The glacier is quite separate from the lower slopes, which the resort calls the ‘Classic’ area. In fact, that area also divides into two parts, awkwardly linked – a higher, almost treeless part (Alpspitz) and a lower, heavily wooded part (Hausberg-Kreuzeck).
Extent of the slopes
The Hausberg-Kreuzeck sector directly above the resort is accessed by two gondolas; these start a few km out of town and are served by the railway. These lower lifts have decent verticals and serve long runs; the lifts higher up are all much shorter. An inconspicuous narrow path and a rope tow form the link between this sector and the base of the higher Alpspitz sector, more directly reached via the Alpspitz cable car. Although the altitude is modest, this sector feels like high-mountain terrain, with dramatic scenery – Dolomite-like on the isolated Osterfelder and Bernadein runs, on skier’s right.
There are two routes to the glacier: there’s the railway from town that serves the Classic area lift bases, which goes on to tunnel slowly through the mountain, emerging at the glacier; or there’s the cable car from Eibsee that climbs an impressive 1950m to the Zugspitze – from there you have to ride another cable car down to the slopes.
Above the main lift junction are typical blue glacier slopes served by multiple drags. Below it and spreading across the bowl is a range of good red runs and some good off-piste terrain served by two six-packs and two drags. None of these lifts rises more than 400m vertical, but in other respects it’s a good area.
Fast lifts
Access lifts are fast, but after that it’s mainly drags and slow chairs.
Snow reliability
The glacier area is small and remote, so conditions lower down are important. The lower main area is shady, but some of the best runs descend to valley level – ie to 720m. Despite comprehensive snowmaking, conditions at these altitudes can be poor even when there’s great snow higher up, as we confirmed on one January visit.
For experts
The long runs to the valley are challenging enough to amuse most experts, particularly the excellent Kandahar downhill race course. The final pitch of this takes real bottle when icy at the end of the day. Higher up, there are off-piste opportunities in the Alpspitz sector and on the glacier.
For intermediates
For confident skiers it’s fine, but this is not a hill where timid intermediates can build confidence.
For beginners
Learn elsewhere. The nursery slopes are fine, but they’re up the mountain and there is no beginner pass. And the only easy runs to move on to are busy links between Kreuzeck and Hausberg (or on the glacier).
Snowboarding
There are drags in all sectors, though many can be avoided.
Cross-country
There are 28km of trails along the valleys, of varying difficulty.
Where to Ski and Snowboard
This guide is taken from Where to Ski and Snowboard, edited by Chris Gill and Dave Watts. Chris now produces Where to Ski guides to individual countries. Find out more and receive an exclusive book discount.