The Ski Resort
The alpine terrain of Hochfügen offers real highlights especially for freeriders and sporty skiers - but thanks to its connection to Hochzillertal, it also opens up a large network of pistes.
Beginners do not have to fear long distances to the practice area: On the flat slopes above the Onkeljoch, in close proximity to the Panoramastraße, there are four Lamark T-bar lifts and flat pistes where you can train for higher tasks. A total of four ski schools take care of the young and old beginners.
At Hochfügen you have got the choice: at the Hochfügen 2000 chairlift, wonderfully flat Carving slopes await you. Optionally, there are also black and red pistes from Pfaffenbühel down to the valley station: the more direct, the steeper. After you can spend half a day on the slopes there, the Marchkopf in the direction of Hochzillertal should be considered afterwards.
With the gondola lift Zillertal-Shuttle or the six-seater chair lift Holzalm, it goes to numerous medium-difficulty slopes. A recent highlight is the black downhill run, which is known by the bizarre name "Obitraudi". There is also a BMW SkiMovie track at the Holzalmbahn, when your own run is recorded on video and can later be called up online via one of the 22 Internet hotspots distributed throughout the ski area.
Once all the western slopes have been discovered, an excursion across to the Hochzillertal is recommended. At the highest point of the ski area, the 2501 metre high Zillertal shuttle mountain station at Marchkopf, the route leads over to the Wedelexpress and south to the numerous, generally easier slopes of Hochzillertal.
If you go freeriding in the Zillertal, you can hardly avoid Hochfügen. The central meeting point with all the information, course offers and a shop necessary for freeriders is the valley station of the 8-person Jet. A total of eight freeride checkpoints are located at Pfaffenbühel and Marchkopf. Topographical maps, checklists and safety instructions are standard equipment at every point.
For all rookies among the freeriders Hochfügen offers a Starter-Freeride-Area at the Holzalmbahn, a terrain with a moderate slope, in which good skiers, best under professional guidance, will quickly succumb to the attraction of deep snow skiing. For professionals, the possibilities are limitless: At Pfaffenbühel alone there are numerous long routes, which are guaranteed to always end at a lift station. At Marchkopf, too, the path to the Hochfügen valley station is almost completely without piste. The path to the Wedelexpress in the Hochzillertal is also a great off-piste experience. Freeriders and tourers are definitely in good hands in Hochfügen.
Hochfügen has also made a name for itself among professional freeriders: the Qualifier Cup of the Freeride World Tour regularly takes place in the Hochzillertal and attracts numerous top professionals to the slopes around Pfaffenbühel and Marchkopf.
If you are looking for a big snowpark, you have to go to Hochzillertal and its Betterpark. In Hochfügen, a natural canyon awaits boarders and skiers: below the top station of the 8-seater jet there are no huge stunts, but especially adventurous young racers have fun in the unprepared pipe.
Interesting facts
- The vertical drop from summit to base is 3281 ft. The average difference in altitude between base and summit of Ski Resorts in Austria is 2362 ft. Most runs are therefore relatively long. The high point of the ski resort is located at an elevation of 8202 ft.
- Average snow depth during the season is 42 " at summit elevation and 24 " at base elevation. Snow coverage is usually best during February, offering an average snow depth of 50 " at summit elevation and 32 " at the base.
- Hochfügen features 60 sunny days on average per season. The average for all ski Resorts in Austria is 56 sunny days. January is the sunniest month with an average of 17 sunny days.