Sonnenkopf - Klösterle Ski Resort Austria
A sneaky addition to the Ski Arlberg lift pass region or a standalone secret stash, Sonnenkopf ski resort is beautifully perched above the villages of Klösterle & Wald am Arlberg and has 34km of trails and 1,300m of skiable vertical on cold, north-aspect slopes. Just a few kilometres to the west of Stuben in the western Austria state of Vorarlberg, the quiet slopes of Sonnenkopf-Klösterle can make a worthy day-trip from the occasionally maddening crowds of Ski Arlberg.
Pros & Cons for Sonnenkopf Ski Resort
Pros
- A quiet alternative to Ski Arlberg on a cheeky powder day, or just to get away from the crowds.
- Long 1,300m skiable vertical.
- The best piste & freeride terrain is north-aspect and snow-sure.
- Family-friendly lifts & terrain at the gondola top station.
- Easy accessibility straight off the motorway.
- Exceptionally good value lift pass price, plus is part of Ski Arlberg.
- Very quiet during the week.
- Awesome views all the way down the valley.
Cons
- Bizarre location of the gondola top station requires the use of short surface tows to get away from it.
- Numerous slow surface tows required to connect the resort, and three out 4 chairlifts are slow.
- Can feel busy, even if it isn’t, due to the requirement to use several low-volume surface tows to link the ski area. Weekends can be hectic.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Zero snowmaking - a good sign (high natural snowfall reliability!) or a sign of doom (no back up plan in poor winters!) depending on snow conditions.
- No base village at the gondola base (but options nearby separated by the motorway).
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
The Sonnenkopf skiing & snowboarding terrain is a contrasting mix. Family-friendly (read 'boring') lifts & pistes extend awkwardly from the gondola top station to the top of Riedkopf quad chair. In the opposite direction, the real 'juice' of the resort extends up to 2,300m in a series of lovely rolling intermediate piste & off-piste terrain that steepens markedly in the lower half in the Obermoos lift sector. Aside from the gondola & Obermuri quad chair, the ski lifts are painfully slow.
The ski lift base is on the opposite side of the motorway from the village of Wald-im-Arlberg at 1,000m altitude. Valley return trails get back to the gondola valley station, and one also diverts off toward the slightly higher elevation village of Klösterle am Arlberg (1,075m). The valley trails are unreliable for anyone that likes their ski bases, as the lack of snowmaking can render them quickly impassable. Of course one can always walk down the final sections. With this in mind, it is worth knowing is that downloading on the gondola is not possible from the mid-station, only from the top.
Where is Sonnenkopf Austria?
The Sonnenkopf ski resort is in Vorarlberg Austria, west of the Arlberg Tunnel along the E60 motorway. Sonnenkopf is one a few ski resorts in the world located just one turn off a major motorway and with free parking within 30 metres of the gondola lift base.
The closest villages to Sonnenkopf are Wald am Arlberg & Klösterle, both just a few minutes away on the opposite side of the motorway. By road, Innsbruck is 114km (1½hr) and Feldkirch is 41km (35min on a good day) drive to the west. Further away Zurich is 176km (up to 2½hr) to the west, and Munich is 260km (3½hr +) to the northeast.
The closest gateway airports are Innsbruck (INN) (for travellers from within Europe or the UK) and Zurich (ZRH) or Munich (MUC) (for everyone else!).
For day-trippers, the recommended mode of travel is a combination of train and bus, however given its proximity to a major road, travel by rental car is quite convenient. By train, one can easily travel from the direction of Innsbruck or Feldkirch. Changes to the local 720 bus line can be made at either Langen am Arlberg or Bludenz stations (respectively). The route 720 bus runs regularly between Stuben & Bludenz, stopping at ‘Sonnenkopfbahn’ during winter, plus has multiple stops in the closest villages of Wald & Klösterle. From Langen am Arlberg the bus takes 11min to Sonnenkopf, from Bludenz it takes around 32min.
Anyone driving to Sonnenkopf on a weekend should factor the often hectically busy traffic passing through the region, particularly if the sun is out and fresh snow has fallen. Leave early to get the best parking with the least amount of road rage on a weekend. Weekdays are usually fine.
Sonnenkopf Accommodation
Both Wald am Arlberg & Klösterle villages are the best places to stay if skiing Sonnenkopf. Despite some road noise, each village is quiet and whilst there are some excellent accommodations available, they are lacking any real ambiance. Klösterle is the larger of the two and has more services including a supermarket and bakery. The route 720 bus can be used to access the skiing from either village (including to Stuben). With Ski Arlberg so close, accommodation can get booked out quickly.
If wanting to stay as close as possible, the best lodgings at Wald am Arlberg include: the apartments in Zapfig Living Arlberg, the exceptional Hotel Maroi and the superb Pension Seeberger or Stockingers Guest House.
Slightly further afield at Klösterle the best accommodation is at Hotel Klostertalerhof, plus the fancy apartments of Alpine Lodge Klösterle am Arlberg or ArlbergResort Klösterle.
Given the location of the Sonnenkopf gondola valley station just near the motorway exit, in reality with a rental car you could base yourself anywhere on the western side of the Arlberg Tunnel (to avoid paying road tolls or driving over Arlberg Pass!) or in Stuben, Zurs, Lech etc. The nearby Montafon valley (Schruns, St Gallenkirch, Vandans etc) is within 30min or so drive of the ski area, with Nenzing and the absolutely charming city of Feldkirch not much further.
Search & book a place to stay via the Sonnenkopf Klösterle Ski Accommodation Listings.
Ski Rentals
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Austria Sonnenkopf" subcategory="Sonnenkopf Rentals"]
Reviews & More Info
The Powderhounds reviewed Sonnenkopf - Klösterle on a quiet midweek day in late January 2026. We enjoyed its 'old school' simplicity, car parking next to the gondola station, windblown powder snow and relaxed atmosphere. We will be heading back again when there is snow all the way from top to bottom. 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 Sonnenkopf 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.
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