Worldwide Ski Resorts • Austria • Bad Gastein
Overview
The Gastein ski area, one of Austria’s largest, is separated in to four areas, served by four resorts and several small additional lift base areas. The ski area is centred on Bad Gastein, the biggest settlement in the valley.
Profile
The Gastein ski area, one of Austria’s largest, is separated in to four areas, served by four resorts and several small additional lift base areas. The ski area is centred on Bad Gastein, the biggest settlement in the valley. The largest of the ski areas begins on the Stubnerkogel mountain above Bad Gastein and is more-or-less lift-linked, via the small Angertal Ski centre, to the skiing on the Schlossalm above Bad Hofgastein. A second lower area, reached by train or bus down the valley, links Grossarl (in the next valley) to Dorfgastein at the bottom of the Gastein Valley, over the Kreuzkogel Mountain (2027m). The third and highest ski area is the small sector above Sport Gastein which has a base at 1600 metres and a snow-sure top lift at 2685m on the Kreuzkogel mountain. The off-piste powder trails down from here are particularly highly regarded. Bad Gastein has a second ski area of its own, on the Graukogel from which the Kamikaze descent is a popular run for good local skiers. The Gastein Super Skischein (Super Ski Pass) covers all of the resorts in the Gastein Valley and the trains and bus services linking the various ski areas between 8am and 6pm so long as you use these when skiing or snowboarding. Bad Gastein is one of the first resorts to offer the Power Pass, an electronic ski credit, which is charged with a certain value, which is debited automatically each time a lift is used. The Power Pass can be used in different ski areas including all of the Gastein Valley and on far flung attractions such as the famous big wheel in Vienna.
Mountain Information
An extensive network of uphill equipment, with a chairlift link between Badgastein and Hofgastein. You can expect a fast, reliable service to the upper slopes with very littl time wasted. The two stage gondola taking you to the Kreuzkogel summet, above Sportgastein, gives swift access to much off piste opportunity.
Cruising heaven for intermediates and the more faint-hearted (older) advanced skiers amoungst us. 250km of piste provide a vast majority of red runs both on the upper slopes and the lower tree lined runs. Not a whole lot of very challenging pistes, but enough to keep the average advanced skier happy for a week or two. Beginners have plenty to choose from with a variety of uphill transport to test their nerve.
Apres Ski
After dark you can swim in thermal waters of some hotels or in the community pool, where saunas are always nude and sometimes mixed. Other options are visiting a fine folk museum, congress centre, casino, or browse around the many shops. There are many good bars and restaurants too.
Austrian Resort Guide
Resort Information • Bad Gastein
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Resort Height | 1080m |
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Top Station | 2230m |
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Bottom Station | 1080m |
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Vertical Descent | 1050m |
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Drag Lifts | 7 |
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Chair Lifts | 4 |
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High Capacity | 4 |
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Opening Dates | Dec- May |
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Rating Expert | 6 |
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Rating Intermediate | 7 |
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Rating Beginner | 6 |
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Apres Ski Rating | 6 |
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Snow Reliability | 6 |
