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Arlberg Region: Stuben l St Anton l Lech Zurs l Sonnenkopf
Tiroler Oberland: Ischgl's Paznaun Valley l Serfaus Fiss Ladis l Nauders l Kaunertal Glacier
Pitztal Valley: Hochzeiger l Rifflsee/Pitztal Glacier
Otztal Region: Obergurgl Hochgurgl l Solden l Hochoetz l Vent
Innsbruck Region: Innsbruck l Axamer Lizum l Kühtai l Nordkette l Stubaier Glacier
Zillertal Valley: Spieljoch l Hochzillertal-Hochfugen l Zillertal Arena l Mountopolis l Hintertux Glacier
Kitzbuhel and Central Austria: Kitzbuhel l SkiWelt l Ski Juwel l Wildkogel
East Tirol: Grossglockner Kals-Matrei l St Jakob l Lienz Zettersfeld l Obertilliach l Sillian
Salzburgerland Region: Dachstein West l Grosseck Speiereck l Hochkönig l Kitzsteinhorn l Krippenstein l Loser l Obertauern l Rauris l Saalbach l Skigastein l Schladming-Dachstein l Snow Space Salzburg l Tauplitz l Zauchensee l Zell am See

Raurisertal Ski Resort – Austria

Rauriser Hochalmbahnen Trail Ski Map – Click on Map to Enlarge in new browser

This ski resort Rauriser, aka Rauriser Hochalmbahnen, that few have heard of, is a gem of big mountain skiing in a quiet valley. Since 1972, this humble happy ski area is more visited by locals than folks on ski holiday who go to nearby Zell am See and Saalbach Ski Circus.

First, Rauris has a great little beginner area at the base of Hochalm, where the modern Carpe Solem Hotel – Alp Resorts is located, next to free parking, two ski shops and ski schools – that’s it! Take the Hochalm gondola up and you’re skiing intermediate and advanced terrain with tons of off-piste bowls off the T-Bar, and to skiers right of the Gondola.

Rauris’ other base is the Kruezenboden, where you’ll find an old double chairlift here, no base lodge or facilities. The double chair slowly climbs where you connect to a beautiful 2017 Doppelmayr gondola brining you up to 1800-meters and giving you over 1000-meters (3,000′) of vertical fun! These 2 lifts on the right side of the ski area looking up bring you up to Wald Alm Peak.

From Rauris’ Wild Alm summit, there’s a great long groomed piste. Plus there is lots of easy-to-reach off-piste bowls and glades for free-riding. We suggest you hire a guide to safely and successfully explore this vast terrain. Jochen Wieser is a Bergfuhrer, a certified mountain guide, with Ski School Hohe Tauern. We had a great day exploring with Jochen, even with mediocre snow, he found fun stashes of snow days after snowfall.

For chalet lunch at Rauris, there’s a beautiful hut just a few hundred feet below the Wald Alm summit, called Wald Alm Hutte that serves delicious cuisine in a very chic but rustic chalet. Try the Kass Knock – cheesy pasta with crispy fried onions served with a fresh side salad. We’re always impressed by the beautiful fresh greens that travel by snowcat and ski lifts to these on-mountain chalets. Other huts to choose from include Baron’s Hochalm (1780m), Baron’s Heimalm (1400m) and Kreuzboden hut (1300m).

Staying and skiing in Rauris is much more affordable than lodging in Zell am See, or the big ski resort of Saalbach for example. The Carpe Solem is a modern apartment hotel lodge, part of ALPS Resorts, at the base of HochAlm gondola – perfectly ski in ski out. From here, it’s an easy drive, or free ski bus ride, to several other ski areas in nearby valleys – like Zell am See, Ski Gastein, Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and more. We stayed in Zell am See when skiing Rauris, at Alpin Sport Hotel, a short drive (or free shuttle bus to Rauris), where the village on Lake Zell has great dining, après ski and nightlife in a charming alpine setting.

Don’t overlook Rauris on your ski safari in the Salzburg Alps, its less busy, and with bountiful snowfall, you could be finding freshies all day. Rauris is on the Super Ski Card, with over 80 other Austrian ski resorts! Rauris is also on the Indy Pass with 230 other independent ski resorts.

Rauriser Hochalmbahnen Ski Stats:
Elevation: 950 m – 2175 m, 7,135′
Vertical: 1225 m, 4,019′
Lifts: 10
Trails: 32.5 km of prepared pistes

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