Stubai Glacier Skiing & Snowboarding
Austria’s largest glacier-based ski resort, Stubai Glacier deliveries a satisfying diversity of on and off-piste skiing & snowboarding options for everyone ranging from families to diehard experts. Stubaier Gletscher's modern lift system & facilities perfectly compliment the many glaciers that flow on all aspects from the 3,333m peak of Schaufelspitze, providing the basis for an exceptional ski resort that has quality skiing and snowboarding for over 9 months every year. The ski season here begins at least by mid-October (earlier of conditions allow) and finishes sometime in June, depending on snow conditions
Stubai Glacier has two superb base stations in the valley, 1,515m vertical below the highest lifted point (Top of Tyrol). The valley stations provide access to gondolas that transport guests to the main upper mountain facilities at Gamsgarten and Eisgrat. The base areas also provide a pleasing introduction to the quality of facilities (and terrain) that can be expected at Stubai Glacier.
Check out the ski trail map for Stubai Glacier below.
Stubai has the great advantage of enough snow and terrain to provide a separate freeride map, showing numerous marked routes as well as the ‘Powder Department’ runs. Perfect for Powderhounds, the map takes some of the guesswork out of the off-piste.
Check out the Stubai Glacier Freeride Ski Map below.
Ski Lifts
The first of two valley stations in Mutterberg is at 1,695m altitude. The fabulous Eisgrat gondola runs from the state-of-the-art facility all the way up to Eisgrat at 2,900m. The gondola has a mid-station at Fernau where one can alight and board the Gamsgarten II gondola for Gamsgarten. The Eisgrat Valley Station has ticket sales windows, a rental/retail shop and terrific lockers and ski storage facilities. Overnight storage is possible. Your lift ticket is utilised to open and close the locker. Ask the extremely helpful shop assistants if unsure. Car parking is directly adjacent to the ticket windows and bus drop offs and pick-ups are at the opposite side near the shop and ski storage facilities.
Eisgrat itself has beautiful café, bar and restaurant facilities, comfortable outdoor seating, and lounges (including a very cold observation deck), rental and retail shops plus lockers for storage. Exiting the Eisgrat facility, a busy looking north facing glacier landscape, largely in shade for much of the day, is cluttered with a T-bar, 6er chair and gondola. Access to the gondola, the Schaufeljoch, is from inside the building via a seamless connection. The 6er chair, the Eisjoch, cannot be boarded at Eisgrat, as it starts at the lower elevation Gamsgarten.
The mid-mountain station of Gamsgarten, at 2,620m is accessible directly by gondola from the upper valley station (at 1,750m), allowing non-skiers and small children to access the high alpine safely and comfortably. At Gamsgarten, superb children's facilities combine with a range of ‘Big Family’ friendly monster themed sheltered conveyors, rope tows, a 6er chair (the Murmele) serving short, beginner terrain and an easy fun slope, plus ice sculptures and other activities. A children’s restaurant and outdoor seating for parents complete the arrangement. An adjacent café restaurant and bars plus extra sun deck and on-snow outdoor seating will distract parents from worrying about their progeny!
The Sachaufeljochbahn gondola takes passengers from Eisgrat to a high perch on a pinnacle above the resort called to Top of Tirol (3,210m). As one exits you are greeted by indoor viewpoints showcasing endless mountains all the way to the Dolomites in Italy. Sadly, the upper outdoor viewpoints are closed in winter. Exit through a door to the left and the upper, south facing glacier terrain starts to become apparent. Glaciers extend from all directions around the central high point of Schaufelspitze (3,333m).
Lifts are generally modern and efficient; however surface tows are used out of necessity on many much of the glacier terrain. The brilliant Eisgrat gondola installed for season 2016/17 allows a comfortable ride and breathtaking viewing all the way up to the high alpine and is great for scoping out the array of freeride skiing options. Two other gondolas, the base Gamsgarten I and II and the upper mountain Schaufeljoch complete the ‘skis off’ lifts. (This telemarking Powderhound breathes a sigh of relief as I dislike taking my skis off!)
Modern chairs in the form of 3 x 6er chairs and an 8er chair provide the bulk of transport grunt over the beginner and intermediate terrain.
An old triple chair, the Daunjoch, services Stubai Glacier’s best advanced piste run, the Daunhill, and some tasty off-piste. The lift is for advanced skiers only – no easy trails from here!
Two double chairs are used for return access from the southern side of the resort to the main north facing terrain. Glacier terrain necessitates the use of no less than 7 x T-bar surface lifts in the resort, with some of the lengthier ones perhaps providing a challenge to children & snowboarders!
Ski Lift Passes
Stubai Glacier offers excellent value, local lift passes throughout the entirety of the long ski season. It is worth knowing the following:
For families, children under the age of 10-years ski for free with a paying adult.
Lift passes are over €9 cheaper per day for an adult skiing during Autumn ( from mid-October to the start of December) and Spring (start of May to the close of lifts in June).
Lift passes of 4-days or more during the period of December to mid-April are called ‘Stubai Skipass’ and are valid at Elfer Elfer(11) ski and sled resort located down the valley above the town of Neustift im Stubaital; Serles (near the town of Mieders) and the fabulous Schlick 2000 (located near Fulpmes).
The ski bus for the entire Stubaital (Stubai valley) from Schönberg-im-Stubaital all the way to Stubai Glacier’s base at Mutterberg is free for anyone with a valid ski lift pass.
Stubai Glacier is also part of Innsbruck's Olympia Ski World area & the Ski+City Pass area which includes 13 regional ski & sled resorts. An Ski+City lift pass is for a minimum 2 days and allows access to all 13 ski resorts plus 22 local Innsbruck city sites.
Terrain Parks at Stubai Glacier
On the sunny south facing side the resort, a huge snow park is constructed on the glacier and serviced by two surface lifts. Progression jumps and elements exist for all levels.
For Children & Novices
Stubai has a wonderful ski area at Gamsgarten specifically for children and families. Whilst we question the ‘friendly monster’ theme, the lifts and general facilities are absolutely first rate.
Beginner terrain at Gamsgarten is serviced by a range of lifts to allow easy progression. A 6er chair, J-bar surface lift, rope tow and 4 x hooded surface conveyors provide for children and more mature learners. From Gamsgarten beginners can progress to numerous wide open, upper mountain glacier-based pistes, the best of which are trails 1, 7 and 10. To return to the valley, beginners will need to download on either the Gamsgarten or Eisgrat gondolas.
Intermediate Ski & Snowboard terrain
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders will enjoy the long, wide-open piste trails at Stubai Glacier. Several of the ski routes are OK for upper intermediates in the right conditions, including the valley trail number 14. If not up to an extremely long valley run, lower intermediates will need to download on either the Gamsgarten or Eisgrat gondolas.
Advanced & Expert Skiers
One thing about Stubai; advanced and expert skiers or snowboarders have fantastic opportunities to ride a diversity of exceptionally long, long runs. Whilst on-piste options for advanced and expert riders are limited, in the off-piste freeride terrain there are a huge range of routes and ‘Powder Department’ runs to challenge yourself.
The best advanced on-piste trail is the fun 500m+ vert descent off Daunkopf. Skiing most of the other piste trails could get boring rather quickly, although if you like speed, there are wide open options to let your skis or board absolutely fly at Stubai.
Summit to Valley Ski Runs
If you need only one reason to ski or snowboard Stubai Glacier, do it for the top to bottom skiing. The valley (trail 14) makes it possible to ski from the highest point at Stubai glacier (the top of the Wildspitz double chair at 3,212m) all the way to the lowest part of the ski resort at 1,695m (Eisgrat Valley Station). Total skiable vertical is 1,517m over 10km. A real challenge to do it without stopping. Be warned that when screaming down the wide highway of trail 7 from Wildspitz, it is really easy to get sucked into Gamsgarten and miss the start of trail 14. When in doubt, turn left (at Albuquerque, right Bugs!).
Another full vertical valley run option, but unfortunately one the Powderhounds haven’t yet tried, is to start at the top of the Eisjoch 6er (about 3,160m) ski trails 1/1a into trail 2 (or go off piste via the Powder Department’s number 5) to Fernau at 2,300m. From Fernau a new valley route 26 (or the Powder Department’s number 7) heads down the valley to Gamsgarten and Eisgrat valley stations. Similar distance and vertical to ski route 14, but far more challenging overall. Sadly, a lack of snow on route 26 prevented a reconnaissance. A great alternative is a slightly shorter descent from the top of the Fernau chair via numerous piste, routes or Powder Department runs to Fernau and then as above to the base.
For the Powderhound
Scope the terrain from the gondolas on the way up and have a copy of the Stubai Freeride Map on hand. Go forth and explore!
