silvretta montafon ski area
The Silvretta Montafon is probably one of the most-underrated ski areas in the west of Austria. Just off the main road through the province of Vorarlberg, the skiing includes 35 lifts and 140 kilometres of marked trails.
Even some early publicity from the likes of Ernest Hemingway failed to give the ski resorts in the region a substantial boost and they are little-known outside Austria, despite the amount and variety of skiing on offer and the easy travel connections via road and public transport.
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Last updated: 12.08.24
quick silvretta montafon facts
The Silvretta Montafon ski area is located in the southern part of Vorarlberg, the most western of the Austrian provinces, near the town of Bludenz.
The villages at the base of the ski area are located at between 700 and 1000 metres above sea level, while the highest point in the ski area is 2430 metres.
The skiing in Silvretta Montafon is planned to open on 29 November 2024.
The skiing in Silvretta Montafon is planned to close on 20 April 2025.
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Location: 6780 Schruns - Vorarlberg - Austria
The Silvretta Montafon ski resort was actually created in 2008 with the fusion of the Hochjoch ski area above Schruns and the Silvretta Nova ski area above the villages of Gaschurn and St Gallenkirch.
The town of Schruns is the most accessible from the fast dual carriageway running east from Bludenz up to the Arlberg Pass and the border with the neighbouring province of Tyrol. It features in the works of Ernest Hemingway from the time he spent writing (and skiing) there in the 1920s.
The major regional town of Bludenz is only a few kilometres from Schruns and provides access to the main Austrian rail network.
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information about Travel to Silvretta Montafon
There are various points of access to the skiing in Silvretta Montafon and all of them have accommodation options at the base of the lifts.
Schruns is the largest town with a wide choice of hotels and guesthouses, while the smaller hamlets of St Gallenkirch and Gaschurn provide quieter options for a winter break.
Details of accommodation in the Silvretta Montafon villages in the connected ski area can be found on this page:
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information about Silvretta Montafon hotels & other accommodation
The skiing in the Silvretta Montafon region is unexpectedly extensive. While it is clearly not as big as places like the Arlberg ski area just over the mountains in the Tyrol, the connections between what were once two separate ski operations now puts it firmly in the top 20 in terms of Austrian ski regions by size and it is the second largest ski area in the Vorarlberg..
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information about the Silvretta Montafon ski area
Is Silvretta Montafon a good choice for your ski break?
- despite the highest elevation only being around 2400 metres, many of the slopes are at a relatively high altitude with a good snow record
- there is a good choice of runs for both intermediate skiers and for experts who will enjoy the ski routes and off-piste options
What you might not like about Silvretta Montafon...
- some runs back to resort (such as Schruns) are relatively low in altitude which can lead to problems in seasons with poor snow
- while the surface travel connections are good, the distance from the available airports is longer than other rival areas
Nearby Resorts
- Brand
The Brandnertal ski resorts of Bürserberg and Brand are included on the Montafon Brandnertal ski pass (along with the Silvretta Montafon area and Gargellen) making this a good option for a day out. - Bregenzerwald
The Bregenzerwald ski resorts, such as Damüls and Mellau, are just across the main Ill valley to the north and also offer a good option for a day trip from the Silvretta region.