Ski holidays resorts in and around Mayrhofen, Austria
The ski holiday resort of Mayrhofen offers snow-sure and varied skiing, with legendary après ski.
Located close to the Innsbruck valley, the ski holiday resort of Mayrhofen is well known for its great après ski. For those who have not skied there, it is possible to dismiss the holiday resort as little more than an après ski destination. In truth however, the ski area at Mayrhofen is extremely impressive with an expanded ski terrain and improved ski lifts. There is ski terrain to suit all levels, possibly the best terrain park in Austria and beyond and a nearby glacier to guarantee snow and offer year round skiing.
The gondola of old has been replaced be a higher capacity ski lift, the Penkenbahn, which runs from the resort centre and offers far better access to the ski area. (Conveniently, those downloading are offered a choice of après ski bars around the ski lift base station.) The lift reaches 1800m and this is effectively the lowest point of the ski area – ensuring very reliable snow conditions. At this point are the beginner area and ski schools, as well as the lifts accessing the rest of the ski area. The ski areas extend beneath the peaks of the Rastkogel and Hornberg mountains, with the lower slopes being fringed by smallish forests and the upper slopes being above the tree-line. The ski area at Mayrhofen is one of the easiest of the big ski areas to get co-ordinated in, due to the neighbouring peaks and valley in between containing most of the ski terrain. There are many gentle blue and red pistes as well as several blacks, including the Harakiri – at 78% gradient, it is the steepest groomed piste in Austria. There exists huge off-piste potential for advanced skiers in the many bowls around the extensive ski area. Further easy runs can be accessed on the other side of the valley from Penken, in the second ski area that Mayrhofen accesses - Ahorn. The skiing on the Ahorn area is lower than the Penken and offers mostly blue pistes with one long red running back down into Mayrhofen. The resort still lacks a ski route back down to Mayrhofen and given the geology between Mayrhofen and the ski area, this seems unlikely to change. There is a ski route down to the neighbouring ski resort of Finkenberg but those skiers wanting to reach Mayrhofen directly must download on the gondola. Those skiing to Finkenberg can return to Mayrhofen by free ski bus or sample the holiday resort which in comparison to Mayrhofen is tranquil and family orientated. Mayrhofen is anything but quiet, it has some of the best après ski in Austria with a mix of nationalities partying until dawn. Despite this, Mayrhofen has an upmarket feel and the quality of the accommodation and resort village are impressive. Toward the start or end of the ski holiday season, the local Hintertux Glacier offers a snow guarantee as well as offering year round skiing.
