The ski area
Hochzillertal and Hochfügen lie on opposite sides of a ridge above Kaltenbach and are linked into a single area of 90.7 km, with 38 lifts between 600 and 2,378 m. The mix is 38.3 km blue, 37.7 km red and 13.1 km black. The Hochzillertal side is sunny and open, with long reds down to the mid-station; Hochfügen is shadier and holds its snow better, with the steeper pitches. The Spieljoch above Fügen is on the same ticket but a separate area.
The real selling point is the Zillertaler Superskipass: every multi-day pass is valid on 546 km of slopes and 181 lifts, including the Zillertal Arena, Mayrhofen and the Hintertux glacier. The 2026/2027 season runs from 5 December 2026 to 11 April 2027.
Who is Hochzillertal for?
Hochzillertal suits intermediates who want a modern, efficient home area and the freedom to explore the valley by car or ski bus. Families find children’s areas and ski schools at the top of the gondola, and the valley villages are quieter and cheaper than Mayrhofen. Après-ski is lively at the mountain huts and in Kaltenbach, calmer in Fügen. Experts should plan days in Hochfügen’s steeper terrain and on the glacier rather than expect challenge every day at home.
Practical
At about 890 km and 8.75 hours from Brussels, Kaltenbach is one of the easiest Austrian resorts to reach, just off the Inntal motorway near Innsbruck airport (55 km). The lifts start at 600 m in the valley, so every day begins and ends with a gondola ride. Ask your accommodation for the guest card: it knocks a euro off the day pass and gives other discounts.