The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Hochzeiger is a family-focused ski resort at the entrance to the Pitztal valley in Tyrol, spanning 1,450m to 2,488m across 54km of pistes and 21 runs above the village of Jerzens. The terrain splits 28 percent beginner, 52 percent intermediate and 20 percent advanced, giving the resort a clear lean toward cruising pistes over expert-only terrain. It sits at the opposite end of the valley from Pitztal Glacier, making the pair a natural double for visitors staying in the region.
The signature run is piste No. 3, named after Tyrolean ski star and multiple world champion Benni Raich, who trained on the mountain during his career. Nearby, the Zirbenfall descent reaches a gradient of up to 80 percent, giving experienced skiers a genuine test on a mountain otherwise built around family-friendly cruising. The south-west-facing slopes catch sun well into the afternoon, even in January, without compromising snow quality at altitude.
Hochzeiger's terrain sits largely above the treeline, with comprehensive snowmaking backing up natural snowfall across more than 90 percent of the pistes that lie above 2,000m. Off-piste, the open upper flanks hold untracked snow well after a fresh fall, giving freeriders room to move without hiking far from the marked runs.
The resort leans hard into family skiing, with a snowpark, a Kids Funline, and a dedicated ski kindergarten alongside the Pitzi Bambini free pass for children under 10. A 6km toboggan run drops from the Zeiger restaurant back to the valley, with Thursday evening lighting for night tobogganing - a drawcard that sets Hochzeiger apart from the more race-focused resorts elsewhere in the valley.
1038m
Vertical
21
Runs
54 km
Piste
2m
Annual snow
Tyrol Pass
Pass
The Terrain
21 runs across 54 km of piste
Hochzeiger's 54km of pistes are split across 21 runs, with 28 percent rated beginner, 52 percent intermediate and 20 percent advanced - a terrain profile weighted firmly toward cruising skiers rather than expert-only lines. The resort carries no runs rated expert, reflecting its position as a family-oriented ski area rather than a destination for extreme terrain.
The standout run is piste No. 3, named after Tyrolean ski star and multiple world champion Benni Raich, who trained on the slope during his competitive career. Nearby, the Zirbenfall descent reaches a gradient of up to 80 percent, giving the resort's more experienced skiers a genuine test within an otherwise moderate terrain mix.
More than 90 percent of the pistes sit above 2,000m on largely treeless, south-west-facing terrain, a combination that keeps snow quality consistent while allowing sun exposure well into the afternoon. The open upper flanks also offer off-piste terrain that holds untracked snow for longer after a fresh fall, giving freeriders room to move without hiking far from the marked network.
The intermediate-heavy trail mix is reinforced by wide, rolling pistes through the centre of the resort, well suited to skiers progressing from beginner terrain without a sharp jump in difficulty. A terrain park adds a dedicated freestyle line into the broader mix, rounding out the resort's terrain for riders looking to move beyond groomed runs.
Terrain split
21
runs
21 runs across 4 grades
Beginner6 runs · 28%
Intermediate11 runs · 52%
Advanced4 runs · 20%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Hochzeiger
Hochzeiger's 2026-27 season runs from 5 December 2026 to 11 April 2027, giving the resort a solid mid-winter window built around altitude and snowmaking rather than glacier terrain. The season length tracks closely with reliable mid-winter conditions rather than the extended shoulder seasons seen at Austria's high-altitude glacier resorts.
Snow reliability through the season is underpinned by the resort's altitude profile, with over 90 percent of pistes sitting above 2,000m and comprehensive snowmaking covering the bulk of the 54km of terrain. The south-west orientation keeps runs sun-drenched for much of the day without compromising snow quality, a combination that keeps the resort skiable from early December through to mid-April.
Hochzeiger's family orientation shapes its seasonal character throughout, with the snowpark and Kids Funline running for the full season and the illuminated toboggan run adding a Thursday night fixture to the week. Live music events at the base area have also become a fixture around the season opening, drawing visitors beyond the core ski crowd.
The resort's appeal peaks in the core January to March window, when reliable snow cover and long sun hours combine with the fullest range of family programming and the 20 percent advanced terrain is at its best-groomed.
Season 2026 - 2027
5 Dec 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
127
Days open
2 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Hochzeiger, and where to stay
Hochzeiger sits above the village of Jerzens at the entrance to the Pitztal valley, in the Imst district of Tyrol. The valley station is located in the Liss district at 1,450m, reached via a narrow mountain road climbing up from Jerzens village.
Free parking is available at the valley station, supported by a complimentary parking shuttle bus, and free ski buses run from towns throughout the Pitztal valley for visitors staying elsewhere in the region. This local bus network makes a car optional for guests based in the valley itself.
The nearest train station is Imst-Pitztal, on the main line connecting to Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich, though there is no direct rail link into the valley itself. From Imst-Pitztal, a postbus service covers the final stretch to Jerzens, with a free bus voucher available to guests booked into local accommodation.
Innsbruck Airport is the closest international gateway, roughly an hour's drive via the Inntal Autobahn to the Imst exit and then into the valley through Arzl and Wenns. Visitors travelling from Germany can approach toll-free via the Fernpass from Füssen or Garmisch-Partenkirchen, joining the same route through Imst into the Pitztal.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Hochzeiger, powered by Stay22.
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