Take the cable cars & lifts up and enjoy powder snow

Effortless freeriding fun

How convenient! These freeride areas are located quite close to the ski lifts, thus sparing you the climb up. The following are top tips from our freeride experts!

What a treat it is to ski powder or firn snow! For the best experience, be sure to enlist the services of a snow sports or mountain guide who is familiar with the area and the conditions on the slopes. Conveniently, some freeriding slopes are even located quite close to the ski lifts. If you want to avoid the climb up, the following is a selection of freeride areas within easy reach.

Bergpartner Vorarlberg (mountain partners) Alex Klampfer, Olli Sinz, Lukas Kühlechner, Helmut Düringer and Markus Moosbrugger share their personal tips for off-piste and freeride skiing at Vorarlberg’s ski resorts.

Our Tips:

01 Freeriding at the Kanzelwandbahn cable car in Kleinwalsertal

The valley station of the Kanzelwandbahn cable car in Riezlern in Kleinwalsertal at 1080 m is the starting point for this freeride ski run. From the mountain station at 1949 m above sea level, there is an initial descent to the Gundsattel saddle (1804 m), where a short, very steep section leading northwest into a basin must be negotiated. Afterwards, cross below the Gehrenspitze peak (1857 m) to the Riezler Alpe mountain pasture. Next there is a forest section, which soon leads into a large clearing, the so-called Gehrenhang area. Here, wonderful panoramic views open up down towards Riezlern. The rest of the way leads directly down to the starting point.

A tip from snow sports and mountain guide Olli Sinz
- Kanzelwandbahn cable car in the Fellhorn/Kanzelwand ski resort
- Guided freeride and ski tours: Bergschule Kleinwalsertal mountaineering school
02 Silvretta Montafon: Zamangspitze & Novatal

The Silvretta Montafon ski resort is THE freeride hotspot in Montafon. A wide range of variants and freeride runs attract skiers to the largest ski resort in the valley.

Tip for advanced freeriders: The Zamangspitze winter via ferrata
Reach the summit of the fantastic panoramic mountain via a snowy ridge following an easy climb. Various steep and long runs lead directly from the foot of the summit back to the ski resort.

In the Novatal valley, both experienced and novice freeriders will get their money’s worth: When snow conditions are good, there are numerous opportunities on both sides of the Novatal valley to let your skis run free. In recent years, the area has played host to FWTQ (Freeride World Tour Qualifier) rookies on several occasions.

Tip from snow sports and mountain guides Alex Klampfer and Lukas Kühlechner
- Silvretta Montafon ski resort
- Guided freeride and ski tours: Bergführer Montafon mountain guides
03 Diedamskopf: Panoramic freeride tour for connoisseurs

From Schoppernau, take the gondola lift to the mountain station of the Diedamskopf ski resort at 2,050 m. After a short ascent to the Diedamskopf summit (2,090 m), enjoy the views from one of Vorarlberg’s most beautiful panoramic peaks.

The next destination, the mountain station of the Breitenalpbahn cable car, is accessible via various routes. From there, enjoy the Falzersee backcountry ski run. After a short ascent to the Falzersee lake, pass the Alpe Falz mountain pasture and continue to the Neuhornbachhaus mountain inn. The slopes around the Neuhornbachhaus are also accessible via short ascents. The 5-km ski run back to Schoppernau leads through forests and clearings directly to the ski bus stop. The ski bus brings you back to the valley station of the Diedamskopf cable car.

Tip from snow sports and mountain guide Markus Moosbrugger
- Diedamskopf ski resort
04 Gargellen in Montafon: Nidla ski run

The ski resort in the idyllic mountain village of Gargellen is ideal for the entire family. While kids learn to ski on the easy slopes on the Schafberg plateau, more advanced skiers can enjoy the long ski runs down to the valley. For freeriders, the challenging “Nidla” ski run is particularly appealing. This especially steep descent demands a lot of experience and proficiency in powder snow. Tourers will also discover a wide range of possibilities around the ski resort.

Tip from snow sports and mountain guides Alex Klampfer and Lukas Kühlechner
- Gargellen ski resort
- Guided freeride and ski tours: Bergführer Montafon mountain guides, Gargellen ski school
05 Ski Arlberg: Madloch & Albona North Face

The Arlberg is known far and wide as the Cradle of Alpine Skiing. The area between Vorarlberg and Tyrol is also highly regarded in the freeride scene. Freeride World Champions Nadine Wallner and Lorraine Huber, for instance, both hail from renowned villages on the Arlberg.

The Madloch is a groomed backcountry ski run in Zürs, famed for both its length and steepness. To the left and right of this famous ski route, there are long powder snow descents to Lech or Zug, including the classic Stierloch or Stierfall ski runs.

The Albona North Face above Stuben is one of the most legendary ski runs in Vorarlberg. In the early days of ski tourism, ski pioneers such as Hannes Schneider first carved their tracks in the snow here, just as freeriders from all over the world do today.

Tips from the snow sports and mountain guides Alex Klampfer and Lukas Kühlechner
- Ski Arlberg
- Guided freeride and ski tours: Whiteguides, Arlberg Alpin, High Zürs Ski Guides
06 The Niedere ski resort between Bezau and Andelsbuch

Freeride with a cool view! When it snows and visibility becomes poor in the mountains above the tree line, that’s when skiing gets really interesting on the Niedere ski resort in Bregenzerwald. Due to its low-lying elevation, there is good visibility here even when it snows. Appropriate equipment, ski goggles in particular, is very important! If the sun does come out, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views as far as Lake Constance, Germany, the Swiss mountains, the upper Bregenzerwald, Kleinwalsertal and the Allgäu Alps.

Since the resort only boasts surface lifts and a gondola, you may spend a bit more time on the lifts, but there is also much less hustle and bustle in the area, making it perfect for freeriding.

Tip from snow sports and mountain guide Heli Düringer
- Seilbahn Bezau

Skiing with a snow sports or mountain guide is better!

Bergpartner Vorarlberg (c) Vorarlberg Tourismus

More fun, more safety: That’s what guided freeride tours with a snow sports or mountain guide are all about. These specialists are intimately familiar with the snow and weather conditions and know which slopes are best to ski at which time of day.

Bergpartner Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg

Effortless freeriding fun

Tips from our snow sports and mountain guides

Our Tips:

01 Freeriding at the Kanzelwandbahn cable car in Kleinwalsertal

02 Silvretta Montafon: Zamangspitze & Novatal

03 Diedamskopf: Panoramic freeride tour for connoisseurs

04 Gargellen in Montafon: Nidla ski run

05 Ski Arlberg: Madloch & Albona North Face

06 The Niedere ski resort between Bezau and Andelsbuch

Skiing with a snow sports or mountain guide is better!

This may also be of interest

Freeriding: Tips and offers

Cross-border ski resorts: Enjoy skiing fun in two countries or valleys

Remembering pioneers: tracing the tracks of ski history