Silvretta Montafon Ski Resort

The area of Silvretta Montafon, the largest ski resort in Voralberg, offers about 113km of skiable terrain. You will always find best snow conditions even if mother nature isn´t willing to treat us with some snow. This is very unlikely because the ski resort boasts around 50 percent of  trails that are situated higher than 2000 meter (6.561 ft) above sea level. So usually you can expect to get the best snow. Find entrances into the skiing pleasure in Schruns, Silbertal, St. Gallenkirch and Gaschurn.

St. Gallenkirch is the center of the ski resort, where skiers and boarders have access to either Garfrescha or up to Hochjoch. Schruns, the main town of Montafon valley, and Silbertal offer more rides to Hochjoch. From here hit the easier and sunny runs around Grasjoch that invite all leisurely skiers to simply enjoy.

Sennigrat provides one of the many challenging trails, a black trail that is reserved for experts only. This is one of the seven Black Scorpions runs that have gradients of up to 81 percent and will please even the most courageous skier and snowboarders. You´ll find the black runs throughout the resort, in addition to Sennigrat (2.300m) also at Versettla (2.010m) and Schwarzköpfle (2.300m).

Silvretta Montafon´s motto ´Welcome to the most athletic ski resort´ is not really surprising based on countless challenges for experienced winter athletes. Don´t miss the Nike terrain park if you´re a freestyler. To ensure consistent quality of the 40 obstacles there is the daily maintenance of the shapers. Find excellent features that will give you an adrenaline rush or try the other two lines that are designed for skiers and riders who are new to the terrain park environment.

This area of Silvretta Montafon boasts an other highlight, the Hochjoch Schruns. Follow this one to experience a total of 12 kilometer (7,4 miles) pure skiing pleasure and start at an elevation of 1.700 meter (5.577 ft). It takes you to the highest mountain of the ski resort that tops out at 2.430 meter (7.972 ft). Enjoy the breathtaking panorama and off you go back to the base.

Find a more descend area heading to Garfrescha where blue runs help beginners to find their ski legs. Schwarzköpfle features some average difficulty trails. Grab Madrisella gondola and head back towards the cross park to enjoy a race slope, a slalom and a wave. When you get on the other side of the mountain to the base station of Gaschurn you´ll find a race slope.

Silvretta Montafon is on every freeriders must do list, at least since the Freeride World Tour 2007 and Open Faces Freeride Series in 2009. Find amazing off-piste downhills that are without parallel. It´s always smart to pay a visit to the top station of the gondola Grasjoch before hitting the virtually unlimited off-pistes.

The Freeride center gives information about the current avalanche situation and you can actually practice how to handle this kind of situation on the training field. Safety check points offer freeriders the option to double check their equipment.

If you consider yourself as a beginner, start of by taking ski tow Platina and explore the surrounding area. The same goes for the area around Freda chairlift, perfect to become comfortable in the freestyle scene. Hochjoch on the other side is your spot if you are more experienced. Any expert skier that can´t find challenges here ain´t looking.

There are nine mid-mountain restaurants that cover every part of the ski resort, so you can´t really complain about too little choice. Nova Stube is one of the biggest restaurants in the whole region of the alps. Guests will enjoy the typical Austrian food here on the sun deck at an altitude of 2.100 meters (6889 ft).

If you are up for an Italian lunch go and check out Bella Nova at Valisera. You will find local dishes and hearty fare right next door at Valisera Hüsli. Rehsee Stöbli spoils their guests with great barbecue specialties but fine dining remains in focus as well.

The Gäßbarga at the middle station of  Valiser gondola looks just like a goat pen. However, this is a really good place to eat on the mountain and it serves the regional specialty Käsknöpfle (cheese noodles).

• Follow the longest trail to Schurns, starting at Alpilagrat
• Black Scorpions: Seven steep black trails for experts only

There are two toboggan runs in Silvretta Montafon guaranteeing a blast for the whole family. 5,4 action-packed kilometer (3,3 miles) await thrill-seekers from Kapell to Kropfen. Ride the 5,5 km (3,4 miles) toboggan run in Garfrescha every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday even at night time and enjoy the speed for 15 to 20 minutes.

Schrungs-Tschagguns boasts a sport center where ice-skaters find a covered ice rink. Partenen expects winter athletes with an natural ice rink at Vallülasaal.

Torchlight walks are an other fun non-skiing activity. The tour starts at Valisera gondola mid-station and ends in Garfrescha.

At the base stations are plenty of bars lining and invite you to end the day with one or the other drink. Urmonti and Zamangbar in Schruns definitely deserve a visit from your side. There´s never a shortage of dance music at the Limo Club in St. Gallenkirch. So go ahead and dance through the night!

The restaurant of the Hotel Adlers in St. Gallenkirch specializes in local gourmet food. It also takes pride in its wine list and you´ll find close to 600 wines on the menu.

The same story at restaurant Frieda in Gaschurn. It also serves the best local food and seasonal dishes can be found on the menu. It´s even awarded with a touquet and 14 Gault Millau points. The food and service here is nothing less that what you would expect.

Rehsee Stöbli gives guests amazing barbecue specialties and has a romantic dinner every Wednesday night on the program. You will see the restaurant just as you leave the Versettla gondola at the mid-station.

By car

The easiest way to reach Gallenkirch and Gaschurn is via Inntalautobahn (A12). Coming from Innsbruck you pass through the fee-required Arlberg tunnel and after take the exit Schruns/Bludenz/Silvretta Hochstraße. Coming from Bregenz you take the A14/E60 and the same exit. From there follow on  B188. After 15 kilometers (9,3 miles) you have reached your destination.

By train

Coming by train take ICE or EC from Germany, Austria or Switzerland to Bludenz. From there get on the train Montafoner that takes about 20 minutes to Schruns.

By plane

The next airports are Altenrhein (76 km away), Friedrichshafen (105 km) and Innsbruck (150 km).