Ski tours and piste adventures
Lower Austria impresses ski mountaineers with an immense variety of tours.
For all ski tour lovers and beginners who want to become this we have put together a summary of the best Lower Austrian ski tour mountains. For maximum safety we recommend booking guided tours.
On a ski tour complete with climbing skins, you can ascend the wonderful slopes of the Muckenkogel and Schneeberg, amongst others. Tired but happy, with a view from the summit down into the valley. And then ... the descent on pristine slopes through fresh powder snow or well-prepared ski pistes - totally exhilarating and well worth the effort.
The right preparation and equipment is key for memorable and, above all, wonderful ski tours. Every ski tour should be well planned and the daily avalanche bulletin and weather forecast observed. Do not leave the secured piste without an avalanche beacon that is switched on, an avalanche shovel and probe. An avalanche airbag backpack is also an invaluable item of protective equipment. First-aid dressings, bivouac sack and mobile phone complete the equipment. In an emergency call Alpine emergency services on 140. In all outdoor activities, be respectful of nature.
We therefore ask you to always plan tours carefully and ensure you take all necessary safety equipment with you on the tour.
Lower Austria’s finest ski tours
Lower Austria’s highest mountain is not only one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Vienna Alps during summer, it is also true of the winter months when the mountain, covered in snow, truly lives up to its name. The Schneeberg (2,076 m) adventure becomes an unforgettable experience when sporty tour-goers tighten their skis after the ascent and speed down through the powder snow into the valley. Ski mountaineers can choose from a range of difficulty levels from steep descents to relaxing leisurely tours. The Breite Ries is one of the first steep slopes of the Alps and one of the classics by the Schneeberg. Tour-goers are also welcome at the Mostviertl’s local mountain, the Ötscher: with a choice of two signposted ascending routes. One of these takes you from the Weitental to the Ötscherschutzhaus next to the piste and through the forest. Descend across Riffelsattel or directly on the piste, back into the valley.
The Tirolerkogel (1,377 m) in Annaberg is one of the most popular tour mountains in the Mostviertl not least because the alpine hut at the summit, the Annaberger Haus also serves food and drink in the winter. The one-and-a-half hour climb is rewarded with glorious views which reach as far as the Hochschwab and into the Gesäuse National Park in good weather. On the other hand, in Göstling an der Ybbs you can climb from Hochmoor Leckermoos to the Ringkogel (1,688 m). One of our favourite mountains for ski tours in the Mostviertel is the Göller (1,766 m) in St. Aegyd as the breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks are simply unforgettable. An equally popular tour leads to the Muckenkogel (1,248 m) in Lilienfeld, which is well combined with a trip to the Lilienfelder Hütte. The Gemeindealpe Mitterbach offers ski tour-goers two well-signposted ascents of varying degrees of difficulty on the way to the peak (1.626 m). Before you descend via the ski region’s freeride area and pistes, stop off at the Terzerhaus with stunning views.
Courses for beginners and guided ski tours
Learn touring in small groups: Ski tour introductory days are ideal for learning about the popular wintersport. How do you put on ski skins properly? What position do you need to be in? What are good / bad skiing conditions? What is the avalanche risk like on a tour? These questions and more are answered in the ski tour introductory days in Lower Austria.
Ski tour beginners are also accompanied by mountain or ski guides for example from the alpine associations. The Schneeberg is alpine terrain. At the beginning it is therefore recommended that you book professional ski guides from the Peter Groß ski and mountaineering school in Puchberg. The school offers guided ski tours as well as starter courses, free ride adventures and ice climbing courses. The experts from the Haginger ski school in Mitterbach as well as from the Nordic Sports Academy in St. Aegyd am Neuwalde are also able to accompany ski tour beginners.
On the slopes observe the piste rules
Attention all ski tour-goers! Those who want to put their ski skins on even if there is little natural snow can ski as much as they like in the Vienna Alps and around mount Ötscher. Ascent and descent on the pistes is permitted at certain times and in certain conditions. The ski areas ensure pistes are well-prepared and parking and toilets are also provided. Partly signposted trails and ascent paths also mean piste goers can practice their favourite sport enjoyably as well as safely. Particularly spectacular for ski mountaineers: the ski tour evenings in mooonlight: in Annaberg, on the Gemeindealpe Mitterbach, in Mönichkirchen-Mariensee and Lackenhof am Ötscher.
Please observe the “Rules for anyone on the ski pistes”. For ski lifts and pistes currently open please see also the websites of the individual ski areas. Information on the latest snow depths in Lower Austria available here.
Respect the flora and fauna
Healthy forests and intact ecosystems are indispensable habitats and recreation spaces for people, animals, and plants. They make a considerable contribution to our quality of life. Being respectful of flora and fauna is therefore of paramount importance. For this reason, the Austrian Federal Forest Authority, the Austrian Alpine Association and the Austrian National Tourist Board have set out the following rules that should be followed by anyone on a ski tour to protect the flora and fauna.
- Wild animals reduce their energy uptake in winter, use only the bare minimum and require quiet areas to which they can withdraw. Do not disturb them by staying on marked paths and trails and avoid making unnecessary noise so that they are not needlessly frightened.
- Forests that protect us from avalanches, snow masses, mud flows and other natural hazards should be protected and not entered.
- Reforestation and areas of new growth are particularly sensitive and require protection. In particular, small plants can be easily overseen under a blanket of snow. The sharp edges of skis can also damage the young forest and harm young plants.