Grossarl ski resort is located 90 km south of Salzburg, Austria. Grossarl is the main settlement in the Grossarltal - a relatively undeveloped valley on the other side of the mountain range from the more renowned Gastein valley. With the interconnected Dorfgastein-Großarl ski area, guests can travel from Grossarl into the neighbouring valley and on to Dorfgastein.
The ski resort Großarl (de) and Dorfgastein are right in the centre of the "Ski amadé" ski area. The lift pass "Ski amadé" gives you access to a jaw-dropping 760 km of piste and 270 lifts.
Grossarl skiing
The Grossarl ski area is the larger of the two, with a nice selection of long winding blue and red pistes providing a variety of 'home-runs' down through the attractive wooded slopes to the two access gondola terminals in the valley. These base areas are situated a couple of hundred metres away from Grossarl village, but are easily accessible by free ski bus or just a short walk from some hotels.
With the "Gipfelbahn Fulseck" you can reach the highest point of the "Skischaukel" Dorfgastein-Großarltal. From the "Fulseck" you`ll have the best panorama view, which stretches from the "Großglockner" to the "Dachstein". The upper half of the mountain is served by a gondola and four chairlifts; there are a couple of T-bar ski-tows too, but these serve beginners' slopes only and aren't required for any vital links.
Better intermediates can make the most of the steep short reds into the bowl beneath the Kruezkogel peak, and there are a couple of ungroomed longer red routes off the Fulseck-Kieserl ridge on the non-lift-served side of this bowl; this unpisted but patrolled flank of the ski area also offers more advanced visitors some limited possibilities for some off-piste action, otherwise there are only two short black pistes in the entire linked area.
No self-respecting Austrian ski resort would be complete without its ‘Schirmbar’ (Umbrella Bar) and you’ll find this and the popular Rambazambar at the bottom of the lifts in Grossarl. Apres-ski is much more low-key than the brash Ischgl’s and Saalbach’s of this World with just a few local café-bars to explore later on and most guests tend to enjoy Hotel-based bars and entertainment.
Grossarl snowpark
The Snowpark Großarltal – the start is directly on the valley side of the Sonnenbahn mountain station – offers two lines with kickers, the Butter Box, the Rainbow Butter Box, the Mushroom and enough space for jibbing over a length of around 500 m.
Free ski bus in Grossarltal
The free ski bus runs every 7 or 15 minutes within the town itself. Another ski bus runs 5 times a day according to a fixed timetable, towards Hüttschlag and on to the valley head, as well as in the direction of St. Johann as far as the Gollegg stop. A free ski bus also runs to Ellmautal.
You can also ride the free ski bus to neighboring Alpendorf in St. Johann im Pongau. This provides you with a connection to the Salzburger Sportwelt region. Naturally, you can likewise use the free ski buses in Gastein Valley, allowing you to explore the Gastein ski areas too.