Skiing in Sölden, Austria
The ski resort Sölden is located in the Ötztal (Austria, Tyrol). For skiing and snowboarding, there are 144.2 km of slopes and 1.9 km of ski routes available. 33 lifts transport the guests. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 1,350 and 3,340 m.
The Sölden ski resort offers skiing enjoyment up to 3,340 m from October until May on its Rettenbachfern and Tiefenbachfern glacier ski areas – snow reliability included. The excellent location of this winter sports resort enables the traditional kick-off of the Alpine World Cup at the end of October. The “BIG 3” three thousand meter peaks of Gaislachkogl (3,058 m), Tiefenbachkogl (3,250 m) and Schwarze Schneide (3,340 m) are accessed with modern cable car lifts and offer a breath-taking panorama of the ski resort and the Ötztal Alps thanks to the Panoramasteg (panorama bridge) and the viewing platform. Seemingly endless slopes of all difficulty levels, a gastronomic offering that leaves no wish unanswered and numerous events throughout the winter make the Sölden ski resort a unique and complete holiday destination.
The population of 3,449 (as of 2003) is outnumbered by tourists, of which 15,000 can be accommodated. With tourist bed nights running at over two million per year, the municipality is third only to Vienna and Salzburg as an Austrian tourist destination. Sölden has lost some of its former small village charm, but other attractions have been enhanced in recent years.
The main village of Sölden is at an elevation of 1,368 metres above sea level, and the upper village of Hochsölden at 2,090 m has 5 four-star hotels. The highest peak is the Wildspitze, at 3,768 m, the second highest mountain in Austria, after the Großglockner.
The Ötztal Glacier Road is the second highest paved road in Europe. It is the access road from Sölden to the Rettenbach glacier and Tiefenbachferner glaciers in the Ötztal Alps.
I visited Sölden at the end of March and the skiing conditions at the top were like mid winter. In the valley though the spring was in full swing.
ice Q restaurant at 3048 m – from James Bond “SPECTRE)
Rettenbach glacier
Tiefenbach glacier and Wildspitze (3,768 m) in the back
Rettenbach glacier
Wildspitze (3,768 m)
Obergurgl area
Obergurgl area
Obergurgl area
Hochgurl