Austria, Europe
Dachstein West
Ski 51km of pistes across Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg in Austria's UNESCO Salzkammergut. 872m vertical, 24 lifts, family-friendly terrain.
Season 2025-2026
Opens
6 Dec 2025
Closes
6 Apr 2026
Days open
121
Annual snow
4m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Dachstein West spans 51 kilometres of pisted terrain across 46 runs between 745 and 1,617 metres, delivering 872 metres of vertical drop beneath the dramatic Dachstein massif. The regional lift pass unlocks 160 kilometres across eight interconnected ski areas including the Freesports Arena at Krippenstein.
Terrain splits 29% beginner, 65% intermediate and 6% advanced - ideal for families and improving skiers. The 44-kilometre Dachstein Tour ski circuit connects all three base villages while the Wilde Hilde run challenges experts with a 67% gradient.
Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg retain their traditional Upper Austrian character with rustic mountain huts and minimal après-ski. Children's areas include Fredy-Land and Zwisiland in Gosau, Bärencamp in Russbach, and Fuxi Kinderland in Annaberg - all with dedicated ski schools and magic carpets.
The resort operates within the UNESCO World Heritage Salzkammergut region, offering exceptional value compared to larger Austrian ski areas. The Marcel Hirscher race course with timing and mogul pistes like Donnergroll and Schwarzreiter add variety for confident skiers seeking challenge.
872m
Vertical
46
Runs
51 km
Piste
4m
Annual snow
The Terrain
46 runs across 51 km of piste
Dachstein West spreads 46 runs across 51 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 65%, with 13 beginner runs to find your feet and 3 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
46
runs
46 runs across 4 grades
Beginner13 runs · 29%
Intermediate30 runs · 65%
Advanced3 runs · 6%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Dachstein West
Dachstein West operates from 5 December 2025 through 6 April 2026, running continuous ski operations during peak periods with partial service in early and late season. The four-month season delivers approximately 120 days of skiing when conditions permit.
Annual snowfall averages around 315 centimetres with peak accumulation in January and February when summit depths typically reach 55 centimetres. Snowmaking across 122 kilometres compensates for the mid-mountain elevation, ensuring groomed pistes remain skiable throughout the season.
February offers the most reliable snow coverage alongside March's 19 sunny days on average - the brightest month of the season. January brings the Gosau Balloon Week featuring the spectacular Night of the Balloons with illuminated hot-air balloons above Hornspitz.
The Children's Snow Festival at Fredy-Land draws families in late December and early January with free activities including tubing and llama hikes. Ski touring enthusiasts gather in March for the charity ski touring event on Russbach's 3.6-kilometre Atomic Backland route.
Season 2025-2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
6 Apr 2026
Closes
121
Days open
4 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Dachstein West, and where to stay
Dachstein West straddles the border between Upper Austria and Salzburg, with Gosau in Upper Austria and Russbach and Annaberg in Salzburger Land. The three villages sit within the UNESCO World Heritage Salzkammergut region beneath the 2,995-metre Dachstein glacier.
Hallstatt lies 15 kilometres east, while the imperial spa town of Bad Ischl sits 20 kilometres north. Salzburg city centre is approximately 70 kilometres northwest, reachable in under 90 minutes by car.
Motorway access comes via the A10 Tauernautobahn exit at Golling from the south or the A1 Westautobahn exit at Regau from Vienna and Linz. Free parking is available at all three village base stations with paid parking at seven euros per day in Gosau.
Salzburg Airport sits 70 kilometres away - approximately 45 minutes by car. Train connections run to Bad Ischl on the Salzkammergut railway, with free ski buses linking Bad Ischl, Hallstatt and Obertraun to all three resort villages throughout the season.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Dachstein West, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.
19 Aug 2026
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.
17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
15 Aug 2026
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.
12 Aug 2026
Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On
Saas-Fee is closing its glacier to summer skiing from Monday, August 10 - the second major Swiss resort to shut in under two weeks after Zermatt suspended operations on August 1. Persistent heat and warm nights that won't let the glacier refreeze are behind the call, per Saastal Bergbahnen. That leaves Italy's Stelvio as the only glacier ski area open in the Alps. Reopening could come as early as August 17, though nothing's confirmed - and racing teams are already looking south instead.
8 Aug 2026
Silvretta Montafon Plans New 10-Person Gondola to Replace Ageing Hochjoch Lift
Silvretta Montafon wants to retire one of its most distinctive lifts. The plan: a single 10-person gondola running direct from Schruns to 1,870 metres, replacing both the two-stage Hochjoch cable car and the 1985 Kropfen chairlift in one move. Capacity jumps from 620 to 3,000 people an hour, and the mid-station transfer disappears entirely. The public hearing lands August 27, 2026 - construction hasn't been confirmed yet, though lift databases are pointing to 2027.
5 Aug 2026
Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years
Dolomiti Superski's general assembly has unanimously re-elected Andy Varallo for a third consecutive term, running through 2029. Alongside the leadership renewal comes a bigger shift: a Smartpass that puts your ski pass on your smartphone, more AI in guest services, and an expanded Dolomiti Supersummer program. The 46-year-old Alta Badia cable car entrepreneur says the region's marketing is moving beyond skiing alone, toward positioning the Dolomites as a year-round destination.
4 Aug 2026
Lift tickets
18 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 19–64
Adult 1 Day
€65
Full day skiing at Dachstein West across Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg. Austria's family-friendly ski region with 160km of slopes and stunning Dachstein massif views in the Salzkammergut.
Buy passYouth 16–18
Youth 1 Day
€47
Youth full day ticket for Dachstein West. Austria skiing across 160km of slopes with terrain parks and freestyle areas in the scenic Dachstein mountains.
Buy passChild 6–15
Child 1 Day
€34
Children's full day ticket at Dachstein West. Family-friendly Austria skiing with kinderlands, magic carpets and fairytale slaloms in Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior/Student 1 Day
€62
Senior and student discount ticket for Dachstein West. Full day Austria skiing with 160km of slopes and authentic alpine huts in Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg.
Buy passMulti-day passes
Adult 19–64
Adult 2 Days
€129
Two-day lift pass for Dachstein West ski resort. Multi-day Austria skiing with access to 160km of slopes and 7 connected regions in Salzkammergut.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Adult 3 Days
€194
Three-day lift pass for Dachstein West. Extended Austria ski vacation with access to 160km of slopes and 7 connected regions in Salzkammergut.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Adult 4 Days
€258
Four-day lift pass at Dachstein West ski resort. Extended Austria skiing with access to 160km of slopes and multiple connected regions in Salzkammergut.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Adult 5 Days
€304
Five-day lift pass at Dachstein West ski resort. Extended Austria skiing with 160km of slopes and access to 7 connected regions in Salzkammergut.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Adult 6 Days
€344
Six-day lift pass at Dachstein West ski resort. Week-long Austria skiing with 160km of slopes and 7 connected regions in Salzkammergut.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Adult 7 Days
€397
Seven-day lift pass for Dachstein West. Full week Austria skiing with access to 160km of slopes and 7 connected regions in Salzkammergut.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 19–64
Adult Season Pass (Pre-Sale)
€579
Dachstein West season pass pre-sale pricing available until December 6, 2025. Unlimited Austria skiing with access to 160km of slopes and partner resort benefits.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Adult Season Pass (Regular)
€759
Dachstein West unlimited season pass for Austria skiing. Full season access to Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg with Dachstein massif panoramic views.
Buy passYouth 19–24
U25 Season Pass (Pre-Sale)
€459
Under 25 season pass pre-sale for Dachstein West ski resort. Unlimited Austria skiing for young adults with access to 160km of slopes in Salzkammergut.
Buy passYouth 19–24
U25 Season Pass (Regular)
€759
Under 25 unlimited season pass at Dachstein West. Full season Austria skiing with modern lifts and terrain parks across Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg.
Buy passYouth 16–18
Youth Season Pass (Pre-Sale)
€318
Youth season pass pre-sale for Dachstein West skiing. Unlimited Austria access for ages 16-18 with kinderlands and freestyle areas in Dachstein mountains.
Buy passYouth 16–18
Youth Season Pass (Regular)
€419
Youth unlimited season pass at Dachstein West ski resort. Full season Austria skiing with terrain parks across Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg regions.
Buy passChild 6–15
Child Season Pass (Pre-Sale)
€185
Children's season pass pre-sale for Dachstein West. Unlimited family Austria skiing with kinderlands and magic carpets in the Salzkammergut region.
Buy passChild 6–15
Child Season Pass (Regular)
€249
Children's unlimited season pass at Dachstein West skiing. Full season Austria access with kinderlands and rookie parks in the Dachstein mountains.
Buy passDachstein West lift tickets & passes
The 2025-2026 season at Dachstein West closed on Apr 6, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from €34, with peak rates up to €65.
Lift tickets FAQ
How much does a Dachstein West day pass cost?
Dachstein West day passes range from €34 to €65 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Dachstein West lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Dachstein West lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Dachstein West, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Dachstein West lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Dachstein West - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Dachstein West lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Dachstein West offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Dachstein West directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Dachstein West.
More Dachstein West intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.