Skiing in Wald – Spectacular Sonnenkopf

Easily skied in a couple of days, Sonnenkopf’s easier, gentler uncrowded ski area is the perfect antidote to some of the busier more exclusive Arlberg resorts. 39km of piste and quieter, wide open slopes with 1,200m of descent, with peaks of 2,300m available make it perfect for families with young children and those looking to gain their ski legs. For the advanced and expert free riders out there, there’s plenty of off-piste and number of demanding tours available to get your boards and skis carving on. Free riders with experience in open terrain are also able to use the three-km long off-piste run down to Nenzigasttal. Benefiting from its relative remove, the off-piste terrain at Sonnenkopf remains untracked long after the main Arlberg ski areas are skied out. Not the faint hearted, Sonnenkopf also boasts a 1.5km black run with a gradient of 70% on one of the steepest slopes in Austria. The nearest ski school is in nearby Klösterle, which also offers freestyle and snowboarding classes. Thetre are also numerous winter hiking trails to be tackled for those not so keen on skiing.

Après-ski & restaurants in Wald

The Sonnenkopf’s relatively small size means that there’s not much in the way of traditional après-ski and restaurants, but what’s there is more than ample and exemplifies the famous Austrian hospitality. Of note is the Bergrestaurant Sonnenkopf at 1850 m with its sun terrace, where you will find a large selection of popular regional dishes (think schnitzel), strudels, cakes and an excellent salad bar. It’s also possible to book a table for breakfast here – as long as you book the previous day by noon. Located at the mountain station of the Sonnenkopfbahn it’s open daily from 08.30 – 16.30. The Bergrestaurant also has the Ice Bar on the Sonnenterrasse boasting a party atmosphere, cool drinks and great music. There’s also the Bergrestaurant Muttjöchle right next to the Riedkopfbahn mountain station at 2,000m, offering the obligatory sunn terrace, breathtaking views, exceptional local dishes and excellent wines.

The Bündtütte with its cozy sun terrace located directly at the exit to the valley station and Café Milanovic located next to valley station of the Sonnenkopfbahn is also worth a visit.

The quiter après-ski scene make this ideal for younger families and St.Anton and Lech are easily accessible by car if more is required, as is the nearby larger village of Dalaas.

Summer activities

Alongside the legendary Bärenland, for adults there’s the usual offering of exceptional biking and hiking that shows the region off to excellent effect. If that’s all too strenuous, simply kick back and relax in the beautiful mountains.

Kids & Family

Few locations, if any, in the Austrian Alps are better suited for winter and summer family holidays as Wald. In winter, the Sonnenkopf’s easier, wider and gentler uncrowded ski area is in contrast to the busier and more exclusive Arlberg resorts. This makes it perfect for children looking to start the love affair with skiing. At the same time, the incredible off-piste conditions give the more advanced skiers plenty to enjoy. The Sonnenkopf’s summertime transformation into Bärenland and the host of outdoor pursuits and activities it provides arguably make this the best Austrian resort for kids and families, whatever time of year you choose to visit.