The Kaunertal Glacier may be somewhat off the beaten track, but it is well worth making the effort to travel to this resort in the Kaunertal Valley. This large ski area in the west of Tirol is one of the highest in the region and offers snowsure conditions well into spring.
The journey to the Kaunertal Glacier is an experience in itself. The winding Kaunertaler Glacier Road twists and turns its way up 29 corners to the edge of the Weißseeferner glacier at an incredible 2,750 metres above sea level. Visitors can simply park their car at the bottom of the slopes and head straight out onto the pistes. The Kaunertaler Glacier may not be the easiest ski resort to reach, but it is without a doubt one of the most snowsure in Tirol. Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy excellent conditions on blue, red and black pistes at altitudes of up to 3,108m from September through until June.
Despite its popularity, the Kaunertal Glacier has almost no lift queues. Beginners will enjoy the easy blue slopes near the Falginjoch ridge, while advanced and expert skiers can take on the FIS race piste at the Nörderjoch and freestyler can get their jib on in the snowpark. One of the resort's highlights is the 2.2km black run leading down from the Karlesspitze through a 140m floodlit tunnel to the Ochsenalm. The construction of the new Falginjochbahn lift was used to create another highlight, the Black Ibex. This piste begins at the top of the lift and, with an average gradient of 41.3 degrees and a pitch of 87.85%, is the steepest in-bounds run anywhere in Austria.The resprt has plenty of slopes for all abilities as well as some excellent off-piste ski touring and freeriding.
Holders of a lift pass for the Kaunertal Glacier can also use the lifts in the smaller family-friendly resort of Fendels, which has an extensive children's and beginners' area.
The journey to the Kaunertal Glacier is an experience in itself. The winding Kaunertaler Glacier Road twists and turns its way up 29 corners to the…
