the coronavirus, but the opening in December 2020 seems possible. A 10-seater gondola lift will take passengers from one ski area to another in just 9 minutes. It will be a horizontal connecting lift over 3 kilometers in length. The slopes of Alpendorf, Wagrain, Flachau, Flachauwinkl and Kleinarl will be fully connected with each other from the coming season. Soon more will surely be known about a connection to Zauchensee.

A new connection to Zauchensee will complete the interconnection and create a ski area with more than 200 kilometers of slopes. This lift crosses the Tauern motorway so that you can get on and off the motorway on both sides. At the moment you still have to use the ski bus to get from the Sunshine Shuttle to Highliner 1. If all permits are issued quickly, this new runway should also be open in December 2020.

With the merger of the three ski areas Snow Space Salzburg, the Shuttleberg and Ski Paradise Zauchensee, the newly formed ski area offers you an exciting framework for an unforgettable winter holiday.

Flachawinkl

So what do the other two ski area bring into the mix?

Shuttleberg Flachauwinkl – Kleinarl is an attractive family ski area. In addition to its family-friendly character, this ski area also offers beautiful off-piste possibilities.

Zauchensee is characterised by beautiful sloping descents with limited challenge for the seasoned winter sports enthusiast. Zauchensee does provide many beautiful off-piste possibilities, the real freeriders can indulge themselves here.

Ski map Snow Space Salzburg

Link suggestions

For more information on Snow Space Salzburg, please visit the official website of Snow Space Salzburg

Nestled just an hour’s drive from Salzburg, Grossarl emerges as a serene and understated gem in the alpine landscape. This quaint village, perched at an altitude of 924 meters, is the beating heart of the Ski Amadé network and a haven for ski enthusiasts seeking a blend of tranquility and adventure. What sets Grossarl apart is its unique location in a secluded dead-end valley within the less traversed Grossarltal, which runs parallel to the larger and more famous Gasteinertal. This positioning imbues the village with a distinctive character, where accommodations harmoniously meld with the natural surroundings, amplifying the area’s peaceful and authentic Austrian charm.

The ski domain of Grossarl, intimately linked with Dorfgastein, creates the expansive Skischaukel Dorfgastein Großarltal. This network offers an impressive array of nearly 80 kilometers of ski slopes. With a comprehensive ski pass, visitors can explore not only these slopes but also venture into other skiing hotspots in the Gasteinertal, including Bad Gastein and Sportgastein. In total, a staggering 200 kilometers of ski terrain awaits discovery. Moreover, all these areas fall under the colossal Ski Amadé lift pass, granting access to an astonishing 760 kilometers of pistes across five interconnected regions.

Despite Grossarl’s modest population of 3,600, the ski resort located up the mountain is anything but small. It is widely acclaimed as the premier destination in the region for families and intermediate skiers. The resort boasts an array of nursery slopes, gentle blue runs, and manageable reds, alongside more challenging steeper reds and a few black runs for the seasoned skiers.

The Grossarl area, being the larger part of the Skischaukel Dorfgastein Großarltal, offers a delightful selection of lengthy, winding blue and red pistes. These trails meander through picturesque wooded slopes, leading back to the village via two gondola access points. The convergence of lifts from the two villages at the peaks of Fulseck (2,033 meters) and Kreuzkogel (2,027 meters) provides an array of options. Skiers can enjoy numerous bowls and lengthy valley runs that return to the villages. An especially scenic piste runs along the ridge dividing the two valleys, offering breathtaking views and easy access to either side, with gondolas for the return journey. The upper mountain is serviced by a gondola and four chairlifts, making it particularly family-friendly.

Advanced intermediates can challenge themselves on the steep, short reds near the Kreuzkogel peak and explore a couple of longer, ungroomed red routes off the Fulseck-Kieserl ridge. While limited, there are opportunities for off-piste skiing in this area, which is patrolled but not serviced by lifts. Additionally, the linked ski area features only two short black pistes.

Freestyle enthusiasts, particularly skiers and snowboarders, will find the small but well-maintained snowpark on the Sonnenbahn slopes below the Kruezkogel summit to be a delightful playground. It features various kickers and a range of novice-friendly modules, including flat, rainbow, and wave forms.

Despite the seemingly limited altitude range, the resort goes to great lengths to maintain the quality of its slopes. Even after extended warm spells, the valley run often remains open and in good condition.

There are plenty of mountain bars and restaurants dotted around the slopes. Food is exceptional in all three areas with a collection of Ski-Toque huts, mountain restaurants offering signature dishes from top Austrian chefs.

For families and intermediate-level skiers, Grossarl might just be the region’s best resort option. Offering affordability and a small-scale, family-friendly atmosphere, Grossarl stands out as a tranquil retreat away from the bustling crowds, perfect for those seeking an intimate winter sports holiday in Salzburger Land.

In conclusion, Grossarl presents a splendid skiing destination that beautifully balances diverse slopes with an enchanting alpine atmosphere. Its well-groomed runs cater to all levels of skiers, from the gentle nursery and blue slopes ideal for beginners and families, to the more challenging red and black runs for intermediate and advanced skiers seeking a thrill. The off-piste options add an element of adventure for those looking to venture beyond the groomed trails.

Getting there


To reach Grossarl, Austria, by plane, fly into Salzburg Airport, the nearest major airport. From there, you have several options: renting a car for an hour’s drive to Grossarl, taking a taxi or an airport shuttle directly to the village, or using public transport with a combination of bus or train to St. Johann im Pongau and then a connecting bus or taxi to Grossarl.

If you’re traveling by train, the nearest major station is in St. Johann im Pongau. Upon arrival, complete your journey to Grossarl with a short taxi ride or a local bus trip.

Link suggestions

For more information on Großarl, please visit the official website of Großarltal