Ski touring in Styria
Moments in nature
Experience pure skiing bliss as you leave your tracks in the pristine backcountry snow: Ski touring offers you unforgettable winter adventures and splendid views of the Styrian mountain world.
No matter which part of Styria you visit, there are numerous great options for ski touring and ski mountaineering. But one thing is certain: ski tours in Styria provide unforgettable moments and reveal fantastic impressions of the Styrian mountain landscape.
Don’t forget to read up on safety in the mountains before your trip!
Ski touring climb to Gasselhöhe at Reiteralm, Schladming-Dachstein | © Steiermark Tourismus | Herbert Raffalt
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Ski tour on the Loser | © Ausseerland Salzkammergut | Tom Lamm
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Ski tour in the Gesäuse | © TV Gesäuse | Susanne Einzenberger
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Dachstein - Südwand | © Steiermark Tourismus | photo-austria.at
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View to the Hochtorgruppe | © Steiermark Tourismus | Atelier Jungwirth / Erich Hagspiel
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Hauser Kaibling | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm
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Ski touring | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm
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Ski touring on the Viehbergalm | © Steiermark Tourismus | photo-austria.at
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Ski tour on the Tauplitz | © Steiermark Tourismus | Punkt & Komma
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Ski touring – a winter sport for everyone
Styria is a paradise for ski tourers, offering marvellous routes in different terrain and altitudes. Whether you’re looking for a
- short and challenging,
- steep and demanding or
- long and gentle route,
there’s bound to be the perfect choice for you in the Alpine regions of Styria, be it in the Tauern mountains, the Gesäuse, Hochschwab or the Seetal and Fischbach Alps.
Safe ski touring: Preparation is key! Ski touring and avalanche workshops are a good preparation especially for beginners. Or how about some lessons with a ski touring guide for beginners or advanced riders?
Tips for safe ski tours
Careful tour planning, the right equipment, checking up on the avalanche situation … With the ten tips for safe ski touring of the Austrian Alpine Association, you’re perfectly prepared for a one-of-a-kind ski touring experience in Styria!
Austria’s National Ski Tour
Dachstein crossing
It’s the ski touring highlight of the region and a must for all nature lovers: Austria’s national ski tour at Dachstein mountain. The crossing takes you through the alpine UNESCO World Heritage of the Dachstein and the Salzkammergut region and is one of the classic long-distance ski crossings of the Alps. The cable car ride up to the mountain station already makes it clear that this ski tour is special. The ascent to Dachsteinwarte should be mastered with calm and care. If you’re in need of a break, we recommend Simonyhütte or Gjaid-Alm. The 30-kilometer descent meanders its way through pristine powder snow and grants you fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.
Ski tours in the splendid nature of Styria
Far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Sölktäler Nature Park lies amid the Schladming-Dachstein region. It’s a perfect place to unwind and recharge your batteries. In winter, many regions as the Nature Park Mürzer Oberland in the Hochsteiermark region or the Gesäuse region become even more quiet – the perfect time to do winter sports like ski touring! Under bright blue skies, the routes lead you through snow-covered forests and across glistening fields.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about ski touring in Austria
When heading out on a ski tour, treating nature and the environment with respect is key. With the right preparation, ski touring in Steiermark becomes a safe and deeply rewarding experience in the heart of nature. Here you’ll find the most important answers to all your ski touring questions in Steiermark.
These guidelines and recommendations apply to ski tours in alpine terrain – not to piste tours.
Requirements & basics
Yes, a certain level of prior experience is important. Confident, solid skiing on red runs and good physical fitness are essential requirements. Experience in deep snow is also an advantage. Just as important is an awareness of the exposure and responsibility that come with being out in open alpine terrain – and, hand in hand with that, a respectful approach to and within nature.
A beginner’s course is highly recommended, as it teaches not only proper planning and technique, but also key safety aspects. Popular options include introductory ski touring courses offered by alpine clubs and mountain guide associations. Alternatively, your first tours can be undertaken with experienced ski touring friends who can introduce you to the “secrets” of ski touring.
Ski touring can be safe – but it requires personal responsibility and thorough preparation. As you are moving through open alpine terrain, natural hazards can never be entirely ruled out. Safety depends on several key factors:
- Tour choice & planning: A realistic assessment of your fitness, ability and current conditions is crucial. This includes checking the weather forecast, snow conditions and the official avalanche bulletin.
- Avalanche awareness: Avalanches pose the greatest risk. Basic knowledge of avalanche safety and correct behaviour in alpine terrain are essential.
- Equipment: Standard safety equipment includes an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe – and knowing how to use them properly is vital. No ski tour should be undertaken without this equipment.
- Experience & training: Beginners should complete their first ski tours as part of a course or with a qualified guide. This ensures that technique, track setting and risk assessment are learned correctly from the outset.
- Respect for nature & your limits: Accepting when it is time to turn back, adopting a cautious approach and actively avoiding hazards significantly increases safety.
Please keep to the marked routes wherever provided. Untouched snowfields – and especially wildlife feeding areas – are often vital refuges for animals that are extremely sensitive to disturbance in winter. Unexpected encounters cause stress and can force them to use up precious energy reserves essential for survival.
Plants beneath the snow cover – particularly young trees – can also suffer lasting damage from ski tracks. Marked routes are therefore not only safer, but far more compatible with nature.
Absolutely. A sustainable ski touring holiday in Steiermark is easy to plan and straightforward to implement. Many ski touring regions are easily accessible by train. Locally, ski buses – which ski tourers can also use (in some cases for a small fee) – as well as shuttle services are widely available.
Planning & tour preparation
Ski touring is an endurance sport that requires good health and, above all, an honest self-assessment. Time pressure should be avoided at all costs. When ascending, set a pace that allows you to keep breathing steadily – you will need sufficient energy reserves for the descent as well.
In a group, the pace should always be guided by the least experienced or least strong member. Equally important is careful tour planning, including close attention to the weather forecast and avalanche bulletin.
Important: Always inform someone you trust about your destination, planned route and expected return time. Whenever possible, avoid setting out on a ski tour alone.
Yes. Distances save lives – especially in steep terrain.
When ascending slopes of 30° or more, and depending on the avalanche danger level stated in the official bulletin, a distance of around 10 metres or more should be maintained to reduce strain on the snowpack.
During descents, keep a minimum distance of 30 metres between each person. Steep slopes should always be tackled one at a time.
Up-to-date snow reports are available on the bergfex portal. The most reliable information on avalanche warning levels is provided by the Avalanche Warning Service Steiermark. A wide selection of tours can be found on the tour portal.
Yes. In Steiermark, there are numerous designated ski touring routes. The chosen tour should match both your level of fitness and the prevailing snow conditions.
Equipment & technique
Alongside suitable breathable, weatherproof ski touring clothing, the following equipment is essential:
- Touring skis
- Climbing skins – matched to the skis
- Ski touring boots
- Ski poles with large baskets
- Ski crampons
- Avalanche transceiver
- Avalanche shovel (metal only – no plastic shovels)
- Avalanche probe
- Optional airbag system
- Bivouac sack
- Ski helmet
- Ski goggles
Also important:
- Sun protection (sunglasses, sun cream, warm hat)
- Cold protection (hat, gloves)
- Backpack with attachment system for skis and helmet
- Thermos flask
What belongs in your backpack:
- ID, insurance and membership cards (e.g. Alpine Club, Naturfreunde, Austrian Ski Federation)
- Cash (as most mountain huts do not accept debit or credit cards)
- First aid kit and personal medication (plasters, blister plasters, bandages, emergency blanket, etc.)
- Mobile phone with a full battery and charging cable, plus power bank if needed (store important numbers – Alpine emergency number: 140)
- Head torch or small torch
- Pocket knife and lighter
- Toilet paper, tissues
Be sure to bring sufficient food and drink. Cereal bars, nuts or dried fruit make ideal snacks. Due to physical exertion and low temperatures, calorie and fluid requirements are significantly higher.
Once the ski touring season is over, it’s advisable to prepare your equipment properly for the summer months:
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Remove the batteries from the avalanche transceiver.
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Deactivate the avalanche airbag: remove the cartridge and trigger the airbag without the cartridge inserted to release tension from the spring.
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Wax your touring skis – this also protects the edges from corrosion.
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Stick the climbing skins onto their separator foil and store them in a cool, dry place.
Offers & general conditions
Yes. The range extends from beginner courses to demanding summit tours led by certified mountain and ski guides. Guided tours are particularly ideal for beginners, as they provide the opportunity to learn the correct technique right from the start.
Yes – exceptionally well. A ski touring holiday in Steiermark can be perfectly combined with wellness, thermal spa visits and outstanding regional cuisine. Many hotels in the alpine regions feature their own spa areas, while thermal spas such as the Aqualux Therme Fohnsdorf, the GrimmingTherme or the Therme Nova Köflach invite you to unwind and recharge.
Culinary delights await on your tours in the many traditional mountain huts along the way. When planning your tour, please be sure to check the huts’ winter opening times in advance.
In open alpine terrain – away from the pistes – dogs are generally permitted, provided there are no local restrictions in place, such as in nature reserves. Dogs are strictly prohibited on groomed ski slopes. This means that ski tourers using pistes for ascent are not allowed to bring their dogs, as the risk of injury to both dog and skiers is too high.
In alpine terrain, dogs must always be kept on a lead (exception: certified search and avalanche dogs belonging to mountain rescue or alpine police units). Dogs must be kept well away from wildlife feeding areas and designated quiet zones. The chosen ski tour should be suited to the dog’s fitness and ability – not all breeds are suitable for deep snow conditions.
Please always check and comply with regional regulations in advance.
The Alpine emergency number 140 is designated throughout Austria for accidents in alpine terrain. Alternatively, the European emergency number 112 can be dialled – both numbers activate the rescue chain. However, mobile network coverage is not always available in alpine areas.
In the event of an avalanche, companion rescue is the only effective way to recover buried victims in time (within 10–15 minutes). For this reason, the correct use of an avalanche transceiver must be practised regularly.
