Obergurgl Hochgurgl Ski Resort Austria
Obergurgl Hochgurgl ski resort is a lusty beauty at the head of the snow laden Oetz valley (Ötztal) in the Tyrol of Austria. Recently re-branded as Gurgl (possibly to be less of a mouthful!), the high altitude & location of Obergurgl & Hochgurgl guarantee quality snow conditions during its 6-month long ski season. In fact, Gurgl often gets snow when other Austrian ski resorts do not, i.e. storms from the south & east.
To sweeten the deal, Gurgl has a super modern lift system, some lovely ski-in ski-out village accommodation, fun après ski & entertainment, plus any lift pass purchased of 3 or more days duration includes the downstream behemoth that is the Soelden ski resort, plus the Hochoetz-Kuehtai combination.
Pros & Cons for Gurgl Ski Resort
Pros
- High elevation base area in a high snowfall area.
- Ultra-modern & efficient lift system.
- Long 6-month season from November to April - one of the first non-glacier ski resorts to open in Europe every season.
- Wonderful number & range of piste trails for all levels.
- Interesting variety of off-piste & backcountry terrain.
- Typically Austrian enthusiastic après ski - particularly in the villages & upper mountain.
- Loads of ski-in ski-out accommodation in valley & mountain locations.
- Good value lift pass price when purchased online, linked with Sölden, Hochoetz & Kuhtai when greater than 3 days.
- Public transport access by bus from the Zurich-Innsbruck train line & ample free car parking for day trippers right near the lifts.
Cons
- Short interrupted fall line & some awfully long, flat traverses in Hochgurgl.
- Quite busy on weekends.
- Orientation of terrain [facing west (ish)!] means some winter storms can scour the slopes & the ski area gets sun-baked in Spring.
- Accommodation in the resort villages books out quickly.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Majority of terrain above the treeline.
- Two main village areas to choose, but neither with a true town centre.
- The sun takes a while to shine into the valley in the morning.
- Close to Sölden - a blessing & a curse!.
- Accommodation can be relatively expensive in the resort villages (cheaper & more availability down the valley).
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
The skiing & snowboarding terrain at Obergurgl Hochgurgl can be split along the lines of each separate ski resort area. Connected either by road from the valley or the long traversing Top Express gondola; Obergurgl is the better bet for advanced riders & Hochgurgl has a huge variety of easier family friendly slopes in good weather. All the resorts 112km of groomed piste trails are world class - a standard one comes to expect from a major Austrian ski resort. There are also a few kilometres of marked ski routes. During poor visibility, the below tree line slopes at Obergurgl around the Hohe Mut gondola mid-station provide some sheltered areas & several fun-slopes/terrain-parks to keep all & sundry amused. Sheltered learn-to-ski lifts & slopes are in Obergurgl village.
Check out the ski trail map for Gurgl below.
Freeride terrain is best in Obergurgl. The marked routes from Hohe Mut are rocky & often wind scoured, but there are ample alternative options with a little reconnaissance. The lower slopes amongst the trees leading into the village are particularly enjoyable. In Hochgurgl the new(ish) second stage of the Kirchenkarbahn gondola opens-up some short, avalanche-prone, chutes but is otherwise a question use of time & money. We do wonder why it was built.
Backcountry enthusiasts will enjoy the vast area between the resorts in the Konigstal & Ferwalltal valleys. The upper reaches of the Konigstal are accessible via the Hochgurgl ski lifts, leading to full top to bottom descents all the way into the valley. The backside of Hohe Mut is fun too, with an easy exit to the wonderful Schönwieshütte.
Lift Passes
Day tickets at Gurgl during Top Season (i.e. peak season) are amongst the most expensive in Austria when purchased on the day from a ticket window. If purchased online at least 5 days prior to use, a standard day lift pass can be up to €10 to €14 cheaper - a huge saving! Ticket pricing is split into 3 season periods - Top, Main & Off-peak. 'Top' season is the Christmas/New Year period and all of February. 'Main' season is the two weeks before Christmas, most of January and the period march to mid-April. Off-peak season is from opening to the end of the first week in December, and then from after mid-April to closing.
Good to know also is that lift passes of 3-days or greater duration are also valid in the nearby ski resorts of Soelden, Hochoetz-Kühtai & Vent.
Where is Gurgl Austria?
At the end of the Ötztal (Oetz valley) hard up on the Italian frontier, the Gurgl ski resort rises above the village of Obergurgl. The road over the mountains to Italy is closed in winter so access is via Oetz 45km to the north. Innsbruck is a 1½hr drive northeast of Obergurgl & Hochgurgl. (Munich MUC) is the closest major international airport (250km, 3½hr) & Zurich (ZRH) is an alternative. The excellent airport at Innsbruck (INN) is perfect for Flights origins from within Europe & UK.
Search & book all airport transfers to Obergurgl & Hochgurgl.
Obergurgl Hochgurgl can be reached by combination train & bus transport or direct shuttle. Closest train station is at Ötztal Bahnhof; 7 kilometres north of the village of Oetz. The local route 320 bus makes at least 35 daily trips between Ötztal Bahnhof & Obergurgl. Journey time is around 1½hr. Get train tickets by clicking below, buy bus tickets from the driver.
Search & book train tickets to Ötztal Bahnhof.
Once in the resort, you can use the ski lifts & valley trails to get around or the regular local bus services that travel all the way from Obergurgl to the end of the valley past Oetz.
Gurgl Accommodation
The ski resort's main village is Obergurgl at an elevation of 1,930m. It has a fabulous selection of hotels, pensions & apartments; most either 'ski-in' or quite close to a ski lift. The liveliest location is at the southern end of the village near the base of the Hohe Mut gondola & Rosskarbahn chairlift. Try any of the hotels & pensions in the vicinity.
Higher up in the resort, Hochgurgl has several ski-in ski-out mountain hotels perched at 2,150m. All get a good dose of sunshine & have incredible views up & down the valley. Access to the ski lifts is superb but it can a challenging place to stay & ski in poor weather. Along the road in the valley below Hochgurgl, the locality of Pill has numerous smaller hotels & guesthouses providing great value lodgings. Further down the valley to ward Soelden, the village of Zwieselstein provides a quiet alternative with excellent bus access to either Obergurgl Hochgurgl or Sölden.
Search & book all Obergurgl Hochgurgl ski accommodation.
Sölden could be used as a base to ski Obergurgl Hochgurgl, but its village has a completely different character which may or may not appeal due to some tawdry strip clubs & rowdy bars.
Accommodation decreases in price (but not quality) the further down the Oetztal one rests their head. Regular bus services link the resorts & villages along the valley but having one's own car is beneficial when travelling up & down the valley from further away.
The village of Oetz is a great location (we often stay here and use it as a base to explore the region); as is Lägenfeld with its proximity to the amazing Aqua Dome Hotel.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Austria Gurgl" subcategory="Gurgl Packages"]
Ski Equipment Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Ski & snowboard rentals from our partners are available throughout the Gurgl villages & lift bases. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Obergurgl-Hochgurgl Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
On or off-piste ski lessons & mountain guiding can make all the difference to a stay at Gurgl. For more info & options, compare, search & book via our Gurgl Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed Obergurgl Hochgurgl in 2019 & 2024. On both occasions we found it to be excellent; with something for everyone minus the extreme. It is one of the most snow-sure, non-glacier ski resorts in Europe. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Gurgl (Obergurgl-Hochgurgl) 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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