Mayrhofen-Hintertux Ski Resort ski area

Mayrhofen–Hinterux / Ski area

Although its principal slopes are not the easiest to get to, Mayrhofen has always had a good variety of snow-sure skiing, and the recent link with Lanersbach made it even bigger.

Mayrhofen’s main skiing is some distance from the town centre – high on the Penken, which rises way above the town and is reached by a large gondola in the centre of town. There’s a free bus service to the main lifts, running approximately every 15 minutes, but the buses can get crowded at busy times. There are links with the village of Finkenberg and Lanersbach, as well as quieter, gentler slopes more suitable for novices on the Ahorn across the valley. The Penken-Horberg slopes are all above the tree line – and there are no runs from Penken back down to Mayrhofen. You must download on the gondola, although it’s possible to return on snow to Finkenberg or (on an off-piste “Ski Route”) to Hippach. Hintertux, one of Europe’s most snow-sure and steepest glaciers, is just 19 km (12 miles) away.

Skiing the Zillertal
Although its principal slopes are not the easiest to get to, Mayrhofen has always had a good variety of snow-sure skiing, and the recent link with Lanersbach made it even bigger. A gondola at the neighbouring village of Hippach, a little further along the Zillertal, provides another entry-point to the slopes. There are 157 km (98 miles) of prepared pistes spread among the Penken, Horberg, Rastkogel, Eggalm and Ahorn areas, with a further 86 km (54 miles) at Hintertux (a 40-minute bus ride). All told there’s a grand total of 620 km (387 miles) of marked runs in the Ziller Valley. In the Mayrhofen area, with 49 lifts, sunny and treeless summit slopes, broad carving areas and challenging north-facing slopes, good off-piste opportunities, and gentle slopes for all the family, no-one need feel left out – from freeskiers to beginners. There’s extensive snowmaking, covering around 80% of Mayrhofen’s slopes. The resort claims the “last gaps in the artificial snow capability have been closed” thanks to new reservoirs in Gerent and Finkenberg.

Mayrhofen orientation
Mayrhofen has one of the best piste maps in the business. You can see at a glance (the routes are marked very clearly in vibrant colours) the five main ski choices on the menu: the Ahorn Beginner’s Route; the “Metre Eater’s” Route (predominantly demanding red and black slopes taking in Harakiri, the Devil’s run and the Panorama run); the Zillertal3000 Route (a broad sweep across the Penken, Horberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm, and the Harakiri and Panorama runs); the Penken Beginner’s Route (including the Hornberg “Baby Tour” and Family run, the Mittertrett draglift area and the Hintertrett Sunjet quad lift); and the “Fun and Action” Route incorporating three race tracks, Harakiri, and the Burton Park. The Zillertaler Superski Pass also covers a handful of other resorts, including Zell am Ziller, itself linked with Gerlos and Königsleiten.

Mayrhofen

Base	2,067 ft (630 m)
Summit	8,202 ft (2,500 m)
Elevation	6,135 ft (1,870 m)
Snowmaking
Ski area
Beginner	29 %
Intermediate	57 %
Advanced	14 %
Number of trails	0
Longest trail	3 mi (6 km)
Snowfall	98 inch (250 cm)
Season start	early Dec
Season end	late Apr