Kappl Ski Resort Austria
Kappl is one of several wonderful ski areas of the Paznaun valley in the Austrian Tirol. Best known for party central Ischgl, the Paznauntal is also home to Galtuer & See ski resorts. Typical of ‘small’ skiing areas in Europe, Kappl's amazing terrain & nearly 1,500m of skiable vertical would make most Japanese, US & Canadian resorts blush!
Pros & Cons for Kappl Ski Resort
Pros
- Snow-sure location with high elevation summit & alpine sector.
- Super-long skiable vertical.
- No lift lines.
- Unlimited fresh turns on a powder day.
- Fun, long piste trails for all levels (but less for true beginners on piste).
- Superb off-piste terrain.
- Some very good après ski particularly at mid-mountain and just above the valley station on the edge of the village (where the sun shines a tad longer!).
- Gobsmacking scenery.
- Great value local lift pass price that now includes See.
- Easy public transport access by bus from the train station at Landeck-Zams & ample free car parking for day trippers right near the gondola valley station just off the main road.
Cons
- Aging lift infrastructure.
- Limited beginner ski terrain.
- For day-trippers, carparks are in the shade with limited facilities so getting changed is bloody freezing in mid-winter (particularly the older one gets!)
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Sunny, mostly southern aspect terrain, means snow can get baked, but we all know that skiing in the sun is nice too, particularly when the temperatures are super-cold!
- Accommodation can be difficult to get in the village, but easier up and down the valley.
- Nearly all mountain restaurants (bar one!) are ‘self-serves’.
- Close to some excellent, diverse ski resort in the Paznaun valley.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
The Kappl skiing & snowboarding terrain is of typically fat proportions. The total 1,500m skiable vert brings with it runs that are over 8km long on the 'Latten' top to bottom valley trail. As with its Paznaun neighbours at See & Galtür, Kappl only has limited terrain for beginners & is better suited to intermediate abilities & above. The upper alpine zone has around 1,000m of skiable vertical from the top of Alblittkopfe (2,720m) which on a powder day is a piece of Paznaun perfection. Groomed trails wrap around the entire upper mountain allowing for simple exits back to the lifts from the off-piste. skiing here on a mid-week February powder day, we had a handful of crews competing with us for first tracks, but at no stage felt under pressure and lift lines were non-existent all day.
On the piste trail side of the equation, 42km of long, rolling runs are available for all abilities with the least amount of terrain probably for progressing beginners. As mentioned above, it is possible to ski the entire 1,500m vertical on piste from peak to valley via several variations that all end up on the lower number 4 trail leading to the gondola base. The valley trail does have exits into the village near the bottom, but you will have to walk a little further to get to most of the accommodation.
Check out the ski trail map for Kappl to get a sense of what a big 'small' ski resort looks like!
The ski lifts at Kappl are starting to show their age. The access gondola, Diasbahn, is being replaced for season25-26, which should improve travel times & comfort to the mid-mountain from the valley. The three upper mountain chairlifts all do an admirable job of serving the terrain, with the exception of the painfully slow Gongall double chair. That is a shame, because the Gongall chair is important for efficient returns back up to the action when skiing a large portion of the best terrain in the resort. The surface tows are largely superfluous to anyone skiing the off-piste and only of passing interest to anyone other than beginners.
Lift Passes
The ski resorts of the Paznaun valley, including Kappl, each have a cost-effective 'local' area ski pass that is way better value than the broader Silvretta Pass. Local lift passes are valid in both Kappl & nearby See, which is pawesome! Also, on weekends, children (aged 8-16yr) have a dramatically reduced lift pass rate.
The Silvretta Pass is more expensive but does include unfettered access to all the ski lifts & trails of Kappl, Galtuer, Ischgl-Samnaun & See resorts. Free local ski buses link the resorts together.
View the Paznauntal's Silvretta Pass resort map below.
Where is Kappl Austria?
Kappl is in the Paznaun valley of southwest Tirol, Austria, around 96km by road from Innsbruck. The nearest major centre is Landeck-Zams, 21km north of Kappl.
Closest major gateway airports are Innsbruck (INN), Munich (MUC) & Zurich (ZRH). For safe post COVID-19 travel, search & book a private airport transfers to Kappl.
The resort is well serviced from all airports by train & bus via the train station at Landeck-Zams. The Landeck-Zams bahnhof (train station) is on the main line between Switzerland & Innsbruck. The route 260 bus is free for skiers from Landeck all the way up the Paznaun valley to See. Other free ski-buses run up & down the valley linking all the villages & smaller ski resorts. It is easy to do day trips to Kappl from Landeck by free ski bus. Search & book train tickets to Landeck-Zams. Buy bus tickets from the driver, or if in ski attire, travel for free.
If driving, the gondola base has free car parking directly next to it and across road on the opposite side of the river accessed by a cute, covered bridge. Come early to get the best position.
Kappl Accommodation
The village of Kappl is centrally located in the Paznaun valley between See & Ischgl. Unlike other valley towns, its centre is off the main road, a short distance up the side of the mountain. The mountainside position makes the most of the morning sun. Kappl can be a convenient base for visiting all the Silvretta Ski Pass resorts, but morning buses to Ischgl can be crowded with skiers that have already boarded in Landeck-Zams & See-im-Paznaun. The village at See makes an affordable alternative to Kappl.
Search & book all Kappl ski accommodation.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Our local partners have several convenient equipment rental locations in the centre of Kappl village, at the base of the gondola, & other nearby valley outlets. Receive a discount when you search & book via the listings on our Kappl Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
A mind-boggling array of ski instructors, ski schools & mountain guides ply their trade in the Paznaun valley & its numerous resorts, including See. To narrow down the field, search & book a private/group lesson or mountain guide with the best providers via our Paznaun Valley Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Aside from the 3 other Paznaun valley ski resorts of Ischgl, plus awesome See & Galtür, another sneaky little resort is on the way there. And of course, Ischgl is interlinked with Samnaun in Switzerland ensuring a little cross-border international fun. Another sneaky little resort is on the way to the Paznaun, the secret stash of Venet above Landeck-Zams. It is a beauty on a powder day or for a quick leg stretch. If coming via Innsbruck, the local resorts are sensational and diverse.
Review
The Powderhounds visited Kappl in early February 2022 & had a fantastic time skiing deep powder all day until our legs turned to mush. We will return in the coming season. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Kappl compares 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.
Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.