Hintertux Glacier Ski Resort Austria
Hintertux Glacier is Austria's only 365-day-a-year ski resort (& let's face it, one of only two across the world). Cheekily referred to as 'Wintertux', being able to ski with the assistance of lifts all year could be a blessing or a curse. After skiing Hintertux, we conclude it is a blessing.
Hintertux Glacier ski resort has everything for the Powderhound - an expansive off-piste, cold temperatures, reliable snowfall & when the weather is feral, access to nearby Mayrhofen, Zillertal Arena & the superb Hochzillertal. Makes for an incredibly attractive skiing destination!
Pros & Cons for Hintertux Glacier Ski Resort
Pros
- Snow-sure for the world’s best year-round skiing (so how good must it be!).
- Superb snow quality, groomed terrain & alpine off-piste.
- Uncrowded for most of the season.
- Off-piste snow is untracked for days after a storm.
- Great value multi-day lift pass price which includes all the Zillertal ski resorts.
- Excellent on-mountain restaurants.
- Beautiful ski-in hotels right at the resort base in the valley.
- Glorious views from the top.
Cons
- Exposed in poor weather (wind, extreme cold or poor visibility).
- Snowboarders & small children may find the many long T-bars on the glaciers challenging.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- No major full-service village at the base.
- Not super family-friendly (compared to nearby resorts!).
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Hintertux Glacier has an excellent range of high alpine terrain to suit all levels of skier except rank beginners and small children. In winter, Hintertuxer Gletscher has a skiable vertical of 1,750m, with at least 1,300m of it skiable on-piste in one hit, with longer options off-piste. That's enough to satisfy the hardiest ski freaks. Fresh lines lay unsullied for days after a storm.
Check out the ski trail map for Hintertux below.
The terrain is suitable for snowboarders, with the caveat that you will need to be able to ride T-bar surface lifts on the glacier sections of the resort to get the full Hintertux experience. Long, wide groomed pistes, some challenging off-piste & freeride routes, an excellent valley run & ‘fun slope’ provide ample challenge & entertainment for everyone. The new Lärmstange chairlift replaced the ancient double chair for season 22/23, and has made skiing the nearby off-piste routes easier, but also busier!
Summer Skiing at Hintertux Glacier
Hintertux Glacier ski resort offers skiing every day of the year. In summer (from late May to mid-October), a total of around 10 lifts operate on 20km+ of slopes. The longest run during the summer season is over 2km. Note that the last two summers have seen the skiing close periodically in August & early September due to extreme summer heat & rain.
Lift Pass
The Hintertux Glacier ski area has an interlinked lift pass with all the ski resorts in the Ziller (and Tuxer) valley via the Zillertaler Super Ski Pass. Any local ski pass purchased of 2-days or more duration allows unfettered access to the nearby ski areas of Mayrhofen, Zillertal Arena and Hochzillertal.
For detailed information on ski lifts, terrain, trail maps & passes see our Hintertux Glacier Skiing & Snowboarding page.
Snow & Weather
The Hintertux Glacier’s location, high altitude and generally northerly aspect terrain guarantee excellent snow depth and quality, especially above 2,000m, throughout the winter season. Snow making ensures high traffic areas and the Schwarze Pfanne valley run is well covered, whilst mother nature sorts out the rest. With no trees in the upper mountain, it can be very exposed in poor weather, but in sunshine is absolutely glorious. In poor weather hang around Sommerberg. The valley trail 1A & its off-piste variants offer well sheltered descents in all weather.
Summer skiing in Europe is becoming a rarity now, and Hintertux is rapidly feeling the effects of climate warming, with massive reductions in snow & ice cover in August becoming the norm.
Where is Hintertux Glacier Austria?
Hintertuxer Gletscher is in the Tyrol region of south-western Austria, approximately 25km southeast of Innsbruck as the crow flies (or more usefully - about 87km by road or road/rail!). By car it takes about 1½hr to reach the base of the ski resort at Hintertux from Innsbruck & significantly longer by the combination of train & bus. We recommend trying to take the train to Mayrhofen & buses from there.
Gateway airports for are Innsbruck (INN) Austria, Munich (MUC) Germany & even Zurich (ZRH) in Switzerland. Search & book all airport transfers.
For more detailed information on the best ways of getting there, see the Travel to Hintertux page.
Hintertux Glacier Accommodation
There are some serious choices to be made when skiing the Hintertux Glacier resort. Do you stay in nearby Mayrhofen, a larger town with its lively après scene, the smaller town of Tux further up the valley, or near the base of the lifts at Hintertux?
Search & book all Hintertux Glacier ski accommodation.
If planning on skiing Hintertux Glacier for several days, it is best to avoid the valley bus rides up from Mayrhofen & stay near the lift base at Hintertux. Three exceptional hotels are next to the lift base, all with spas & 'ski in' convenience from the fabulous Schwarze Pfanne valley run. Each is worthy of consideration - the Hotel Neuhintertux, Hotel Der Rindererhof & Gletscherhotel Hintertuxerhof
For more info & recommendations on the best accommodation, see our Where to Stay at Hintertux page.
Facilities, Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
The resort base area and the nearby hamlet of Hintertux have a range of full-service hotels and facilities that cover most eventualities. Each hotel has quality restaurants and bars, small markets, ski rentals, clothing, and other equipment. Any services not available are only short bus ride away at Tux or Mayrhofen.
Ski rentals are available in all the Hintertux villages. Tux is central to the entire upper Zillertal & a convenient place to get equipment. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Hintertux Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
A massive number of ski instructors, ski schools & guides ply their trade in the Hintertux Glacier ski resort & surrounding Zillertal. To narrow down the field, get more information & options on our Hintertux Glacier Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Après Ski
The best après in the Tux valley is right across from the lift base at in the Hohenhaus Tenne - a classic barn conversion. It will fulfill all one’s Austrian après ski dreams. Bring your drinking goggles, your dancing shoes (ski boots!) & singing voice!
Reviews
The Powderhounds reviewed Hintertux Gletscher several seasons ago & had a super time. We returned in late January 2022 to ski it after a huge winter storm. We were incredibly impressed with the quality of snow, amount of fresh lines & lack of crowds. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read the various reviews!
See how Hintertux Glacier and the other Zillertal ski resorts compare to the rest of the Austrian ski resorts on the Austria ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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