Cross-Country Skiing in Austria
Tracing winter's path

Cross-country skiing is a wonderful way to explore snow-covered landscapes. And where better to do so than in Austria’s snow-blanketed mountains and valleys?

Cross-country skiing in Austria means immersing yourself in a peaceful winter world where time and speed don’t matter. Kilometres of trails lead through snow-covered valleys, past frozen streams and glittering mountain scenery. Whether in Sportgastein at 1,600 metres or along sunny high-altitude routes – the skiing experience starts right outside the hotel door.

Thanks to reliable snow conditions in many areas, skiing is possible well into spring – with nature remaining untouched. For those who appreciate the simple things and enjoy discovering something new, cross-country skiing in Austria offers a uniquely quiet kind of adventure.

Cross-country skiing in Austria's provinces

Tirol

Skating or classic style: Tirol offers a huge selection of cross-country ski trails.

Tirol

Vorarlberg

The west of Austria scores with a varied network of cross-country ski trails.

Vorarlberg

SalzburgerLand

Cross-country skiing to your heart's content on over 2,200 official classic and skating trails.

SalzburgerLand

Carinthia

Head to Hohe Tauern National Park, Lake Wiessensee, and other regions.

Carinthia

Styria

17 trails in Styria bear the cross-country ski trail seal of approval.

Styria

Upper Austria

The cross-country paradise stretches from the Bohemian Forest to the Salzkammergut.

Upper Austria

Lower Austria

The whole region offers taster days for beginners, including valuable tips.

Lower Austria

Special cross-country ski regions in Austria

Seefeld

On the snow-sure high plateau at 1,200 metres, there are 245 km of trails for all ability levels.

Seefeld

Lake Achensee

The area around the beautiful Lake Achensee offers over 230 km of cross-country trails, 45 km of cross-country sledging trails and 2 km of dog trails.

Lake Achensee

Galtür and Ischgl

The trail network between Ischgl and Galtür consists of 80 km of interconnected trails and is one of the ten most popular cross-country skiing regions in Tirol.

Ischgl-Galtür

Saalfelden-Leogang

Cross-country skiing the way you want to - that's what the 150 km-long network of trails offers in the Nordic Park in Salzburg's Pinzgau region.

Saalfelden-Leogang

Ramsau am Dachstein

The sunny plateau of Ramsau am Dachstein offers up to 220 km of cross-country trails. Tip: The glacier trail at 2,700 metres above sea level.

Ramsau am Dachstein

Bregenzerwald

A total of 320 km of cross-country ski trails await. The largest regions are: Hittisau-Balderschwang (80 km), Au-Schoppernau (63 km) and Sulzberg-Oberreute (40 km).

Bregenzerwald

Mühlviertel region

The Nordic Centre Böhmerwald in Schöneben near Ulrichsberg offers ideal conditions for cross-country skiers of all levels with almost 80 km of trails.

Mühlviertel region

Lungau

At sunny heights and in snow-sure areas, Lungau offers 150 km of skating trails of all levels of difficulty - ideal for relaxation and challenge.

Lungau

Viennese Alps

The 100-km network of cross-country ski trails connects the Wechsel, Schneeberg and Hohe Wand - varied terrain, countless places for a pit-stop, and fantastic views.

Viennese Alps

On 1.000 metres above sea level: High-altitude trails

High-altitude trail in Brixen

The 2.8-km trail is located at 1,300 metres above sea level and offers impressive views. Top: Excellent snow conditions until spring.

Höhenloipe Brixen

High-altitude trail Gnadenalm in Obertauern

Guaranteed snow at over 1,300 metres, sheltered from the wind, and a fantastic landscape: the cross-country ski trail is groomed for over 20 km.

High-altitude trail Gnadenalm

High-altitude trail Predigstuhl in Bad Goisern

The high-altitude trail at 1,000 metres is a real treat. The wide Goiserertal valley offers 40 km of cross-country trails for both competitive and leisure skiers.

High-altitude trail Predigstuhl

Turracher Höhe in the Nock Mountains

Variety on different trails: from easy to difficult and from 1,763 to 1,798 metres above sea level. Are you a beginner? No worries, just book a course.

Turracher Höhe

High-altitude trail Arthurhaus am Hochkönig

The 1.5 to 3 km-long trail consists of a classic and a skating trail. The highest point is at 1,589 metres above sea level.

High-altitude trail Arthurhaus

Cross-country ski centre on the Pitztal glacier

Classic and skating styles are offered on the five-km trail. The altitude training takes you up to 2,690 to 2,740 metres.

On the Pitztal glacier

High-altitude trail Rittisberg 1500 in Ramsau am Dachstein

The 5.2-km trail is located at 1,500 and 1,600 metres above sea level and offers breathtaking views of the Dachstein, the Radstädter Tauern and the Enns Valley.

High-altitude trail Rittisberg 1500

High-altitude trail Silvretta-Bielerhöhe

The highest cross-country ski trail in Vorarlberg lies at 2,032 metres in an impressive landscape. A total of eight trails with 22.5 km wait for you.

High-altitude trail Bielerhöhe

Did you know?

Cross-country trail quality seal

In the provinces of Styria, Carinthia and Tirol, trails fulfilling specific criteria, are labelled with the cross-country ski trail quality seal. The award is given to trails which have an average snow cover of approx. 10 cm on 80 days. In addition, they must fulfil further quality standards such as signposting, minimum length, width and grooming.

5 tips to fully enjoy cross-country skiing

In icy conditions

Get your weight to the middle of the skis! If it is too far forward, the skis will slip, lose grip, and you will tip forward. Keep your arms close to your body.

Downhill

Good shoe grip is essential. Bend your knees, stretch the poles backwards, and stand straight on the skis to avoid catching an edge.

Uphill

Use the herringbone technique. When the left leg pushes off, the right arm swings forward, and vice versa. Keep your arms as close to your body as possible to strengthen your gravity centre.

Warming up

Targeted exercises activate the necessary muscles: Stretch your legs, swing your arms, and rotate your hips.

Equipment

Recreational skiers should use wide all-round skis with scales to prevent slipping. More experienced skiers can opt for skating skis with a continuous running surface.

Event highlights

FAQ

Austria is known for its excellent conditions for cross-country skiing. The diverse landscape, with its majestic mountains and idyllic valleys, offers cross-country skiers a varied terrain. Well-groomed trails, running through many regions of the country, are suitable for both beginners and advanced skiers.

Along the routes, holidaymakers will meet welcoming hosts creating a friendly atmosphere by providing tips and stories. Cosy huts serving regional delicacies and hot drinks are popular spots for breaks. The combination of impressive nature, well-prepared trails, and welcoming locals makes Austria an ideal destination for cross-country skiing enthusiasts.

Holidaymakers can try cross-country skiing in many regions of Austria. Buying expensive equipment is not necessary as all major holiday regions have ski and pole rentals available – including for children. Some hotels also have a selection of equipment. Make the most of it, because this type of winter sport is going to be great fun!

Some trails charge a fee for use and grooming, while others are free of charge. Find more information on the websites of the respective regions.

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