Damüls Mellau Faschina Ski Resort

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Damüls Mellau ski resort Austria - living up to expectations!
Damüls Mellau ski resort Austria - living up to expectations!
Damuels Mellau is a family friendly ski resort & a powder magnet to boot
Damuels Mellau is a family friendly ski resort & a powder magnet to boot
Damülser Mittagsspitze (2095m) dominates the skyline when its not snowing!
Damülser Mittagsspitze (2095m) dominates the skyline when its not snowing!
Ski powder at Damüls Mellau ski resort Austria
Ski powder at Damüls Mellau ski resort Austria
Damüls village & the Sankt Nikolaus church
Damüls village & the Sankt Nikolaus church
The gondola access from Mellau is excellent
The gondola access from Mellau is excellent
Winners are grinners at Damuels Mellau
Winners are grinners at Damuels Mellau
Uga chairlift base area at Damüls
Uga chairlift base area at Damüls
Damüls has a variety of on-mountain ski-in ski-out accommodations
Damüls has a variety of on-mountain ski-in ski-out accommodations
Damüls & Mellau have excellent mountain restaurants
Damüls & Mellau have excellent mountain restaurants
Ski facilities for children & novices at Mellau
Ski facilities for children & novices at Mellau
Damüls Mellau ski resort Vorarlberg Austria
Damüls Mellau ski resort Vorarlberg Austria
Skiing down to St Nikolaus church in Damüls
Skiing down to St Nikolaus church in Damüls
The connection between Damüls & Mellau is prone to wind closure.
The connection between Damüls & Mellau is prone to wind closure.
Deserted slopes during the storm at Damuels
Deserted slopes during the storm at Damuels
Nice freeride turns as the powder builds on Ski Route 1 at Damüls
Nice freeride turns as the powder builds on Ski Route 1 at Damüls
Mellau has a modern, functional base area with parking next door
Mellau has a modern, functional base area with parking next door
The hand rail on the walking path indicates the depth of snow in Damüls in early January
The hand rail on the walking path indicates the depth of snow in Damüls in early January
Damuels Mellau skiing - fresh powder lines under chairlifts & no one else in sight, always a good sign!
Damuels Mellau skiing - fresh powder lines under chairlifts & no one else in sight, always a good sign!
Ski Damuels Mellau Austria
Ski Damuels Mellau Austria

Damüls Mellau Faschina Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Damuels Mellau

Damuels Mellau4/54
Damuels Mellau4 out of 5 based on 4 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%
Backcountry Books Ski & Snowboard Guide Books & Maps
Wagner Custome Skis

Nearby Ski Resorts

Diedamskopf
Lech
Silvretta Montafon
Warth Schroecken

Damuels Maps & Stats

     Damuels-Mellau Ski Trail Map
  • Damuels-Mellau Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    710m - 2,050m (1,340m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    9m+
  • Lifts (27)
    1 Cable car
    16 Chairlifts
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Dec to early April
    8:30am to 4:30pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 109km (incl. ski routes)
    Longest run - 8km
    Advanced - 29%
    Intermediate - 42%
    Beginner - 29%
  • Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 23/24
    Adult - €66
    Child - €38
    Child u/6yr - €6
    Faschina & Sonntag +€1

    > 2½ days + 3TÄLERPASS

Damuels Mellau Ski Resort Austria

Damüls in Vorarlberg, Austria is alleged to be one of the world's snowiest villages, so how good must the skiing be? We found Damuels Mellau ski resort to be sensational during a crowd-free, super deep mid-winter visit.

Whilst not the highest, steepest, or largest ski resort in the world, Damuels Mellau gets a Powderhounds tick of approval because of its lack of crowds, deep snow during a storm & great value.

Pros & Cons for Damüls Mellau Ski Resort

Pros

  • Located in the snowiest part of Austria (& Europe!).
  • Ultra-modern & efficient lift system.
  • No lift lines during the week.
  • Wide range of piste trails for all levels on perfectly groomed slopes.
  • Interesting variety of freeride terrain & ski routes including tree skiing.
  • Long valley trail into Mellau.
  • Loads of ski-in ski-out accommodation at Damüls.
  • Numerous superb mountain restaurants – many with accommodation.
  • Easy public transport access by train & bus plus ample free car parking for day trippers right near the lifts.

Cons

  • Short skiable vertical off most lifts (300 to 500m with some notable exemptions).
  • The gondola link between Damuels & Mellau is vulnerable to closure in high winds.
  • Some long, flat trails may create issues for snowboarder, particularly in Mellau.
  • A relatively low elevation ski resort (particularly the Mellau sector) which may suffer in ‘warmer’ winter despite its high annual snowfall.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

  • Villages are generally quiet after hours (don’t expect too many boisterous après ski sessions anywhere).
  • Accommodation can be relatively difficult to get in Damuels but is easier lower down in the valleys.

Skiing & Snowboarding Terrain

Damuels ski resort is interlinked with neighbouring Mellau & Faschina to create a sizeable skiing area with 27 lifts & 109km of piste trails. A near even split in terrain provides a perfectly balanced ski resort for all abilities on an average snowfall of 9m+.

Check out the ski trail map for Damuels Mellau below.

Damuels Mellau Ski Trail Map
Damuels Mellau Ski Trail Map

For families & novice skiers & snowboarders, Mellau provides the best lifts & terrain. A learn-to-ski area in the valley at Mellau & progression terrain plus great lifts & facilities from the top of the gondola make it perfect for those new to sliding on snow. Aside from some steeper pitches off the upper Suttis chair, the terrain on this side of the ski area is mellow. The 8km long, 1000m vertical descent into the valley is a great way to tire the tribe!

Intermediates & above will be better served being closer to Damuels. The higher elevation base, some steepish terrain plus wider diversity of runs & ski routes makes it the ‘go to’ end of the resort - particularly around the Sunnegg chair. Whilst it is possible to get to Damuels from Mellau reasonable swiftly via two modern gondolas, the upper Gipfelbahn can close in high winds leaving one stranded looking longingly toward Damuls!

Lift Passes

A standard day lift pass is great value & covers the combined Damuels Mellau ski area, but an extra €1 is required to ski the nearby (& intriguing) Faschina zone. All lift passes from 2½ days duration & over are classed as a 3-Täler Pass (3-Valley - wonder what the French think of that!). The 3 Taeler Pass is valid in over 40 regional ski resorts including the nearby Powderhounds gem of Diedamskopf & the Ski Arlberg's highly rated Warth-Schroecken.

Snow & Weather

Vorarlberg state is the snowiest overall in Austria (& possibly Europe). Damüls village is the epicentre, averaging around 10m/year, providing more than enough reason to visit. Just for contrast, he lower end of the resort, Mellau village (710m above sea level), is reliant on snowmaking for much of the season. Thankfully, the majority of the ski terrain is over 1400m elevation, providing snow surety.

Where is Damüls Mellau Austria?

The Damuels-Mellau ski resort is in the federal state of Vorarlberg, western Austria. The resort bases of Damüls & Mellau are separated by 7km as the crow flies or 19km by road. The nearest major cities & transport hubs are Bregenz (34-53km north by road) & Bludenz (30-49km south by road). Closest airports are Zurich & Innsbruck (both 2hr+ away) or Munich (3hr+ by road).

Mellau is accessible by bus from Dornbirn or Bregenz railway stations via Bezau. The bus from Dornbirn is a straightforward trip from its major railway station, providing convenience from either Zurich or Innsbruck.

Search & book train tickets to Dornbirn here. Purchase bus tickets to Mellau, Au or Damuels from the bus driver.

For some however, the easiest travel option is probably direct private transfer from an airport, major city or railway station. Search & book here all private transfers to the region.

If coming by car for a day trip, the easiest access is to park at the Mellau gondola base. For the best powder ski access, drive to Damuels & head to the day car park beyond the main Uga base, near the Sunnegg chair. The modern hooded Sunnegg chairlift provides immediate access to the best terrain in Damüls

Damüls-Mellau Accommodation

The villages of Damüls & Mellau represent vastly different ends of the spectrum when it comes to location & surroundings. Damuls is perched on the side of the mountains at 1431m, whereas Mellau is down in the valley at only 710m elevation. Both villages are lift & piste connected to the ski resort, so where you stay is largely dictated by availability.

Damüls has the distinction of the snowiest village in Europe which may or may not appeal to visitors! The village is two parts with both having a range ski-in ski-out accommodation. The original village is set below the distinctive Sankt Nikolaus church. The Oberdamüls chairlift is a short walk of or bus ride up the hill from most lodgings. Less than a kilometre away, the main day visitor ski resort centre is near the Uga chairlift base. An array of ski-in ski-out pensions, hotels & apartments are in the area, all with perfect access to the slopes.

Search & book all Damuels accommodation.

The village of Mellau doesn’t have the number of ski-in accommodations as Damuls, but it still has a quality number of hotels, apartments & guesthouses within 500m of the lift base & valley trail.

Search & book all Mellau accommodation.

This part Austria has a wonderful range of local traditional villages offering alternative locations to stay. The village of Au in Bregenzerwald is in a pivotal location on the road between the villages of Damuels & Mellau. Try a hotel like the central Alpenhotel Post (opposite the main bus stop) or an apartment in a local family’s house (often referred to as a 'ferienwohnungen').

Further away but still convenient by bus (the Powderhounds did the journey with no problems!) is the delightful village of Schoppernau at the base of Diedamskopf ski resort. Schoppernau has a wider selection of services than Au (or Damuels for that matter!). Schoppernau is also central to both Damuels Mellau AND Warth Schroecken ski areas.

If staying in a vibrant city is preferable to being on the ski hill, Damüls -Mellau can be skied as a day trip by car from either Bregenz (to the east of the resort on the Bodensee lakeshore) or Bludenz. Bludenz can be used as a base for a huge number of ski resorts in the iconic Silvretta mountains. Surprisingly, staying in the cities can often be more expensive than village accommodation near the ski resort.

Ski & Snowboard Rental

Our local partners have 2 ski & snowboard rental locations near the ski lifts at both of the main Damuels lift base areas. Receive a discount when you use Powderhounds to search & book skiing & snowboarding gear at Damüls.

Review

The Powderhounds reviewed Damuels Mellau in 2019. We found it lived up to its reputation for fun, deep snow. Click on the review link to see more of our photos & insights.

See how Damuls Mellau Faschina compares to the rest of the Austrian ski resorts on the Austria ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.

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Ski Tours in or near Damüls Mellau Faschina
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