Five Cross-Country Ski Areas in the Tyrol

Professional athletes come to the Tyrol to train for Nordic sports – after all the Nordic Ski World Championships were held in this part of Austria only last winter.

But casual cross-country skiers can also profit from this Nordic resort expertise and extensive trail networks.

Here are five cross-country ski areas in the Tyrol to think about it if you are considering a sporting break this winter:

Olympiaregion Seefeld

There are nearly 250 kilometres of cross-country tracks in the Olympiaregion Seefeld, seven of which are specially designed for cross-country sleds. Seefeld even has its own dog trail.

One of the most scenic cross-country trails on the Seefeld plateau leads to the Wildmoos area. The five-kilometre circuit with its three sharp climbs is particularly popular with serious cross-country skiers and should not be underestimated despite “only” having 145 metres of altitude difference. The quaint Wildmoosalm mountain inn is a great place to stop for refreshments.

Paznaun-Ischgl

The Paznaun-Ischgl region is perfectly suited for beginners as well as serious cross-country skiers, with a network of 75 kilometres of cross-country trails in Ischgl and Galtür.

The high altitude means that the cross-country trails are guaranteed snow from the beginning of December until well into spring and offer ideal conditions for cross-country skiers – after all, the network of cross-country trails in Galtür reaches an altitude of more than 2000 metres above sea level.

In the Galtür hamlet of Wirl, for example, the Silvretta – Bielerhöhe high-altitude cross-country trail leads to the impressive Silvretta reservoir at 2040 metres above sea level. The free use of the cross-country ski runs and the free ski bus in the entire valley round off the cross-country skiing options in the Paznaun.

East Tyrol

Those who travel to Tyrol for cross-country skiing should also head for the East Tyrol.

This is a cross-country skiing paradise with a network of more than 400 kilometres of cross-country trails. The Obertilliach cross-country skiing and biathlon centre is where the Grenzland cross-country trail runs over a total of 51 kilometres and 800 metres above sea level through the picturesque Lesach valley.

It connects the East Tyrolean villages of Kartitsch, Obertilliach and Untertilliach with a short detour to the neighbouring state of Carinthia.

Tannheim Valley

Located on the border to the Allgäu, the Tannheimer Tal offers Nordic winter sports enthusiasts a very special cross-country skiing experience.

Beginners in particular will find optimal conditions here: 98 of the 140 kilometres of cross-country trails are easy. In addition, the trails measure a difference in altitude of no more than 50 metres.

Advanced cross-country skiers will also get their money’s worth in the Tannheimer Tal: the ski trail is 31 kilometres long and even crosses the border into Germany.

Kitzbühel

Around 750 kilometres of cross-country trails of all levels of difficulty connect the numerous valleys and villages of the large Kitzbüheler Alps holiday region.

A very beautiful cross-country trail runs near Hochfilzen, the venue of the 2017 Biathlon World Championships. On the 12-kilometre-long, medium difficulty panoramic trail near Ortisei on Lake Pillersee, cross-country skiers can enjoy the view of hamlets, wide meadows and Lake Pillersee.