Bad Hofgastein

Bad Hofgastein is located in the Gastein Valley in Salzburgerland and makes a strong base for downhill skiing with serious vertical drop, without feeling like a big city on snow. The skiing you access from here is mainly the Schlossalm, Angertal, and Stubnerkogel area, which is shared with Bad Gastein. In total, that’s 51.4 miles of slopes, 17 lifts, and elevations from 2,822 to 7,546 feet.

The terrain is best suited for those who like long runs and lots of vertical feet. Much of it is intermediate and offers great flow for carving, but there are also steeper sections and ski routes for anyone looking for more natural skiing close to the resort system, even if it isn’t a dedicated freeride destination.

A classic is to link together large parts of the area and spend a full day skiing between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein, with several runs in a row and a lot of continuous vertical.

If you want a clear bonus for the views, there’s the suspension bridge on Stubnerkogel—459 feet long and set at roughly 7,546 feet. It’s one of those stops you actually remember afterward, even if you mostly came here for the skiing.