Diedamskopf Ski Resort Austria

Diedamskopf ski resort is a sneaky powder stash above the village of Schoppernau in snowy Vorarlberg, Austria. Wedged between Damüls & Warth Schröcken ski resorts, Diedamskopf provides plenty of powder on its 1,220m skiable vertical.

Diedamskopf is not just about powder skiing. It provides a quintessential Austrian 'small' ski resort experience in a delightful rural village. Vorarlberg has all the skiing & snowboarding that one could wish for, but if looking for something different, Schoppernau provides a relaxing snow holiday location without all the hustle & bustle of larger ski resorts & towns.

We have placed Diedamskopf on the Powderhounds 'SSSL’ (Super Secret Stash List). So, let everyone know! When it dumps, forget Ski Arlberg, head to Schoppernau for a taste of Austrian powder skiing the way it should be.

Pros & Cons for Diedamskopf Ski Resort

Pros

• All-natural snow with a high average winter snowfall.
• Efficient lift system that runs during storms when other nearby resorts shut down!
• No lift lines & little competition for powder.
• Long skiable vertical of 1,220m that can be ridden from top to bottom on a combination of trails 10km long.
• Good range of piste trails for all levels.
• Super fun variety of freeride terrain.
• Excellent value lift pass price.
• Family friendly - childcare for 3 to 8yr old children free of charge at the top of the gondola.
• Authentic Austrian village of Schoppernau at the ski area’s base provides all the sights, sounds & smells (we love the smell of bovines) that one could want on an Austrian ski holiday!

Cons

• Majority of terrain in the top 500m vertical of the mountain.
• Many upper mountain ‘beginner’ runs may be rated intermediate at other resorts.
• Some long, flat sections may create issues for snowboarders.
• Resort size is at the smaller end of the scale. It may not hold advanced riders’ interest for more than a few days if there is no fresh powder.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

• Quiet, authentic village with great restaurants & bars but limited nightlife.
• Base area at a relatively low elevation of 820m.
• Ski-in ski-out accommodation is limited but who cares - Schoppernau is a great place to stay & everything is within walking distance or free local bus.
• Public transport can be utilised to get to the resort but may be long & challenging for the uninitiated.
• In good snow conditions, you may not want to leave ……….. ever!

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

For a 'small' Austrian ski resort, Diedamskopf feels like it skis BIG & while it any not have the expert or extreme terrain of nearby St Anton, neither does it have the crowds & competition for freshies on a powder day.

Check out the ski trail map for Diedamskopf below.

Diedamskopf Ski Trail Map

Ski terrain on the mountain is predominantly above 1,500m elevation, up to a relatively modest highest lifted point of 2,060m. On-piste terrain is largely low to high intermediate - despite what they may be rated! Some fun advanced piste & beautiful ski routes keep the upper echelons entertained. When there is powder, just enjoy. It is not too difficult to work out where the best snow is, but we had the best off-piste turns around the Breitenalpe chair & the sensational ski route 22. As with anywhere, be wary of just following someone else’s ski tracks - you may end up in the weeds or worse!

The ski lift system at Diedamskopf is quite simple. A 2-stage gondola, two chairlifts & numerous surface tows in the base area learn-to -ski area provide the uphill transport. Two additional surface tows in the upper mountain are largely redundant for all intents & purposes, with much of their terrain accessible by the chairlifts.

Snowboarders may be challenged by the flat sections on some linking trails & the long ski route 21, but otherwise it is knuckle-dragger friendly!

Snow & Weather

Diedamskopf's location provides one of its great strengths - high volumes of natural snow. The Vorarlberg is one of Europe's snowiest regions. Annual snowfalls in the surrounding mountains are up near the 10m mark, as good as it gets in most ski regions of the world. As a result, we only caught fleeting glimpses of the alleged stupendous views across the mountains from the summit!

During the Powderhounds visit in January 2019, it snowed heavily every day for a week. Associated avalanche dangers impacted some lift operations, but who doesn't love it when it pewks snow & you can ski waist deep pow? A fatality did occur in the off-piste during our visit - emphasising the need for anyone free-riding to be aware of the dangers & ski terrain appropriate to the local avalanche conditions. If in doubt get a guide.

It is not all bouquets for Diedamskopf though. The low relatively low base area can be 'climate challenged' at either end (& during) the season. Aside from the beginner ski area at the base, there is zero snowmaking in the resort. The all-natural snow provides supreme quality snow on the piste & is noticeably different to nearby resorts that use snow-making to form piste trail bases.

New visitors may be alarmed to see obvious signs of small ‘glide-creep’ avalanches around the ski resort base. These occur every season & are due to a combination of temperature change & lack of ground cohesion. The snowpack in these locations moves slowly down the hill & are only a concern for freeriders ignorant of the terrain. Simple observation from the car park will inform most!

Where is Diedamskopf Austria?

The Diedamskopf ski resort is in the state of Vorarlberg, Austria. The resort towers over the village of Schoppernau at its base. The nearest major cities & transport hubs are Bregenz (50km by road northwest) & Bludenz (42km by road south). Closest airports are Zurich (ZRH) & Innsbruck (INN) (both 2hr+ away) or Munich (MUC) (3hr+ by road).

Schoppernau is accessible by bus from Dornbirn or Bregenz railway stations. The bus from Dornbirn is a straightforward trip from its major railway station, providing convenience from either Zurich or Innsbruck. The alternative route from the east from Reutte-im-Tirol is a long (but interesting) journey up the Lechtal via Warth & Schröcken that is prone to road closure during heavy snow (case in point - the road in that direction between Schoppernau & Schröcken was closed for five days during the Powderhounds’ visit).

Search & book train tickets to Dornbirn. Purchase bus tickets to Schoppernau or Au 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 all private transfers to Schoppernau.

Once in Schoppernau, an excellent local bus system (free for anyone staying locally) connects all the dots in the valley! For day trippers with their own wheels, free parking is available right at the gondola lift base.

For hints, tips & warnings about getting to Austrian ski resorts in winter, see our Travel in Austria page.

Diedamskopf Accommodation

The village of Schoppernau is at the base of Diedamskopf & provides a wonderful range of hotel, guesthouse & apartment accommodation, many attached to the beautiful local farmhouses. Perfectly located accommodations include Haus Albrecht, Hotel Elisabeth & the ski-in Schrannenhof Guesthouse & Apartments. Near the centre of the town, Hotel Gasthof Adler & the excellent Hirschen Hotel are the 'go to' propositions.

Search & book all Diedamskopf accommodation in Schoppernau.

Anyone with their own transport or willing to catch the excellent local bus (free with a guest card) can stay in the nearby village of Au in Bregenzerwald. Au is in a pivotal location on the road between the villages of Schoppernau, Damüls & 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 afield the town of Mellau & ski resort villages including Damüls & Warth-Schroecken offer more accommodation diversity, but with added travel time penalties to Diedamskopf.

Mountain Restaurants & Bars

Four main restaurants & bars are dotted across Diedamskopf. Three are along the top to bottom gondola at the base, mid & summit. Staff at all three are friendly & attentive. The best eating experience is at the top station Panorama Restaurant, although it is self-service. It is also the place for an après ski session with a perfect combination of views & the choice of a long ski back down to the valley, or a safe return via the gondola. The Webelstube at the gondola mid station is the only full-service restaurant.

For us though the best eating & drinking were at the Käsker restaurant, buried into the mountainside in a converted barn under the Breitenalpe chairlift. On a snowy day it can be hard to see, but the search is worth it! Simple food in a great location.

Another excellent bar & cafe is slopeside near the base area opposite the novice ski lifts. The Schrannen-Hof is a wonderful venue for a few local drinks & treats in a traditional guesthouse atmosphere (& the only real ski-in ski-out accommodation!).

Village Restaurants & Bars

Away from the ski resort, the classy Franz Michl is a lovely wine bar in the centre of town. Further up the road are several restaurants & bars including the La Cucina della Nonna ( serving up perfect Italiano) & Tre Soli. For a more formal dining experience, we enjoyed the bar & restaurant at the 4-star Hirschen Hotel.

Ski Rentals Services & Facilities

The ski resort base has a ski shop with both retail & rental options, a restaurant, bar, ticket office plus nearby ski school & learn to ski area all within walking distance of the carpark & bus stop.

For families, childcare for 3-8yr olds is available free of charge at Didi's Kinder-Erlebnisland at the gondola top station. A special area for parents with children less than 3yr old is also available. No excuses people!

In town there are enough shops & services for a comfortable stay. A small food market (check opening times to avoid disappointment!), cheese factory with shop, banks & a major sports & outdoor store compliment the many hotels, guesthouses, bars & restaurants.

Review

The Powderhounds skied Diedamskopf a few years ago and found it to be awesome, with deep powder and no crowds the order the day! We should return soon. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read its inciteful & witty prose.

See how Diedamskopf 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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