
Hochzeiger
Ski Hochzeiger's 54km of sun-drenched Pitztal terrain, 1,450-2,488m, with family-friendly pistes from December to April.
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.
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.
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.
Daily snow reports at Hochzeiger go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
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.
Hotels and lodges near Hochzeiger, powered by Stay22.

Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.

Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.

Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.

Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.

The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.

A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.

Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.

Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 5, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Hochzeiger typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Our lift ticket pricing was last updated on Sep 4, 2026.
Day passes start from €38, with peak rates up to €69.
Full day skiing at Hochzeiger, Jerzens' family-friendly resort in the Pitztal valley, from 08:30am. Confirmed 2026/27 pricing: EUR 66 in the advantage (regular) season, rising to EUR 69 in the top (peak) season - Hochzeiger publishes no separate senior rate, so all adults pay this price regardless of age. Includes a free ski day at Pitztal Glacier or Rifflsee with any 2+ day pass.
Buy passFull day skiing at Hochzeiger for youth (16-18). Confirmed 2026/27 pricing: EUR 54 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 56 in the top season.
Buy passFull day skiing at Hochzeiger for children. Confirmed 2026/27 pricing: EUR 38 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 41 in the top season. Age bracket is an approximation - Hochzeiger's published tariffs don't state exact birth-year cutoffs, and children under 10 accompanied by a parent with a valid pass may qualify for the free Pitzi pass instead.
Buy passThe Pitzi free pass offers children under 10 free access to Hochzeiger's slopes when accompanied by a parent holding a valid ski pass. Requires a family pass or ID for both child and parent at the ticket desk.
Buy passMorning ski pass at Hochzeiger, valid from opening until 12:30pm - ideal for early risers. Confirmed 2026/27 adult pricing: EUR 59 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 62 in the top season (youth EUR 49-50, child EUR 34-37). Not available from 11am on Hochzeiger Openair (12 Dec 2026), Hochzeiger Rockt (13 Mar 2027) or the closing concert (3 Apr 2027).
Buy passTwo consecutive days at Hochzeiger. Confirmed 2026/27 adult pricing: EUR 129 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 135 in the top season (youth EUR 105-110, child EUR 76-80). Includes a free ski day at Pitztal Glacier or Rifflsee.
Buy passSix consecutive days at Hochzeiger. Confirmed 2026/27 adult pricing: EUR 340 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 361 in the top season (youth EUR 276-291, child EUR 204-212). Includes free toboggan-evening ascent and a free ski day at Pitztal Glacier or Rifflsee.
Buy passEleven consecutive days at Hochzeiger, the longest fixed multi-day tier before switching to the non-consecutive Flex pass. Confirmed 2026/27 adult pricing: EUR 478 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 497 in the top season (youth EUR 381-395, child EUR 270-281).
Buy passOptional ski pass: 3 ski days usable within any 5-day window (2 days can be skipped). Confirmed 2026/27 adult pricing: EUR 203 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 211 in the top season (youth EUR 164-170, child EUR 119-125).
Buy passOptional ski pass: 4 ski days usable within any 7-day window (3 days can be skipped). Confirmed 2026/27 adult pricing: EUR 264 in the advantage season, rising to EUR 275 in the top season (youth EUR 211-220, child EUR 154-160).
Buy passFlex ski pass: 14 days to use non-consecutively anytime across the 2026/27 season (4 Dec 2026 - 3 Apr 2027), sold only at the Hochzeiger ticket office. Confirmed adult price EUR 548 (youth EUR 467, child EUR 331). Also sold in 12, 13, 15 and 16-day tiers from EUR 507 to EUR 587 adult.
Buy passMore Hochzeiger intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.