Winter sports in Mallnitz
Winter sports in Mallnitz
Mallnitz is the perfect spot for a winter sports holiday in Austria. It’s ideal for the whole family as well as for fanatic tour skiing and snowboarding. The surroundings of Mallnitz offers for each its own.
The 3246m high Ankogel (10,650ft), also know as the ‘house mountain’, gets its snow from both the north side as the south side of the Tauern main ridge. This makes the Ankogel one of the most steady snow-covered mountains with perfect slopes in Carinthia.
In Mallnitz, the winter starts early December. It changes the village and surrounding Mountains into a true paradise for everyone that is into winter sports.
Ankogel
a snow sure ski mountain
The gondola lifts from the Ankogelbahn start in the valley station which is already at a height of 1.200m (4,000ft). The first track brings you to the Mittelstation Hochalmblick at the height of 2.000m (6,560ft). The second track brings you to the Elschesttel at a height of 2.636m (8,650ft).
On the top part of the ski area, two tow-lifts will bring you further to several wider slopes for skiers, carvers and snowboarders.
The beautiful, diverse and sometimes demanding slope starts with tree-free parts before it continues into routes through the forest, al the way to the parking lot and valley station.
Beginners can use the slopes near the valley station. The slopes here, are very wide and not steep. These slopes make use of two, so called Köfeleliften (tow-lifts). There is a separate ski pass available for these Köfeleliften.
The skiing schools offer lessons for beginning and advanced skiers for (tour) skiing and snowboarding, from ages starting at 3 years old. The staff speak English, German and Dutch.
Top Ski Kärnten-Osttirol & ski area Gastein
The Ankogel requires its own ski pass or you can use a “Top Ski Kärnten & Osttirol” ski pass. This pass allows you to ski or board in all 28 ski areas of Carinthia and the 7 winter sport centers in Osttirol. It’s also valid for the only glacier ski area in Carinthia, the Mölltaler glacier. Children under the age of 6, accompanied by a parent or supervisor, can get a pass for free.
The slopes of the Mölltaler glacier are easily reachable from Mallnitz. A special ski coach drives to the valley station of the Gletscherbahn (glacier route). The coach departs at 9:35 am from Mallnitz and returns at 4:30 pm.
Ski area Goldeck, specifically “Kärntens Sportberg” at the Millstättersee, is very suitable for beginners and families. The higher areas there, include many blue and red slopes where beginners can learn curves and where advanced skiers can carve. Besides the regular slopes, the ski area also has about 50 acres of unprepared off-piste descents. A real treat for the free-riding and fanatic athletes.
And for those, with appetite for more: Mallnitz has a direct train connection to ski area “Gastein”. In 13 minutes, you will find yourself in the largest ski area of Salzburgerland with over 200km of slopes. The car train (Tauernschleuse) also stops in this area, making it reachable for cars in short period of time as well.
Ski tours
The mountain scenary around and above Mallnitz is perfectly suitable for ski tours.
Professional ski and mountain guides are at your disposal whenever you want to make a long ski tour. Use of these quides is mandatory because of safety reasons. To enthuse beginners, short courses are available. On request, some descent slopes can be added to the long ski tours.
The ski tour ‘Mountain Climbing’ takes about 2 hours. The descents will take you through untouched powder snow and if necessary or desired can be partially be routed to regular slopes.
The guide will accommodate you with the proper pace. Especially during climbing on skiis and if needed with crampons for the steeper or icy parts. And of course, breaks during the trip are standard. All to get everyone acquinted with this form of ski-sport.
Gear can be rented at Wolliger Sports in Mallnitz. A trip that is often made in the spring, is the 3-hour climbe to the peak of the Ankogel. The amazing view over Carinthia and the achievement itself is utmost rewarding. Not to mention the exciting descent in the deep snow.
Cross country skiing in National park Hohe Tauern
Crossy Country skiers can start their tours from the village centre. The double tracks are about 20km long and go straight through the Tauertal and the Seebachtal, passing cosy almhutten and small restaurants along the way. The track in the Tauerntal is about 12 km long and the track in the Seebachtal is about 4,5km long. They are connected via a special track, that covers about 3,5km.
In the midst of the winter season, a track on the Jamnigalm with the length of 5km is usually created as well.
Hiking and snowshoeing
In the Tauerntal and Seebachtal, there are many tracks and hinking routes available. Special tours for snowshoeing are often organised as well.
Under the supervision of guides, you will enter hidden places in the winter landscape. Beyond the regular tracks, lies a magical winter world, waiting to be discovered.