Silvretta Montafon has almost 140km of slopes, making it the largest of the 5 different ski areas within the Montafon in Vorarlberg. Advanced skiers and boarders can undertake many different day trips here without having to ride the same slope twice. Silvretta Montafon is also home to the HochjochTotale, longest run in the Vorarlberg. This beautiful slope winds its way down from the Alpilagrat (2430m) all the way back to Schruns in the valley. It's an absolute must-do and a good thigh-burner for any skier or snowboarder, offering spectacular views of the mountains along the way.
The Silvretta Montafon is nicely divided between blue (60km), red (45km) and black (8km) slopes. This variety of runs makes it a perfect ski area for every ability level. Beginners will feel at home on the wide blue slopes, while more advanced skiers and boarders will find a good challenge on the reds and blacks. Freeriding fans can indulge themselves on 27km of ski routes and countless off-piste possibilities. The ski pass also gives you access to the other ski areas in the Montafon: Gargellen, Kristberg, Golm and Silvretta-Bielerhöhe as well as the nearby ski area of Brandnertal.
Is there anything better than a piste that seems to go on for miles and miles? The HochjochTotale is without a doubt one of the highlights of the Silvretta Montafon. At 12km long, it's the longest piste in the Vorarlberg, starting at an altitude of 2430m above sea level at the Alpilagrat. The descent follows blue piste 1a, which offers lovely views, and also takes you through the longest ski tunnel in the world, which is a whopping 470m long. Definitely a unique experience!
Once you're through the tunnel, the view gets even more impressive as you ski along piste 1b. This is also a blue piste and relatively easy. You'll pass by the Hochjoch cable car top station and continue on along blue piste 1c, which goes through the forest. The last bit of the HochjochTotale is red and a little steeper, so be sure to conserve your energy for this part! As you ski towards Schruns in the valley, you can pat yourself on the back: you've just completed 12km of skiing and 1700m of vertical drop!
Tempted by the idea of enjoying fresh corduroy before the ski area even opens? Every Wednesday, it's possible to ski the HochjochTotale with a professional guide before everyone else gets a chance to enter the ski area. All you have to do is pre-register and then show up at 7:25am at the valley station of the GrasjochBahn in St. Gallenkirch. Once you've completed a leisurely lap of the slope, you'll take the lift back up again, this time to tuck into a traditional mountain breakfast at the Kapellrestaurant. And thus begins the official ski day, on a full stomach with lots of energy to burn!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
