Obertauern in Winter: Tips & Activities

Obertauern is not known to every skier. I don't know why, because Obertauern is not only extremely snow reliable but also the snowiest ski resort in Austria (See study*). A real snow hole, so to speak! A paradise indeed! The season runs from November to May and is thus extremely long - compared to other regions where lifts aren't even open in December and during the Christmas holidays.

Sounds good, right? Who among us hasn't experienced that in recent years, having a vacation between Christmas and New Year's only to find that none of the ski areas you can think of were open? For the next time, remember: Obertauern is the answer!

Sustainability is also a priority here, as everything in Obertauern is family-owned-from the hotels to the huts to the ski lifts. You can definitely feel this: Helpful and friendly-that's Obertauern!

Isa and I have put Obertauern to the test both on and off the slopes and here we share our tips for an unforgettable ski trip and other winter sports activities!

Browse through the menu to go directly to the corresponding activity.

Obertauern offers everything to make a skier's heart race over 100 kilometers of pistes.

Mind you, that's a SKIER's heart! Because let's be clear: You'll have loads of fun snowboarding, especially when it has freshly snowed, and you can explore well-groomed terrain off the slopes, but you can't avoid the gradual paths! However, that doesn't take away from the fun!

Beautiful and wide slopes wind their way into the valley and offer something for every skill level. It's no wonder that ski star Maria Höfl-Riesch, the official 'Snow Ambassador' of Obertauern, enjoys riding some of the runs here.

The top skiing conditions have definitely convinced me. The guys with their grooming machines do a fantastic job every night, ensuring the runs are in top shape.

Another huge plus: When we were in Obertauern enjoying the stunning weather, we hardly had to wait in line for the lifts. This is because the 26 lift facilities in the ski area can transport 50,000 people-per hour!

For those who prefer a leisurely experience, cruising down the predominantly blue and red slopes poses no difficulty. If you're looking for adventure, the best option is to tackle Gamsleiten 2 - one of the steepest slopes in Europe, and not exactly smooth skiing perfection-skills and a bit of courage are needed, but it's worth it! The view from the top is breathtaking and after descending into the valley, you'll definitely be gasping for breath

Tip: If you want to rack up those ski kilometers, I recommend the 'Super 7' round. It takes you through the entire ski area, passing the seven highest mountain stations along the longest and most challenging slopes. Just keep an eye out for the 'Super 7' logo.

I've seen it a few times but have never tried it! Snow kites! Colorful kites soaring high in the sunny sky that pull you across the slopes on skis at breathtaking speed with a little skill. Of course, I want to try that!

Obertauern is perfect for this sport. It is even rumored to have been invented there. I'm not sure if that's true.

One who knows how it works explains it to me! Florian Schmaldienst has secured the best spot in Obertauern with his Kite School 'Hang on!'. Located directly next to the Lürzer Alm, it's easily accessible by ski or on foot, and this is his seventh season running the Snowkite school.

He first thoroughly explains the technique to me. What to pay attention to in order to make the kite fly sounds plausible and easy in theory; by the time he straps the super tear-resistant lines around my waist and we start getting the kite to rise, I can sense what this sport demands!

The kite, filled with air from the wind, exerts immense force, which must be controlled with the so-called bar. It requires sensitivity! With outstretched arms and just two fingers, I am supposed to control the kite high above me and keep repositioning it in the wind so it stays aloft.

And indeed, after a few near misses, it seems to effortlessly hover at 12 o'clock in the sky, and even now, without skis, it feels amazing!

Sadly, the wind and weather gods are not kind to me this afternoon; as soon as I stand up on the skis, the wind disappears again and I have to wait until my next attempt - but it will definitely happen!

By the way: Snowkiting is a great preparation for those who want to hang on to the kite on the water in summer! Florian offers kiteboarding courses at Neusiedlersee and Traunsee in summer.

As much as I love to tear it up on the slopes - I enjoy stopping at good huts to refuel for the next descents. For those who appreciate the 'coziness' found only in snow-covered huts in the ski area, Obertauern is a dream!

Over 20 huts make stopping for a break a matter of choice. Unfortunately, three ski days are definitely too few to visit them all, but you must try my favorites:

With a fantastic view into the valley thanks to the huge front windows, the brand new Gamsmilchbar is the highest ski hut in Obertauern. Located directly at the summit station of the Zehnerkarbahn, this hut with its fantastic open bar and outdoor area is just right for a quick snack! How about a delicious and nearly legendary 'Gamsmilch'?

For all sun-seekers, I can recommend the splendid and admittedly enormous Edelweissalm. Yes, this is probably considered 'system gastronomy', but at least you know what you get: Hardly ordered, and a juicy burger or a mega delicious Kaiserschmarrn, lovingly arranged, is already in front of you on the benches in the large outdoor area. In the middle of the piste, with a fantastic view of the Obertauern mountain world, this place also goes off after skiing!

Admittedly, I don't think I've ever visited a hut that is not located on the mountain but in the valley. However, I gladly make an exception for the Lürzer Alm! Centrally located in the valley and still accessible by ski, the hut definitely leaves no wish unfulfilled! However, I would recommend not stopping for lunch - after a juicy steak or a delicious pizza, you won't want to get up again. A better plan: Come directly for après-ski at the umbrella bar and seamlessly transition into the cozy hut for dinner. If you're still not done after that, you might as well stay and party until late into the night, because the good thing is: Down in the valley, you are already!

After a long day of skiing, I love to enjoy the last rays of sun before descending into the valley. A quick stop at the Schirmbar Knirps at the summit station of the Hundskogellift is a must for a well-deserved sundowner!

Note: The daily lift pass costs €44 for adults this season. The winter season 2016/2017 lasts until May 1, 2017, before the new ski season starts again in mid-November 2017.

For my first experience off-piste, I spent half a day of freeride guiding with Patrik, lead guide of the Ski School Local Guides am Tauern.

Freeriding, or backcountry riding, refers to skiing on deep powder snow in unrestricted terrain away from groomed slopes.

First, I was handed an avalanche backpack equipped with an airbag, a beacon, a probe, and a shovel. You should never venture off-piste to freeride without this equipment. After that, we took the ski lift towards the peak. From the groomed slopes, we then veered right into what is called backcountry.

Note: You should never ski off-piste without knowing the terrain.

Although Patrik was on skis, he was able to give me valuable tips on how to snowboard in deep snow. I adapted quickly and managed to come down steeper sections without any major problems.

Riding in the backcountry also involves assessing avalanche dangers and knowing how to search for buried individuals.

Patrik explained to us how to recognize avalanches and conducted a little workshop on searching for buried people with a beacon, probe, and shovel.

The freeride guiding was a tiring but wonderful and educational experience. I want to further deepen my skills on the next snowboard trip.

The ski area Obertauern is located 100 km south of Salzburg. It comprises the municipalities of Untertauern and Tweng and lies between 1639 meters and 2526 meters above sea level.

If you land in Salzburg by plane, you can take the bus directly to Obertauern. However, it will take you just over two hours.

By car, you can reach Obertauern from Salzburg in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Since Obertauern is well above the snowfall line in winter, be sure to carry snow chains. The likelihood of needing them is not insignificant.

Once there, you won't need a car anymore. Obertauern is located right in the ski area. The lift facilities can be reached within a few minutes on foot and depart in all directions from the valley.

This trip was kindly made possible by the Obertauern Tourist Board. Thanks for this wonderful trip.

*This conclusion is drawn by Tyrolean ski tourism researcher Günther Aigner from his independent snow study conducted in 2016. The study looks at the average maximum snow heights from winter 1908/09 to 2015/16. The average maximum snow height during this period was 258 cm. In the last 30 years alone, this average was even 264 cm.

Disclaimer: Michi and Isa were both invited by Obertauern to test various winter activities. Their opinion remains unaffected by that.

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