Ötztal: The skiing areas in the Ötz Valley – “Ötztal Arena” Obergurgl / Hochgurgl, Hochötz, Vent The wonderful Tyrolean Ötz Valley stretches from the Inn Valley with a total length of 65 kilometres in southern direction. The different skiing areas and numerous valley resorts with completely different characters make sure that all groups of holidaymakers feel at ease here - young and old, very sporty ones, families and all of them who love and enjoy skiing. Skiing and snowboarding At the entrance of the Ötz Valley, above the village of Ötz lies the Hochötz ski area. The Acherkogelbahn cable car, at the edge of town, brings skiers and snowboarders to an altitude of 2,020 m. 27 km of slopes with predominantly easy and moderately severe character promise a perfect skiing day. The valley descent to Ochsengarten is very beautiful and the black run from the Mohrenkopf is a very demanding one.

Skilifts 16 22 33 Ski runs in km: 299 51 144 104 difficult intermediate easy

Further into the valley near Sölden you find the well-known "Ötztal Arena". Here, 46 kilometres of perfectly groomed slopes are at the winter sportsmen’s disposal, which are served by a network of 34 lifts and mountain railways. Between Giggijoch and Rotkogelhütte as well as on the broad motorway slopes at the Tiefenbachferner also beginners and families feel well. Moderately severe ski runs are found at the Gaislachkogen, and at the Rettenbachferner you sometimes also meet World Cup racers. An extra challenge for professionals is the 15 km long descent from the Hainbachjoch into the valley, between Schwarzer Schneid and Sölden. The impressive threethousanders of the skiing area - the Gaislachkogl, the Tiefenbachkogl and the Schwarze Schneid – can be experienced on the "BIG 3 Rallye". The 50 km long distance can be managed in one day without any problems. Skiers and snowboarders appreciate Sölden also because of the wonderful freeride possibilities, since the 70 km of off-piste terrain is very remarkable.

Copyright: Ötztal Tourismus Copyright: Ötztal Tourismus Fotograf: Bernd Ritschel

Behind Sölden further into the valley you reach the small, family-friendly municipality of Vent, which provides an overviewable ski area with 15 kilometres of ski runs. Two practice lifts in the proximity of the valley are quite ideal for those who are just starting to learn skiing and by chair lift and T-bar lift you are taken up to the broad slopes of the Stableinalm. Vent is particularly popular as starting point for beautiful ski tours.

Another highlight waits at the head of the Ötz Valley: the Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski area, which is considered to be one of the most snow-secure areas of the Alps, since the ski runs extend here up to an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Those altogether 110 km of ski runs with predominantly easy to moderately severe character are split halfway between Hochgurgl and Obergurgl, The 3,082 m high Wurmkogl mountain towers above Hochgurgl. From up there you can enjoy the gigantic panorama on the observation platform "Top Mountain Star". The very good offer of lifts was improved by a new eight-seater gondola lift at the Schermerspitze.
Above Obergurgl towers the powerful Festkogl (3,035 m). Beside that you find on the Hohen Mut a special challenge on a steep mogul slope. Between the two areas of Hochgurgl and Obergurgl you can either shuttle with the cable car “Top Express” or, however, use the free ski bus transfer between the two villages.

Snowboard specials
The Mecca for snowboarders in the Ötz Valley is definitely located in the Söldener "Ötztal Arena" in the BASE Winterpark on mount Giggijoch next to the two chair lifts Hainbachkar and Silberbrünl. A 6-hectare area provides kicker, corner, tables, halfpipe, rails, a chill-area as well as an extra funpark for children. On the Gaislachkogl are also stunning freeride possibilities on offer.

In the Hochötz ski area a small funpark was established next to the Brunnenkopf lift.

Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiers find a large offer of cross-country ski runs (ca. 50 km) in the valley centre around the villages of Längenfeld and Huben. Here the broad valley floor offers best skiing conditions. Also the other villages in the valley prepare beautiful ski runs for this kind of sport and in Hochgurgl and Obergurgl the cross-country ski trails run at snow-secure altitude.

At one glance:
 

Skiing area	Ötztal Arena Sölden	Hochgurgl / Obergurgl	Hochoetz	Vent
Village’s altitude	Sölden: 1377 m	Hochgurgl: 2150 m Obergurgl: 1930 m	Oetz: 820 m	Vent: 1900 m
Skiing area’s altitude	1377 – 3249 m	1800 – 3080 m	820 – 2200 m	1900 – 2680 m
Ski runs	146 km  27 km difficult  62 km intermediate  51 km easy   6 km Ski route	110 km  20 km difficult  55 km intermediate  35 km easy	27 km  3 km schwer 14 km mittel 10 km leicht	15 km 15 km intermediate  5 km easy
T-bar lifts	8	7	4	3
Chairlifts	19	11	5	1
Mountain railways	7	4	2
Ski pass prices 07/08 peak saison	41,50 € 1 adult. / 1 day	41,50 € 1 adult. / 1 day	28,50 € 1 adult. / 1 day	28,- € 1 adult. / 1 day
Cross-country ski runs	20 km	12 km	13 km	3,5 km
	Largest offer of cross-country ski runs around Längenfeld with ca. 50 km
Snowboard-Specials	BASE Winter Park on mount Giggijoch+ freeride on the Gaislachkogl		small funpark next to  Brunnenkopf lift

Copyright Bilder: Ötztal Tourismus