Kappl

Kappl in the Tirol of Austria offers humble, fun, big mountain skiing just 15 minutes down the road from the big ski destination of Ischgl and 5 minutes from another moderate sized ski area – See, all part of The Paznaun region. Kappl is great for families and it’s a nice break from the busy mega resort of Ischgl. It is also a Freeriding meca with hundreds of acres of easily accessible freeride terrain.

Kappl is located in a tiny Austrian village. The Diasbahn gondola departs right from the main road, with a free parking lot across a wooden bridge spanning the Trisanna River.

From Kappl’s base at 1258 Meters (4,128′), you see just one ski trail descending between ski chalets and homes on the hillside. Riding up Kappl’s gondola, a long 655 meters (2,200’ vertical) to the ski area hub at mid mountain, you find there’s more to the skiing. A 70’s style glass Sunny Mountain Lodge, a chalet hotel, ski school and children’s snow park comprise the modest mid-mountain area, and a quad chair rises up the ski slopes.

Kappl is called the “Sunny Mountain” for its southern exposure.  With a high summit elevation of 2,720 meters, almost 9,000’, Kappl is typically assured good snow despite its south facing aspects. Kappl offers extensive snowmaking and meticulous grooming – open December into April. Elevation is key in the Alps where the sun is strong, so the higher up – the more snow accumulates, the colder it stays, the better the skiing (and views).

Kappl offers 10 lifts and about 19 ski runs – numbered #1-19 , which are marked with trail sign discs on the side of the slopes. We skied Kappl twice now, both snowy or overcast days (even though its trademarked the Sunny Mountain) and found it challenging to see the small infrequent red, black and blue trail markers on the upper mountain above tree-line with little definition between the groomed pistes and off piste. But when the sun shines on Kappl – we can only imagine the views of the Paznaun valley would be lovely.

Kappl’s mostly modern lifts include the base to mid-mountain gondola, two mid to upper mountain bubble covered quads, a double chair, two T-bars, and magic carpets in the learn to ski area.

Kappl is ideal for families – with a very animated “fun in the sun” mountain with kid-friendly pistes, and a small but enthusiastic ski school. Also the staff at Kappl is friendly and caring for families and English speaking. Kappl is popular with the Dutch, in fact.

Kappl offers a pleasant mix of blue, red and black (most difficult) ski trails, something for everyone in the ski family.

On a powder day, Kappl offers easy-to-reach freeriding, off-piste accessed by traversing beyond the upper mountain lifts, between prepared ski pistes. However some of these bowls and chutes are quite steep, slopes that are prone to slides and avalanche. Beware, be prepared with avalanche  gear, and hire a guide from ski school to explore these unprepared powder runs safely, beyond the marked ski routes. A Freeriding event was taking place during our most recent visit and competitors were finding clever lines all over the mountain.

For on mountain chalet lunch, ski into the charming authentic Restaurant Almstuberl (in the middle of the upper mountain – Trails 5 and 10) for a lovey lunch! The Mayrhofer family makes their own Paznaun cheese here in summer, and Proprietor Heiki, in lederhosen, may be your friendly server. Their cheese dumpling in beef broth soup is delicious. The Tirol Grösti – a local dish of sautéed potatoes smothered with bacon, cheese and an egg – is a perfect skier lunch too. Sit outside in the umbrella bar or inside the cozy chalet and feast on their homemade dishes and soups, while enjoying the panorama of Alps. The Gluwein at Almstuberl is served in a modest mug piping hot and spiced just right. On sunny days, which Kappl is noted for, the panorama here would surely be impressive.

Tiroler Hutt, Bock Alm and Huisler Alm looked authentic too. The Sunny Mountain Lodge is more post-modern and cafeteria style.

The ski descent to Kappl village at the end of the day on Run 4 is fun with banked turns and switch backs as you ski down passing cheese huts and farms from the high alpine. If you ski from Kappl’s summit, it is and impressive 1505 M (4,940′) vertical! Kappl also has a 6-kilometer rodel (toboggan) run from mid station to the base, open for day sledding plus evening tobogganing certain nights.

For après ski at Kappl, The Schafstal (sheep stall) near the base of the descent of Trail 4 has a prime location, near the base and parking lot. Look for the big sheep on the roof of this modest hut with a wooden deck overlooking the ski trail.

For Lodging in Kappl, you can stay in the quiet town of Kappl, just up the road from the gondola base. You’ll find reasonable hotel lodging in Kappl, plus a ski shop, bakery, cafe, pizzeria and market. A free bus takes you to the ski lifts, or to nearby Ischgl or See ski areas.

Kappl makes for a fun ski day on your travel through the Paznaun region, with affordable lift passes like neighboring See and Galtür ski areas, less skiers than bigger busier Ischgl nearby, and a friendly vibe.

Kappl is in Tyrol Austria, also near the Arlberg ski region to its north and Switzerland’s Lenzerheide, Davos and St Moritz to its south.

Kappl Ski Lodging Deals and Specials

Kappl Ski Area Stats:
Base Elevation: 1258-meters (4,127′)
Summit Elevation: 2720-meters (8,923′)
Vertical: 1505-meters (4,940′)
Lifts: 10
Kilometers of ski pistes: 42
Ski school, Kindergarten, Kids snow adventure park with magic carpets and merry-go-round
Snow Park – terrain park
Free Riding Off Piste and Ski Touring
6 kilometers of Tobogganing (sledding)
SkiDoos for kids certain evenings, Night lighted tobogganing