Obergurgl and Hochgurgl sit at the very end of the Ötztal in Tyrol, beyond Sölden, where the road stops in winter. The ski area runs from 1,800 m to 3,030 m, with 112 km of pistes and 25 lifts, which makes it one of the highest and most snow-sure resorts in Austria that doesn’t depend on a glacier.
It’s also the opposite of its loud neighbour down the valley. The villages are small and hotel-based, the evenings are quiet, and the resort is built around families and couples who want good snow without the party.
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski area: high, snow-sure and uncrowded
The ski area has two sectors, Obergurgl and Hochgurgl, each with its own village base and linked by gondola. Six lifts take you from the valley into the ski area, and the lift company says more than 90% of the accommodation is under 250 m from the slopes. In practice, many hotels are a short walk or a ski from the nearest lift.
Most of the terrain is open, above the tree line, and graded blue and red. It’s a ski area for long, relaxed cruising rather than big, steep descents. Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is separate from Sölden on skis, but a pass of 3 days or more is upgraded free to the Ötztal Superskipass, which covers both.
Skiing in Obergurgl for beginners
Beginners are well looked after. The Obergurgl ski school has two children’s practice areas, at Wiesental and Pirchhütt, where children ski away from the main runs under an instructor’s eye. Once you’ve found your feet, the wide, open blue runs above the village make an easy next step.
Skiing in Obergurgl for intermediates
Intermediates get the most from the area. The two sectors give enough variety for a week of cruising, with long blues and reds above the tree line, and the high altitude keeps the snow in good shape.
Skiing in Obergurgl for experts
Advanced skiers will find enough for a few days, but the area is smaller than Sölden and lacks big, steep pistes. The best of the challenge is off-piste, and that needs a guide: the ski schools offer freeride guiding. Strong skiers on a week’s pass can also use the Ötztal Superskipass for days in Sölden.
Funslope, Familypark and the Top Mountain Star in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl
- Funslope Hochgurgl: reached by the Hochgurglbahn II or Wurmkoglbahn I, with waves, small jumps, a 7 m tunnel, a giant snow snail, steep banked turns and a high five from the mascot at the end of the upper section.
- Familypark Obergurgl: at the Bruggenbodenbahn, with butter boxes, rainbow boxes and kickers with 2 m and 3 m tables, aimed at beginners and young freestylers.
- Funmountain Obergurgl: fast corners, wave tracks and obstacles.
- Top Mountain Star: a glass-domed bar on the Wurmkogl in Hochgurgl, open in winter, with a 360° view of the Ötztal Alps.
- Hohe Mut Alm and Top Mountain Crosspoint: two of the mountain restaurants the resort highlights.
Snow in Obergurgl and the 2026/27 season
For 2026/27, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl opens on 19 November 2026 and closes on 18 April 2027. The lift company says the opening date and the number of open runs depend on the weather.
- Pre-season: 19 November to 4 December 2026, with lower lift pass prices.
- Peak weeks: 19 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, and 30 January to 26 February 2027.
The whole ski area sits above 1,800 m, and more than 90% of the slopes have snowmaking, backed by five reservoirs. Snow quality usually holds well into April. The flip side: it’s cold in midwinter, and with few trees, stormy days bring flat light and little shelter.
Is Obergurgl good for a last-minute ski trip?
Yes, if snow is what you’re chasing. Because the base is so high, Obergurgl is one of the safer bets in Austria when lower resorts are short of snow, especially in the pre-season and in late March and April. The lift company even claims zero waiting times at the lifts.
The downsides for a short-notice trip are the journey and the price. It’s at the end of a long valley, so allow extra time, especially in fresh snow. And it’s hotel-heavy, with few budget beds, so the cheapest options go first. If the forecast is good, book early in the week. See where to stay in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl.
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl lift passes
Passes are sold online, at ticket machines and collection points, and at the ticket offices. Booking early gets a better price.
- 3 days or more: your pass is upgraded free to the Ötztal Superskipass, valid on 90 lifts and around 360 km of pistes across the valley, including Sölden.
- Night skiing in Obergurgl and Hochgurgl is included.
- The pre-season (19 November to 4 December 2026) has lower prices.
- Lift rides for the Hochgurgl toboggan run are free with a valid ski pass.
Après-ski and things to do in Obergurgl
Après-ski is relaxed rather than rowdy, mostly in hotel bars and a few huts. The livelier nights are the night-skiing sessions:
- Obergurgl night skiing: every Monday from 14 December 2026 to 22 March 2027, on the Rosskarbahn from 6.30 pm to 10 pm, with music at the Festkogl umbrella bar.
- Hochgurgl night skiing: every Thursday from 17 December 2026 to 25 March 2027, on the Hochgurglbahn from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
The natural toboggan run from the Hochgurglbahn middle station down to Pill is about 3 km long, with 25 bends and 402 m of descent. It’s floodlit on Thursday evenings alongside the Hochgurgl night skiing, with a free toboggan bus from Obergurgl and Sölden. On the Timmelsjoch road, the Top Mountain Crosspoint, at the base of the Kirchenkarbahn, houses the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum. There’s also cross-country skiing, ice skating and winter walking.
Who Obergurgl-Hochgurgl suits, and who it doesn’t
- Great for: families, beginners and intermediates, couples, and anyone who wants snow-sure skiing from November to April in a quiet resort.
- Think twice if: you want lively après-ski, a huge ski area for a week of hard skiing, or lots of shops and restaurants. It’s hotel-heavy, and budget options are limited to a few guesthouses and apartments.
Skiing with children? Read Obergurgl-Hochgurgl with kids.
How to get to Obergurgl-Hochgurgl
By car
Leave the A12 Inntal motorway at exit 123 (Ötztal) and follow the B186 all the way up the valley through Sölden and Zwieselstein to Obergurgl, at the end of the road. Hochgurgl is a little way up the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road, which branches off just before Obergurgl.
The Timmelsjoch pass over to Italy is closed in winter. It usually shuts at the end of October and can’t reopen before the end of May at the earliest, so there’s no route through to South Tyrol: in winter the Ötztal is a dead end.
You need a vignette for Austrian motorways. From 1 December 2026 it is digital only: buy it from ASFINAG’s webshop or app, or an official reseller. One-day and 10-day vignettes bought online are valid immediately; two-month and annual ones only start on the 18th day. From 1 November to 15 April, cars must have winter tyres (M+S, at least 4 mm of tread) whenever there’s snow, slush or ice on the road. The upper Ötztal gets heavy snow, so carry chains as well.
By train and bus
Take the train to Ötztal station, on the main line west of Innsbruck. Bus 320 runs from Imst via Ötztal station and Sölden to Obergurgl, and the valley buses run every half hour between Ötztal station and the upper valley. Public buses and ski buses are free with the Guest Card in winter.
Nearest airports
Innsbruck is the nearest airport. Munich is further but has more flights; both have transfer services up the Ötztal.
