Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Skiing for 15 years and visited resorts in:
🇦🇺 Australia (6) • 🇺🇸 USA (15) • 🇯🇵 Japan (5) • 🇪🇺 Europe (10)
Austria's only year-round ski area spans 62 kilometres of piste between the valley station at 1,500 metres and the summit at 3,250 metres, delivering a vertical drop of 1,750 metres across terrain suitable for all abilities. The glacier maintains 62 kilometres of winter pistes - 17.2 kilometres blue, 35.1 kilometres red, and 11.7 kilometres black - across approximately 233 hectares of skiable terrain. Snow reliability is exceptional; the ADAC has rated the resort "especially snow secure" due to its high-altitude glaciers and north-facing aspect. The Hintertux Glacier is one of only two ski resorts globally offering year-round skiing, alongside Zermatt in Switzerland.
Terrain splits across two distinct glacier zones - the Gefrorene-Wand-Kees and the Riepenkees - connected via the mid-mountain hub at Sommerbergalm. Intermediate skiers dominate proceedings, with 55% of terrain graded red, while the 12-kilometre Schwarze Pfanne valley descent from Gefrorene Wand ranks as the Zillertal's longest run. The Lärmstange sector draws powder seekers to its north-facing freeride terrain, whilst the Betterpark at 3,200 metres operates as Austria's highest freestyle area. Beginners find dedicated learning terrain at Sommerbergalm including the Flohpark nursery zone and the Funslope feature run.
The mountain atmosphere combines serious altitude with accessible facilities centred around the Tuxer Fernerhaus at 2,660 metres, a substantial complex housing restaurants, lockers, and equipment storage. Crowds remain manageable outside peak periods due to the extended operating season spreading demand across months rather than weeks. The valley village of Hintertux is compact - just two distinct areas roughly one kilometre apart - with ski-in/ski-out hotels positioned directly at the base station. Après-ski concentrates at the Hohenhaus Tenne bar adjacent to the valley station, while additional nightlife extends to the nearby villages of Tux and Lanersbach.
The Zillertal Superskipass connects Hintertux to 542 kilometres of terrain across the entire valley, including Mayrhofen, Hochzillertal, and Zillertal Arena, accessible with passes of two days or more. Winter operations integrate with Ski- und Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000, combining Hintertux with Eggalm, Rastkogel, Finkenberg, and Penken for 202 kilometres on a single pass. The glacier circuit challenge offers ambitious skiers 15,000 vertical metres and 60 kilometres in a single day across this linked terrain. The resort suits committed intermediates seeking guaranteed snow, freestyle athletes requiring year-round training facilities, and families wanting reliable conditions without extreme resort prices.
Total Runs
32
Total Area
62km
38.5 miles
The lift network comprises 21 installations reaching 3,250 metres, with a combined hourly capacity of 94,000 persons - substantial infrastructure for a glacier operation. The breakdown includes six gondolas, six chairlifts of varying capacities (one double, one triple, one quad, and three six-seaters), and nine surface lifts including seven T-bars. Three Funitel-type gondolas branded Gletscherbus 1, 2, and 3 form the primary access spine, each cabin suspended from two parallel steel cables for wind stability and carrying 24 passengers. The system maintains dual cableway redundancy on each section from valley to summit, ensuring operations continue even during maintenance.
The Gletscherbus 3 holds the distinction of being the world's highest bicable gondola lift, transporting skiers from the Tuxer Fernerhaus to the Gefrorene Wand summit. This installation received new ZETA cabins in 2021, whilst Gletscherbus 2 was refurbished with new cabins in 2019. The 10-person Gefrorene Wand gondola, built by Doppelmayr and installed in 2011, features heated seating and replaced a 30-year-old double chairlift. The Lärmstange six-seater chairlift, operational since 2015/16, provides access to the Kaserer glacier sector with weather protection covers and heated seats.
Base-to-summit access flows through three distinct stages: Gletscherbus 1 ascends from the valley station to Sommerbergalm at 2,031 metres in approximately four minutes, followed by Gletscherbus 2 continuing to Tuxer Fernerhaus at 2,660 metres, then Gletscherbus 3 completing the journey to Gefrorene Wand at 3,250 metres. An alternative 8-person gondola parallels the lower section, whilst the 10-person Gefrorene Wand gondola provides a secondary route from Tuxer Fernerhaus to the summit. The Kunderbach valley physically separates the ski sectors, requiring careful route planning to maximise vertical without excessive traversing. The Tuxerjoch quad chair serves the Sommerbergalm area, feeding the Funslope and providing efficient laps on intermediate terrain.
An unusual operational challenge stems from glacier movement - 61 lift support structures sit directly on glacier ice that shifts up to 40 metres annually, requiring crews to reposition masts multiple times per season to maintain vertical alignment. A new 10-person Tuxer Fernerhaus gondola with heated seating is planned for the 2026 season, further enhancing mid-mountain capacity. The 8-seater Sommerberg gondola received new 360° panoramic cabins in summer 2023. Thirteen piste preparation machines operate daily to groom up to 60 kilometres of terrain, maintaining the excellent corduroy conditions the resort is known for.
Total Lifts
21
Lift Types
7
Operating dates for the 2025-2026 season run from 14 September 2025 through to 13 September 2026, making this one of the world's longest continuous ski seasons. The glacier has offered year-round skiing since 1968, when the Gefrorene Wand chairlift became the world's first with towers built on glacier ice. Winter terrain expands significantly from early December when lower slopes open, connecting to the wider Zillertal 3000 network through late April. Summer operations continue on approximately 18-20 kilometres of terrain above 2,500 metres, served by up to 10-12 lifts, with the longest summer run measuring 2 kilometres ending at Tuxer Fernerhaus.
Annual snowfall averages approximately 388 centimetres according to historical records, with the snowiest period typically occurring in the second week of January when an average of 37 centimetres falls across 3.4 snow days. Glacier elevations above 3,000 metres maintain freezing temperatures and persistent snow year-round, whilst the ice itself reaches depths of up to 120 metres. Snowmaking infrastructure covers the 12-kilometre Schwarze Pfanne valley descent, ensuring the full run to Hintertux village remains skiable throughout the main winter season. Base depths during peak season typically hold between 3-4 metres on the upper glacier.
January and February deliver the most consistent powder conditions combined with cold temperatures that preserve snow quality across both glaciers. Spring skiing from March through May offers exceptional corn snow on south-facing aspects and longer daylight hours at altitude. The quietest periods fall in early December before European school holidays and again in late January between Christmas crowds and February half-terms. Autumn skiing from late September through November attracts racing teams and freestyle athletes seeking early-season training on fresh glacier snow.
The Hintertux Park Opening, held annually on the first weekend of October, marks Europe's first snowpark event of the season and has run for over 21 years. This weekend attracts international freestyle athletes to Betterpark Hintertux for sessions, contests, and equipment testing at 3,200 metres. The Betterpark operates from April through early December, including a halfpipe when conditions permit. Early Morning Skiing sessions allow keen skiers first tracks on freshly groomed glacier pistes before standard opening hours.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
9/14/2025
Closing Day
9/13/2026
Days Open
365
The resort occupies the head of the Tuxertal, a side valley branching south from the main Zillertal at Mayrhofen in the Tyrol region of western Austria. The valley station sits at 1,500 metres elevation in the small village of Hintertux, where steep mountainsides rise immediately from the road's end like a Alpine cul-de-sac. The glacier complex comprises two ice fields - the Gefrorene-Wand-Kees and Riepenkees - extending beneath the 3,476-metre Olperer peak. The surrounding landscape transitions from forested lower slopes to barren rock above the treeline, with the glacier ice reaching thicknesses of 120 metres and containing approximately 190 million cubic metres of ice.
Mayrhofen, the valley's principal town, lies 20 kilometres northwest and provides the main commercial centre with supermarkets, equipment shops, and a wider accommodation selection. The smaller villages of Tux (7 kilometres), Lanersbach, Juns, and Madseit string along the valley road, connected by free ski buses during winter. Innsbruck, the Tyrolean capital, sits 87 kilometres northwest, whilst Salzburg lies 190 kilometres to the northeast. The Zillertal has a long skiing history, with traditional Tyrolean architecture and mountain farming culture preserved throughout the valley communities.
Road access follows the A12 Inntal motorway to the Wiesing/Achensee/Zillertal exit, then the B169 Zillertalstraße through the valley to Mayrhofen, where the L6 branches into the Tuxertal. Total driving time from Innsbruck measures under 1.5 hours, whilst the journey from Munich takes approximately 2.5 hours covering 215 kilometres. Free parking and an underground garage serve the valley station, with free shuttle buses connecting the village of Hintertux. The road terminates at the lift base, with no through route - all traffic either parks or turns around.
Innsbruck Airport provides the closest air link at 92 kilometres, offering frequent European and UK connections with transfer times around 90 minutes. Munich Airport lies 215 kilometres north with extensive international services and transfer times of approximately 2.5 hours by private vehicle. Salzburg Airport sits 190 kilometres northeast as a third option. Rail travellers take intercity trains to Jenbach, then transfer to the narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn for the scenic 50-minute journey to Mayrhofen, where the 4104 bus continues to Hintertux hourly - local buses run free for ski pass holders during winter.
