Nestled at the end of the Stubai Valley, Austria’s Stubai Glacier is one of the most popular glaciers in Austria. In the preseason, when the picturesque green valley is still celebrating the vestiges of summer, the guaranteed snow from October to June draws massive crowds of snow-savvy skiers to the largest glacier in Austria. Discover top-notch powder and modern amenities at this glacier paradise. With a variety of pistes, family-friendly facilities and a challenging terrain park, there’s something for everybody at the Stubai Glacier!
Queues at the glacier can be longer early in the season, as many skiers in southern Germany and the region of Innsbruck choose the Stubai Glacier for their weekend mini-breaks. However, this year you can thank your lucky stars for the timely completion of the new Eisgratbahn cable car, a nearly €60 million project which is sure to slash wait times. This high-speed 3S gondola can whisk more than 3000 people per hour up the hill, getting you there in just under 12 minutes. And, park hassle-free thanks to 1800 additional parking spots at the valley station.
Stubai Glacier is organized around two mid-mountain stations, Eisgrat (2900m) and Gamsgarten (2620m). Both stations offer ski rental facilities, restaurants, restrooms, first aid and picnic areas. If you’re simply looking for a quiet place to pull on your boots after enjoying a packed lunch, check out the new picnic area at Eisgrat. Renting your equipment? It might be wise to do this from a ski shop in the valley, so you don’t have to worry about joining the queue back up the glacier at the end of the day. For families, the Gamsgarten is an excellent starting point: the children’s area is located just in front of the restaurant and there is also a nice indoor play area.
Piste #1b, with a view of the Gamsgarten
The Stubai Glacier offers 64km of pistes, making it the largest glacier ski resort in Austria. It’s so huge that if it weren’t for the exceptional snow, you wouldn’t even know you were on a glacier! Thanks to its girth, the glacier is able to offer a good variety of pistes for novice and experienced skiers alike. Skiers looking to practice their technique or who just want to enjoy a cruiser can carve their way down the blue #7. For a bit of variety, take the lift in the direction of the Daunscharte to reach the red #20. The areas around the Eisjoch (pistes #1 and #1a) and Fernau lifts (piste #10) also offer some sweeping glacier runs. If you come later in the season when there is snow in the valley, try the fantastic Wilde Grub’n (piste #14).
Piste #20, highly recommended!
The Stubai Glacier offers a broad selection of mountainside restaurants, although not all of them offer quite the same quality and ambiance. Both Gamsgarten and Eisgrat have full-service as well as self-service restaurants, but for beautiful views and Tyrolean specialties, you’ll have to climb a little higher to the Jochdohle Restaurant, at an altitude of 3150m. For those seeking a more intimate and authentic experience, head to the Dresdner Hütte off piste #3 near the Fernau midstation. This cozy alpine hut serves up delectable traditional delicacies.
Traditional dishes at the Dresdner Hütte
Stubai Glacier makes sure your tiny tots are well-provided-for. The BIG Family Camp in front of the Gamsgarten (children’s) restaurant offers a safe and peaceful zone where young skiers can practice their skills; several covered paths provide a connection to the practice zones. If your kids are still too young to strap on skis, the Gamsgarten also offers childcare for children 3 and up. Lastly, be sure not to miss the Funslope and the Snow Castle from February to April!
BIG Family Camp
Need a break from skiing? Never fear, the Stubai Glacier offers plenty of alternative activities, not least the view from the Top of Tyrol platform at 3210m. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of 109 mountain peaks over 3000m. In the distance, you can just see the glaciers of Sölden. For something new and exciting, dare to take an ice-climbing course on an ice tower at the Gamsgarten (€10, courses offered every Friday). Not Friday? Consider a visit to the ice cave (daily from 11:30-15:30) or take a ride in a snowcat (Tuesdays at 14:00).
Top of Tyrol Lookout, 3210m
Some might say that no day of skiing is complete without après-ski! Hands-down the best place to satisfy your après cravings is at the Alpensporthotel Mutterberg, next to the bottom station of the Gamsgarten lift. Keep track of the time as you while away the hours in a frenzy of music and good vibes – before you know it, you might just miss the last bus!
Après-ski at the Mutterberg
It’s no easy feat to mount a winter paradise on a glacier, and many resorts in the Alps don’t quite rise to the occasion. “Glacier skiing” brings to mind a cold and chilly atmosphere with outdated lifts and hardly any other facilities. Only a small step up from the days of hiking up the hill yourself, these glaciers are the kind of place you go purely for skiing. But the Stubai Glacier raises the bar, offering a full ski resort with all the amenities. Modern lifts, an array of restaurants, an extensive children’s area… it’s all there. The Stubai Glacier is the perfect destination, whether in the early, mid- or late season.
Nestled at the end of the Stubai Valley, Austria’s Stubai Glacier is one of the most popular glaciers in Austria. In the preseason, when the picturesque green valley is still celebrating the vestiges of summer, the guaranteed snow from October to June draws massive crowds of snow-savvy skiers to the largest glacier in Austria. Discover top-notch powder and modern amenities at this glacier paradise. With a variety of pistes, family-friendly facilities and a challenging terrain park, there’s something for everybody at the Stubai Glacier!
Queues at the glacier can be longer early in the season, as many skiers in southern Germany and the region of Innsbruck choose the Stubai Glacier for their weekend mini-breaks. However, this year you can thank your lucky stars for the timely completion of the new Eisgratbahn cable car, a nearly €60 million project which is sure to slash wait times. This high-speed 3S gondola can whisk more than 3000 people per hour up the hill, getting you there in just under 12 minutes. And, park hassle-free thanks to 1800 additional parking spots at the valley station.
Stubai Glacier is organized around two mid-mountain stations, Eisgrat (2900m) and Gamsgarten (2620m). Both stations offer ski rental facilities, restaurants, restrooms, first aid and picnic areas. If you’re simply looking for a quiet place to pull on your boots after enjoying a packed lunch, check out the new picnic area at Eisgrat. Renting your equipment? It might be wise to do this from a ski shop in the valley, so you don’t have to worry about joining the queue back up the glacier at the end of the day. For families, the Gamsgarten is an excellent starting point: the children’s area is located just in front of the restaurant and there is also a nice indoor play area.
Piste #1b, with a view of the Gamsgarten
The Stubai Glacier offers 64km of pistes, making it the largest glacier ski resort in Austria. It’s so huge that if it weren’t for the exceptional snow, you wouldn’t even know you were on a glacier! Thanks to its girth, the glacier is able to offer a good variety of pistes for novice and experienced skiers alike. Skiers looking to practice their technique or who just want to enjoy a cruiser can carve their way down the blue #7. For a bit of variety, take the lift in the direction of the Daunscharte to reach the red #20. The areas around the Eisjoch (pistes #1 and #1a) and Fernau lifts (piste #10) also offer some sweeping glacier runs. If you come later in the season when there is snow in the valley, try the fantastic Wilde Grub’n (piste #14).
Piste #20, highly recommended!
The Stubai Glacier offers a broad selection of mountainside restaurants, although not all of them offer quite the same quality and ambiance. Both Gamsgarten and Eisgrat have full-service as well as self-service restaurants, but for beautiful views and Tyrolean specialties, you’ll have to climb a little higher to the Jochdohle Restaurant, at an altitude of 3150m. For those seeking a more intimate and authentic experience, head to the Dresdner Hütte off piste #3 near the Fernau midstation. This cozy alpine hut serves up delectable traditional delicacies.
Traditional dishes at the Dresdner Hütte
Stubai Glacier makes sure your tiny tots are well-provided-for. The BIG Family Camp in front of the Gamsgarten (children’s) restaurant offers a safe and peaceful zone where young skiers can practice their skills; several covered paths provide a connection to the practice zones. If your kids are still too young to strap on skis, the Gamsgarten also offers childcare for children 3 and up. Lastly, be sure not to miss the Funslope and the Snow Castle from February to April!
BIG Family Camp
Need a break from skiing? Never fear, the Stubai Glacier offers plenty of alternative activities, not least the view from the Top of Tyrol platform at 3210m. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of 109 mountain peaks over 3000m. In the distance, you can just see the glaciers of Sölden. For something new and exciting, dare to take an ice-climbing course on an ice tower at the Gamsgarten (€10, courses offered every Friday). Not Friday? Consider a visit to the ice cave (daily from 11:30-15:30) or take a ride in a snowcat (Tuesdays at 14:00).
Top of Tyrol Lookout, 3210m
Some might say that no day of skiing is complete without après-ski! Hands-down the best place to satisfy your après cravings is at the Alpensporthotel Mutterberg, next to the bottom station of the Gamsgarten lift. Keep track of the time as you while away the hours in a frenzy of music and good vibes – before you know it, you might just miss the last bus!
Après-ski at the Mutterberg
It’s no easy feat to mount a winter paradise on a glacier, and many resorts in the Alps don’t quite rise to the occasion. “Glacier skiing” brings to mind a cold and chilly atmosphere with outdated lifts and hardly any other facilities. Only a small step up from the days of hiking up the hill yourself, these glaciers are the kind of place you go purely for skiing. But the Stubai Glacier raises the bar, offering a full ski resort with all the amenities. Modern lifts, an array of restaurants, an extensive children’s area… it’s all there. The Stubai Glacier is the perfect destination, whether in the early, mid- or late season.
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!
