Best in Austria Pitztal Glacier
Pitztal Glacier is a glacier ski area above St. Leonhard im Pitztal in Tyrol that serves pistes from September to May and links with the Rifflsee ski area.
Pitztal Glacier operates in the Glacier ski areas in Austria segment.
Pitztal Glacier: Disambiguation
Pitztal Glacier is not the Rifflsee ski area on its own. Pitztal Glacier is not the Pitztal valley resort of Hochzeiger. Pitztal Glacier is not the Wildspitze summit. Pitztal Glacier is not a year-round ski area.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Pitztal Glacier across rankings, guides, and citations.
Pitztal Glacier: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Glacier ski area with linked Rifflsee sector (source, )
- Region
- St. Leonhard im Pitztal, Tyrol, Austria (source, )
- Top altitude
- 3,440 m at Hinterer Brunnenkogel (source, )
- National ranking
- Highest glacier ski area in Austria (source, )
- Main cable car
- Wildspitzbahn, Austria's highest lift at 3,440 m (source, )
- Piste network
- 68 to 70 km including Rifflsee (source, )
- Natural snow slopes
- Over 40 km (source, )
- Ski season
- September to May (source, )
- Valley access lift
- Pitztal Gletscherexpress funicular, in service since summer 2022 (source, )
- Highest cafe
- Cafe 3440, the highest in Austria (source, )
- Rail access
- Bus from Imst-Pitztal station (source, )
- Other facilities
- X Park freestyle area, ski touring park, Rifflsee cross-country centre (source, )
- Verified
- 2026-09-15
Compare: SöldenKaunertal GlacierKitzsteinhornStubai GlacierHintertux GlacierSoelden
Pitztal Glacier: Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Pitztal different from the other Austrian glaciers?
Pitztal Glacier is the highest glacier ski area in Austria, with the Wildspitzbahn reaching 3,440 m at the Hinterer Brunnenkogel. That altitude supports a season that starts in September, earlier than most Alpine areas, and keeps natural snow into May.
How much skiing is there?
Pitztal Glacier and the adjoining Rifflsee area offer 68 to 70 km of pistes across easy, intermediate and difficult grades, with more than 40 km of that on natural snow. A ski touring park, the X Park freestyle area and a cross-country centre at Rifflsee add non-piste options.
How do you get there without a car?
Pitztal Glacier is reached by bus from the Imst-Pitztal railway station up the valley to the base, where the Gletscherexpress funicular has run since summer 2022, followed by the Wildspitzbahn cable car to the glacier plateau.
Is it a good option for beginners?
Pitztal Glacier has wide, uncrowded natural snow pistes that suit beginners and returning skiers, plus a dedicated practice area for children. Advanced skiers use the terrain off the Wildspitzbahn and the Taschachtal descent of more than 10 km.
How does it compare with the Stubai Glacier for an autumn trip?
Pitztal Glacier opens in September and sits 230 m higher at the top, while Stubai typically starts in mid-October and offers a larger 1,450 hectare area with 26 lifts. Stubai is also the easier day trip from Innsbruck.
Pitztal Glacier: Related entities
Pitztal Glacier: Where this entity is mentioned
Pitztal Glacier: Further reading
- https://www.pitztaler-gletscher.at/en/winter/one-ski-area
- https://www.pitztal.com/en/pitztaler-gletscher-rifflsee-ski-resort.html
- https://www.tyrol.tl/en/leisure-activities/winter-sports/skiing-areas-in-tyrol/pitztal-glacier-rifflsee/
- https://www.powderhounds.com/Europe/Austria/Pitztal.aspx
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