Skiing in Warth – freeride heaven

If some of the Alps finest off-piste action is what you crave then Warth is the resort for you. Most of its 68km of pistes are easy cruising, but there’s also run after run of lift-accessed off-piste, making it a big draw for free riders.

Warth benefits from its location at the northern edge of the Alps, just inland from Central Europe’s third-largest lake, Lake Constance. This benefits the resort in two important ways. Firstly from the storms that blow in from the West, and secondly from the Northerly and Easterly weather patterns that other parts of the Alps can miss out on. These two factors combined with its high altitude resulting in the super snowy microclimate that Warth enjoys. The impressive levels of snowfall not only guarantee outstanding conditions, but they also mean that the resort can be enjoyed right through until the very end of the winter season where others can’t.

The ski area of Warth is predominantly north-facing, helping to protect the snow it receives and offers a good range of beginner and intermediate level pistes, but it’s the deep and plentiful off-piste powder that is the real draw for the more serious-minded enthusiasts. Fortunately, much of the off-piste can be accessed by lifts but there are also a few long traverses to access some of the more remote off-piste terrain. Beyond Warth, the Arlberg — one of the best ski regions in the Alps awaits.

If you’re after some expert tuition you’re in luck. Being something of a serious skier’s resort, Warth’s two ski schools are full of former Austrian team skiers and have a wide range of freeride and hike and ride courses available. Guided off-piste excursions are also available to take advantage of the bountiful powder. The Warth ski school also leads “Pfarrer Müller tours”, where you can recreate the journey of Warth’s most famous skier and revered son, Johann Müller, the then local pastor. It was he who first set off on skis to visit his neighbouring priest in next door Lech in 1894.

Après-ski in Warth — delicious dining

Warth may be small but the hotel accommodation is of a high standard and there’s a real focus on architecture and quality in, buildings are beautifully understated and wonderfully stylish. Some like the Lechtaler Hof are fantastically convenient for the slopes which are literally outside its doors. It also happens to serve gourmet five-course meals to an exceptionally high standard every night.

The mountain restaurants in the vicinity are also very good and reasonably priced, serving good, hearty, local food — expect plenty of dumplings. Off the mountain, nearby Schröcken and Körbersee have a decent amount of cosy restaurants, but if it’s serious gastronomic fare that you’re after, you’ll need to venture slightly further afield to Lech-Zurs — four miles as the crow flies.

Kids & Family

Warth’s 68km of slopes are ideal for the family, the majority being of beginner to intermediate level and offering plenty of easier options. Being smaller and quieter the range of activities off the slopes in winter is more limited than neighbouring Lech for example, but then the reason for visiting Warth is primarily is abundant powder.