Austria Just Got Even More Epic With 6 New Resorts On The Epic Pass

Epic Pass Adds 6 New Austrian Ski Resorts for 2025/26 Season

Vail Resorts has dramatically expanded the Epic Pass European offering by adding six major Austrian ski resorts for the 2025/26 season. The announcement, rolled out over three days in May 2025, brings Saalbach, Zell am See-Kaprun, Mayrhofen, Hintertux, and Silvretta Montafon into the Epic Pass network.

The announcements came strategically before the May 26th Epic Pass pricing deadline. On May 21st, Saalbach and Zell am See-Kaprun were revealed. May 22nd brought Mayrhofen and Hintertux, followed by Silvretta Montafon on May 23rd.

Currently, these Austrian ski resorts are only available on the USA version of the Epic Pass, not the Epic Australia pass. However, they're expected to be added to Australian pass options when sales open for the following season.

The Austrian additions bring the Epic Pass European network to 33 resorts across nine ski areas. This represents a fundamental shift from a North American pass with international perks to a genuine global skiing platform.

Combined with existing St. Anton access, Epic Pass holders now have seven Austrian ski resorts offering over 800 kilometres of pistes served by more than 200 lifts. The access structure provides 15 days across the new resort pairs, plus unlimited access to St. Anton.

Why Austria Works for Multi-Resort Adventures

Austria's geography makes it ideal for ski resort hopping. Most major resorts are within a few hours' drive of each other. From Innsbruck, you can reach Mayrhofen in about an hour, Saalbach in two and a half hours, and Zell am See in just over an hour.

The country's infrastructure supports multi-resort trips with well-maintained highways, efficient snow clearing, and reliable public transport connections. Each region offers different cultural experiences, dialects, architectural styles, and skiing traditions.

The New Austrian Ski Resorts

Saalbach: World Championship Venue

Saalbach (officially Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn) offers 270 kilometres of pistes served by 70 lifts. The resort recently hosted the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, meaning Epic Pass holders can ski the same slopes where world championship medals were won.

The terrain distribution suits mixed-ability groups: 30% easy, 50% intermediate, and 20% difficult pistes. Four interconnected base villages create multiple circuit options, while more than 60 mountain huts provide traditional Austrian dining experiences.

Standout runs include piste 212 in the Leogang section, offering picture-perfect views of the Birnhorn peak, and piste number one, which winds from Schattberg Ost peak down to Saalbach village.

Zell am See-Kaprun: Lake Views and Glacier Access

This addition actually covers two distinct ski areas. Zell am See Schmittenhöhe provides 77 kilometres of pistes with stunning Lake Zell views, while Kitzsteinhorn glacier offers 41 kilometres of high-altitude skiing at up to 3,203 metres elevation.

The Schmittenhöhe's TRASS run (piste 14) delivers steep, perfectly groomed terrain with incredible lake and town views. The sequence of pistes 1-4 creates an epic 1,200-metre vertical descent from summit to base.

Kitzsteinhorn operates October through June, providing reliable glacier skiing conditions. Pistes 5a and 5b offer steep, high-alpine groomed runs perfect for carving, while piste 4 on the glacier itself provides that special high-altitude Alpine experience.

Epic Pass holders receive five days of access across both areas.

Mayrhofen: Home of the Harakiri

Despite its extreme terrain reputation, Mayrhofen caters to all levels. The Ahorn area provides gentle slopes for beginners, while the north-facing Penken area offers challenging runs and excellent powder skiing conditions.

Penken Park is one of Austria's premier terrain parks, featuring professionally designed and maintained features for all freestyle levels.

Piste 33 from the Kombibahn top offers breathtaking views of the alpine bowl forming the Penken area's heart. The off-piste freeride terrain under the Lärchwald quad provides excellent tree skiing, especially on powder days.

Hintertux: 365-Day Skiing

Hintertux Glacier delivers genuine year-round skiing with 60 kilometres of pistes served by 21 lifts, operating between 1,500 and 3,250 metres elevation. Professional ski teams worldwide use Hintertux for summer training due to its reliable conditions and quality terrain.

The resort's Nature's Ice Palace offers a unique underground glacial cave system with naturally formed ice sculptures and frozen waterfalls developed over thousands of years.

Top runs include the freeride terrain under Lärmstange 1 lift, piste 13 through a towering mountain gully, piste 2 for high-altitude powder skiing, and piste 1 for the full vertical descent from Tuxerjoch summit to village.

Silvretta Montafon: The Newest Addition

Announced on May 23rd, Silvretta Montafon brings 140 kilometres of pistes across two interconnected mountains in Austria's westernmost Vorarlberg state. The resort remains relatively under the international radar, meaning lower crowds and a more authentic Austrian mountain experience.

The terrain includes challenging "Black Scorpions" runs among Austria's steepest marked slopes. Silvretta Montafon will host the FIS Freestyle World Championship in 2027, indicating significant investment in world-class terrain park infrastructure.

The resort offers unique sunrise skiing sessions, providing early-morning lift access for uncrowded slopes and spectacular photography opportunities.

Value Proposition and Economics

Austrian daily lift tickets typically cost around 75 euros, significantly less than premium US resorts charging $200+. However, the real value comes from having world-class international skiing included with your domestic Epic Pass access.

Austrian ski trips can actually cost less than domestic US trips when factoring in budget airlines, efficient public transport, competitive accommodation, and the added value of authentic Alpine culture, mountain huts, traditional cuisine, and après-ski experiences.

Looking Ahead

These Austrian additions transform the Epic Pass from a North American product with international perks into a comprehensive global skiing platform. Austria, the birthplace of modern alpine skiing, now offers Epic Pass holders access to legendary terrain steeped in skiing history and tradition.

With over 800 kilometres of Austrian pistes and 20+ potential ski days, Epic Pass holders can plan three-week Austrian adventures exploring some of the world's most historic and challenging ski terrain, all while experiencing authentic Alpine culture in its birthplace.