Austria, Europe · Ski Alpin
Zell Am See
77km of pistes above Lake Zell with 1,240m vertical drop. 100% snowmaking, ALPIN CARD access to 408km across Austria's Salzburgerland.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
28 Nov 2025
Closes
20 Apr 2026
Days open
143
Annual snow
3m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
The Schmittenhöhe rises directly above Lake Zell, offering 77 kilometres of piste terrain served by 27 lifts between 760 and 2,000 metres elevation. The 1,240-metre vertical drop delivers five distinct valley runs, including the challenging Trass descent with gradients reaching 70 percent over its four-kilometre length. Annual snowfall averages around three metres at summit level, whilst 100 percent snowmaking coverage across all 499 snow cannons ensures reliable conditions from early December through mid-April.
Terrain splits across 30 kilometres of blue runs, 28 kilometres of red runs, and 19 kilometres of black runs - a balance that suits intermediate cruisers while offering genuine challenge for advanced skiers. The Trass and Standard descents rank among Salzburg's most demanding black runs, dropping over 900 vertical metres through steep pitches and forest glades. Seven marked freeride routes extend the offering for powder seekers, whilst Schmidolin's Dragon Park and the Kidsslope at Glocknerwiese provide dedicated learning terrain for families.
The ski area wraps around three sides of the Schmittenhöhe peak, with 23 mountain restaurants and après-ski bars distributed across the slopes. Night skiing operates twice weekly on the 1.5-kilometre floodlit Ebenbergbahn sector above Zell am See town centre. Views from the summit platform extend across more than 30 peaks exceeding 3,000 metres in the Hohe Tauern range, including the Grossglockner and Kitzsteinhorn.
The Ski ALPIN CARD links Schmittenhöhe with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, creating a combined network of 408 kilometres and 121 lifts. Epic Pass holders receive five days access across the alliance. Adult day tickets cost €56 during regular season and €66 at peak periods, with season passes priced at €889. The resort suits intermediate skiers seeking varied piste terrain with glacier-skiing options nearby.
1240m
Vertical
41
Runs
77 km
Piste
3m
Annual snow
Ski Alpin
Pass
The Terrain
41 runs across 77 km of piste
Zell Am See spreads 41 runs across 77 km of piste of terrain. It leans beginner at 39%, with 16 beginner runs to find your feet and 10 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
41
runs
41 runs across 4 grades
Beginner16 runs · 39%
Intermediate15 runs · 36%
Advanced8 runs · 20%
Expert2 runs · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Zell Am See
The 2025-26 winter season on the Schmittenhöhe runs from 5 December 2025 to 6 April 2026, spanning approximately four months of operation. The Ski ALPIN CARD alliance extends the skiing period considerably through the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which operates from mid-October through late May. Main lifts typically open at 8:30am, with early-bird hours from 7:30am during peak weeks in March.
Annual snowfall averages around three metres at summit elevation, with February typically recording the deepest base at approximately 135 centimetres on upper slopes. The 100 percent snowmaking coverage across all 77 kilometres of piste ensures valley runs remain skiable throughout the season, compensating for the relatively low 760-metre base elevation. January averages 16 sunny days, making it the clearest month for views across the Hohe Tauern peaks.
January and February deliver the most reliable snow conditions, with snowfall occurring approximately three days per week during these months. Mid-week skiing from Tuesday to Thursday offers quieter slopes compared to weekend crowds when family groups concentrate on the mountain. Spring conditions emerge from mid-March, with morning groomers softening by early afternoon - ideal for those preferring softer snow on the south-facing aspects.
Ski'n'Brunch events run Thursday mornings from January through March, offering early access to freshly groomed slopes followed by breakfast at summit restaurants. The Schmitten Sound music festival brings live acts and DJs to mountain venues throughout winter. Culinary Ski Days from 5-8 March 2026 feature live cooking demonstrations and regional wine tastings at on-mountain locations.
Season 2025 - 2026
28 Nov 2025
Opens
20 Apr 2026
Closes
143
Days open
3 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Zell Am See, and where to stay
Zell am See occupies a peninsula extending into Lake Zell at 750 metres elevation in the Pinzgau region of Salzburgerland, Austria. The town sits at the junction of the Kitzbühel Alps to the north and the Hohe Tauern range to the south, with the Schmittenhöhe (1,965 metres) rising directly from the lakeside. Lake Zell stretches 3.8 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide, reaching depths of 69 metres - one of Europe's cleanest alpine bathing lakes.
The district capital lies 80 kilometres south of Salzburg, 100 kilometres east of Innsbruck, and just 30 kilometres north of Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner (3,798 metres). The neighbouring village of Kaprun sits 10 kilometres south, providing access to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. Saalfelden, the region's largest town with 20,000 residents, lies 15 kilometres north along the Salzach valley corridor.
Road access follows the A10 Tauern motorway south from Salzburg, exiting at Bischofshofen and continuing via the B311 through St Johann im Pongau. An alternative route crosses Germany via Bad Reichenhall to Lofer, then south through Saalfelden - often faster during peak season traffic. Drive time from Salzburg is approximately 90 minutes; from Munich approximately 2.5 hours; from Innsbruck around two hours via Wörgl.
Salzburg W.A. Mozart Airport lies 76 kilometres north, with direct bus service (line 260) taking approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to Zell am See via Bad Reichenhall and Saalfelden. Zell am See's train station sits in the town centre, with hourly ÖBB services from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof taking 90 minutes. Overnight guests receive the Guest Mobility Ticket providing free public transport throughout Salzburgerland, including ski buses between Zell am See and Kaprun.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Zell Am See, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
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22 July 2026
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21 July 2026
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21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
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19 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Banff Sunshine Village - Nine Metres of Snow and a Season That Runs Until May
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18 July 2026
Lift system
Twenty-seven lift installations serve the Schmittenhöhe ski area, comprising seven gondolas, two aerial tramways, ten chairlifts (including one eight-seater, four six-seaters, and three quad chairs), four T-bars, and two covered conveyor belts for beginners. Combined hourly capacity moves approximately 35,000 skiers uphill across the mountain's multiple access points. The system underwent substantial modernisation between 2017 and 2020 with three major gondola projects.
The flagship Schmittenhöhebahn aerial tramway climbs directly from the town centre to the 2,000-metre summit in cabins designed by Porsche Design Studio. The areitXpress, a 10-person gondola installed in 2017, replaced the ageing Areitbahn I and serves as the primary Schüttdorf access point. The trassXpress eight-seater gondola with heated seats rises 2,847 metres to access the Trass descent, while the cityXpress provides direct uplift from central Zell am See.
Base-to-summit flow operates through six main feeder lifts: the areitXpress from Schüttdorf, cityXpress and trassXpress from Zell am See town, Schmittenhöhebahn and Sonnenalmbahn from the Schmittenstraße, and the zellamseeXpress from Viehhofen. The Glocknerbahn and Hirschkogel-Express chairlifts connect mid-mountain sectors, whilst the Sonnkogelbahn six-seater with bubble covers and seat heating links the Sonnkogel area.
The zellamseeXpress I and II opened in 2019-2020, establishing the first lift connection between the Glemmtal valley and Schmittenhöhe. This 10-person gondola system features the Jukeboxx cabins with smartphone-controlled speaker systems - a world first in ski lift technology. The Kapellenbahn was upgraded from a quad to an eight-seater chairlift, improving capacity to the western ski sectors.
28lifts across 8 types
2
Aerial Trams
7
Gondolas
1
8-Person Chair
4
6-Person Chairs
3
Quad Chairs
2
Double Chairs
4
T-Bars
5
Surface Lifts
Zell Am See lift system
Zell Am See is served by 28 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Zell Am See intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.