
77km of pistes above Lake Zell with 1,240m vertical drop. 100% snowmaking, ALPIN CARD access to 408km across Austria's Salzburgerland.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hotels and lodges near Zell Am See, 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.

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.

Zermatt has suspended public summer skiing on the Theodul Glacier, the first time it's shut down since 2022. Persistent heat, warm nights that won't let the snowpack refreeze, and repeated thunderstorms are behind the call, according to Zermatt Bergbahnen. Selected Swiss-Ski teams can keep training on a limited basis, and the squad still flies to Chile as planned on August 27. With Hintertux already on its seasonal break, only Stelvio and Saas-Fee remain open for summer skiing in the Alps.
More Zell Am See intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.