Glaciers keep the ski slopes of Kaprun accessible even when lower resorts turn green with spring. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier rises above the town, its summit station offering panoramic views across the Austrian Alps and as far as the peaks of Italy on clear days. Year-round skiing draws professionals and families alike, while the village below maintains a warm Alpine character with wooden chalets, traditional taverns, and thermal pools fed by mountain springs. In summer, the same lifts carry hikers up to high-altitude trails that wind past alpine lakes and wildflower meadows. Kaprun never truly closes; it simply shifts from winter sports to summer adventures.
Kaprun is one of the most famous ski resorts in Austria, situated near another famous sports resort of Zell Am See. It lies in the State of Salzburg at the foot of Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which is, with a height of 3,208 metres, one of the highest peaks of the Alps. Kaprun offers ideal snow conditions throughout the year. Centre in Kaprun offers all kinds of slopes, almost no queue waiting for a lift and breathtaking views over the Alps.
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cristian Bortes
Skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier
The funicular Kaprun to Kitzsteinhorn peak has the highest mast in the world with a height of 120 metres. Kaprun ski resort, which is situated at an altitude of 2,000 m can be reached only by cable car from the village below. Once there was also a funicular train, which led through a tunnel in the rock, but it had an accident on 11 November 2000, when the fire occurred inside the tunnel and claimed the lives of 155 people and only 12 survived. This tragedy deeply affected the community, and today a memorial near the valley station honours the victims. The resort was rebuilt with state-of-the-art safety systems and continues to operate one of the most advanced cable car networks in the Alps. The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier offers skiing from October to May, making it one of the most reliable snow destinations in Europe. The glacier slopes are predominantly intermediate-level red runs, with a few easier blue runs for beginners and challenging black runs for experts. Snowboarders are well catered for with a terrain park and halfpipe at the glacier top. The summit station, called Top of Salzburg at 3,029 metres, features a panoramic restaurant, a viewing terrace, and an exhibition about the construction of the cable car.
Summer Activities and Winter Adventures
Kaprun ski resort with Kitzsteinhorn glacier is ideal place for winter holidays but offers a wide range of sporting activities even in the summer. The charming town of Kaprun is situated at an altitude of 786 metres above sea level and forms a gate to the National Park Hohe Tauern. During the winter holidays you can try many fun activities in Kaprun. You can take nice walks around, ice skating, snowshoe hiking, sledding or a horse drawn sleigh ride through the winter wonderland. This charming place offers a wide range of accommodation from comfortable hotels, through apartments and guest houses to chalets.
The big advantage of this resort is that you can ski all year round on Kitzsteinhorn glacier. Glacier at a height of more than 3,000 metres is ideal for skiing also in the warm season. A huge number of beautiful slopes for beginners and advanced skiers attract also snowboarders. If you arrive with the cross-country skis, you enjoy a beautiful trail with a total length of 200 km. In summer, the glacier hiking trail called Gletscherwanderweg takes visitors across the ice to see crevasses and ice caves up close, with guided tours available from July through September. The Kaprun High Mountain Reservoirs, two artificial lakes at 2,000 metres, are a marvel of engineering and offer a scenic walking trail around their turquoise waters. These reservoirs are part of a pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme that generates electricity for the region.
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cristian Bortes
Zell am See and Kaprun are the popular resorts in the sports centre of Europa Sportregion. Fifty-eight of the most modern lifts and funiculars will take you to the tops like Kitzsteinhorn (3,203 m) or Schmittenhöhe (1,965 m). There are already 130 km of beautiful slopes waiting for you. It is ideal both for lovers of the fast and also quiet skiing. There are also pleasant, not too difficult slopes, ready for families with children. Season on the Schmittenhöhe, which is slightly lower than the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, lasts from December to May.
View Kaprun – all year round skiing in Austria in a larger map
Have you ever skied on a glacier, and how does it compare to regular slopes? ⛷️
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