
142km of pistes, 61 lifts, 1,870m vertical. Home to Austria's steepest run Harakiri and Penken Park in Tyrol's Zillertal.
Mayrhofen delivers 142 kilometres of piste across six interconnected sectors - Penken, Horberg, Ahorn, Finkenberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm - with a vertical drop of 1,870 metres spanning 630 to 2,500 metres elevation. The resort claims Austria's steepest groomed run, the Harakiri, with a 78% gradient on the Penken sector. Snow reliability comes from 89% of terrain sitting above 1,700 metres and snowmaking coverage across 80% of runs using 360 snow cannons. The Zillertal Superskipass extends access to 544 kilometres across four major ski areas including Hintertux Glacier.
Terrain breaks down as 27 red runs, 22 blue runs and 3 black runs across predominantly open alpine bowls above the treeline. The Penken sector draws confident skiers to the Harakiri and the eight-zone Penken Park, one of Europe's most developed freestyle facilities with areas ranging from beginner to professional level. Ahorn offers a contrasting character with wide, sunny blue runs suited to beginners and families, plus the 5.5-kilometre Valley Run descent with nearly 1,300 metres of vertical back to Mayrhofen. Off-piste terrain opens up after fresh snowfall, with challenging steeps and alpine bowls accessible from multiple lifts.
The Tyrolean village of Mayrhofen sits at the head of the Zillertal valley and maintains traditional architecture alongside a well-developed après-ski scene. Bars like the Ice Bar at the Penkenbahn summit and Bruck'n Stadl in the village anchor a nightlife reputation that rivals St Anton and Ischgl. On-mountain dining spans traditional huts including Gschösswandhaus and Schneekarhütte, with the White Lounge Ice Bar and Igloo Hotel on Ahorn offering alternative experiences. The April Snowbombing festival transforms the resort into Europe's largest on-snow music event.
The Zillertal Superskipass - automatically included with any pass of two days or more - unlocks Hintertux Glacier's year-round skiing 30 minutes by free ski bus from town. Multi-day passes also include free valley public transport on the Zillertalbahn train and ski buses. The resort suits intermediate skiers seeking mileage, advanced riders chasing steep terrain, and freestyle enthusiasts heading to Penken Park. Families benefit from Ahorn's dedicated learning terrain and ski schools, whilst the lively village appeals to groups seeking post-skiing entertainment.
Mayrhofen spreads 56 runs across 142 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 46%, with 17 beginner runs to find your feet and 12 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Mayrhofen's 2025-2026 season runs from December 5th through April 12th, spanning approximately 19 weeks of operation. Lifts typically operate from 8:00am until 4:00pm, with last cable car ascents at 4:30pm. The Ahornbahn opens at 7:30am during peak season for early morning runs on the freshly groomed 5.5-kilometre Valley Run before crowds arrive. Access gondolas at Penken, Horberg and Mösl open by 8:00am throughout the main winter period.
Annual snowfall averages around 420 centimetres at summit elevation, with the snowiest period falling in the second week of January when three to four snowy days typically deliver 28 centimetres. February offers the most reliable base depths, averaging 115 centimetres at upper elevations. Snowmaking covers 80% of marked runs using 360 snow cannons fed by five reservoirs, ensuring coverage from December through April even in low-snowfall years. The 2,500-metre summit elevation helps preserve snow quality while the low 630-metre base can see variable conditions in warmer periods.
January and February deliver the most consistent powder conditions, though slopes above 1,700 metres - representing 89% of the ski area - hold snow reliably throughout the season. March brings the sunniest skiing with an average 18 clear days, whilst late-season visitors in early April find softer spring snow and fewer crowds outside the Snowbombing festival week. Christmas and February half-term see peak visitor numbers and potential morning queues at the Penkenbahn, which the 3,840-person hourly capacity largely manages.
Snowbombing festival runs from April 6-11, 2026, transforming the resort with six days of electronic music across mountain and village venues including the Forest Stage and Igloo. The Full Metal Mayrhofen event takes place March 23-28, 2026, bringing heavy metal to the slopes. Night skiing operates on selected evenings on Ahorn with floodlit sessions. The resort closes on April 12th, though Hintertux Glacier - accessible on the Zillertal Superskipass - offers year-round skiing just 30 minutes away.
Mayrhofen sits at 630 metres elevation at the head of the Zillertal valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol, where four valleys converge beneath 3,000-metre peaks of the Zillertal Alps. The town lies in the Schwaz district, approximately 67 kilometres southeast of the regional capital Innsbruck. The Ziller river runs through the valley floor, with the Penken mountain rising to the west and Ahorn to the south. Surrounding communities of Hippach, Schwendau, Finkenberg and Tux form part of the extended ski area.
The nearest major town, Jenbach, sits 31 kilometres north at the junction of the Zillertal with the main Inn valley and serves as the rail gateway to the region. Innsbruck, with its historic old town and twice-hosted Winter Olympics legacy, lies an hour's drive northwest. The Hintertux Glacier terminus sits 20 kilometres further up the Tuxertal side valley from Mayrhofen. Zell am Ziller, the valley's main commercial centre, lies 10 kilometres north and offers connections to the Zillertal Arena ski area.
Road access follows the B169 Zillertal main road from the A12 Inntal autobahn exit near Wiesing. The drive from Innsbruck takes 58 minutes in normal conditions, following the motorway east before turning south into the valley at Jenbach. From Munich, the 190-kilometre journey takes around two hours via the A8 and A12 motorways through Kufstein. Salzburg lies 175 kilometres northeast with a drive time of approximately two hours. No mountain passes are involved in reaching the valley floor.
Innsbruck Airport sits 70-74 kilometres away with transfers taking 60-90 minutes depending on traffic and conditions. Munich Airport lies 190-200 kilometres distant, with transfers of around two hours. Salzburg Airport at 170 kilometres offers another option with 2.5-hour transfer times. Rail travellers take Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) mainline services to Jenbach, then connect to the narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn for the scenic 32-kilometre journey terminating at Mayrhofen station in the village centre. The Zillertalbahn ride takes approximately 55 minutes with stops at valley ski areas including Zell am Ziller and Fügen.
Hotels and lodges near Mayrhofen, powered by Stay22.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
6 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
More Mayrhofen intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.