Germany offers a considerable number of ski resorts that make winter sports enthusiasts’ hearts beat faster. The Alps in the south of Germany, the Bavarian Forest and numerous other regions provide fantastic backdrops for skiing and snowboarding and are in no way inferior to the ski resorts in neighbouring countries. And one thing is for sure: Germany also has high altitudes for winter sports enthusiasts. SnowTrex has compiled the highest ski resorts in Germany.
An overview of the highest ski resorts in Germany
| Ski area | Highest point |
|---|---|
| Ski area Garmisch-Classic/Zugspitze | 2,720 m |
| Ski area Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal | 2,224 m |
| Ski area Winkelmossalm-Steinplatte | 1,860 m |
| Ski area Region Berchtesgaden | 1,800 m |
| Ski area Wendelstein | 1,723 m |
| Ski area winter sports arena Tegelberg | 1,720 m |
| Ski area Brauneck-Wegscheid | 1,712 m |
| Ski area Oberstaufen | 1,708 m |
Ski area Garmisch-Classic/Zugspitze (2,720 m)
With a height of 2,962 m, the Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain and enjoys international fame with its impressive appearance. Not least because of the popular Garmisch-Classic/Zugspitze ski area, which lies at altitudes between 732 m and 2,720 m and with a total of 60 kilometres of pistes has the right run for every winter sports enthusiast. While beginners and children can try their hand on the 19 kilometres of blue pistes, advanced skiers and snowboarders have the opportunity to ski down the 31 red and 4 black pistes. The famous winter sports resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the entry point to the Classic ski area (Hausberg, Kreuzeck and Alpspitz/Ostenfelder), which impresses with around 40 km of pistes. The highlight is the 3.3 km long Kandahar downhill run, which is considered one of the most challenging courses in the Alpine Ski World Cup.
The pistes on Zugspitze are a total of 20 km long and even the way up is a real experience. So the Zugspitze cable car itself is a real superlative cable car. Built in December 2017, the state-of-the-art cable car can transport up to 580 people per hour without any waiting time and sets three world records on its journey: it passes the world’s highest steel construction support for aerial tramways (127 m) and then overcomes the largest total height difference of 1,945 m in one section as well as the world’s longest free span at 3,213 m. During the ride, winter sports enthusiasts enjoy the breathtaking view through floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that surround the two gondolas. The top station of the cable car is at an altitude of 2,720 m and here a true deep-snow El Dorado opens up for freeriders. Less experienced skiers have the option of skiing down the less steep and wider slopes on the Zugspitzplatt.
Ski area Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal (2,224 m)
Oberstdorf is the southernmost municipality in Germany and lies not far from the Austrian Kleinwalsertal valley. Winter sports enthusiasts in this region can enjoy the wide and varied range of slopes offered by the Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal ski area, which is located on both German and Austrian territory and can be accessed with the ski pass of the same name. The ski area impresses with around 118 kilometres of pistes (incl. 8 km of ski routes) and is particularly suitable for families. Around half of all piste kilometres are marked blue, so that little rascals and beginners alike are sure to find the run that best suits their abilities. Families and beginners will find optimal conditions in the area at Söllereck with almost exclusively easy to intermediate slopes. In addition, the entire Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal ski area comes up trumps with an excellent ski school offer.
Advanced skiers get their money’s worth on the 50 kilometres of red and 12 kilometres of black pistes. The slopes are accessible with a total of 55 modern lifts. The entrance to the German Nebelhorn area is in Oberstdorf. The highest cable car in the Allgäu transports skiers and snowboarders to 2,224 m and thus to the second highest mountain station in Germany. Here, winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy the breathtaking view of the 400 or so peaks in the surrounding area – including the Zugspitze – before whizzing down the valley run with a remarkable length of 7.5 km to Oberstdorf.
Other highlights in the ski area are the two snow parks “Crystal Ground” and “Easy Fellhornpark”, the night skiing offer and the notorious après-ski parties at the foot of the slopes in the surrounding villages.
Ski area Winkelmossalm-Steinplatte (1,860 m)
The Winkelmossalm-Steinplatte ski area is located in the Chiemgau Alps not far from the border triangle of Bavaria, Tyrol and Salzburg and can be reached from Munich in just one hour by car. The ski area is partly on German and partly on Austrian soil. The slopes are at altitudes between 740 m and 1,860 m. This makes it the third highest ski area in Germany and it is also considered one of the most snow-sure areas in the country. Skiers and snowboarders have the opportunity to explore 42 kilometres of slopes, almost all of which are marked blue and red. The ski area is particularly popular with families. Children and beginners can learn their first turns on the rather flat ski slopes on the Bavarian side, while advanced skiers can ski down the steeper slopes on the north side of the Steinplatte. Experience and impeccable skiing skills are needed to conquer the black-marked north slope descent, which has a considerable gradient and a length of approx. 1.2 km. The longest piste in Germany is recommended for winter sports enthusiasts with stamina. The Steinplatte-Seegatterl slope climbs about 1,120 metres in altitude over a length of about 12 km. By the way, freestylers get their money’s worth at the Waidring Steinplatte Snowpark, which is 740 m long. And night owls can also look forward to the floodlit piste at the village lift, which can also be skied late at night.
Ski area Berchtesgaden Region (1,800 m)
The Berchtesgaden region is located in the extreme south-east of Upper Bavaria and boasts a total of 6 ski areas, which can be explored with the “Berchtesgaden Region” ski pass. The total of 60 kilometres of pistes and 29 lifts are located at an altitude of up to 1,800 m, which makes the Berchtesgaden region, or more precisely the small ski area of Jenner am Königssee, the fourth highest ski area in Germany. The Berchtesgaden region definitely has a lot to offer and is particularly popular among families. Highlights of the region include night skiing with floodlights and music in the Götschen Bischofswiesen ski area, the wide, flat pistes at Hochschwarzeck that are ideal for families with children, and the 6 km long downhill run from Rossfeld to Oberau. When the snow conditions are good, freeriders can look forward to fabulous deep-snow runs on the side of the piste and freestylers can let off steam on the kickers and in the halfpipe in Götschen. This much is certain: there is a lot to discover in the 6 ski areas of the Berchtesgaden region.
Ski area Wendelstein (1,723 m)
The Wendelstein ski area is situated on the slopes of the mountain of the same name and is located in the eastern part of the Bavarian Pre-Alps. With an altitude of 1,838 m, the mountain is the highest peak of the Wendelstein massif and is famous for its unique and rugged appearance. The Wendelstein ski area is rather manageable with 2 T-bar lifts, but the 10 kilometres of pistes definitely have it all. The 6 red and 4 black kilometres of pistes are ideal for advanced skiers, snowboarders and professionals. The notorious east run is marked black and, with a length of 3.8 km and very steep passages, requires a solid technique and good physical condition. As there are no blue piste kilometres at Wendelstein, a skiing holiday for beginners here is definitely challenging, but possible and fun-promising with the support of the experienced ski instructors at the local ski school. The highest point of the ski area is just under 100 m below the summit of the Wendelstein and can be reached by cog railway in Branneburg or by cable car from Osterhofen.
Ski area winter sports arena Tegelberg (1,720 m)
Tegelberg is located near Schwangau in the Ammergau Alps and only a 10-minute drive from the popular German winter sports resort of Füssen. The Tegelberg is 1,720 m high and rises impressively and steeply from the foothills of the Alps. On the slopes of the mountain, the small but fine skiing area Wintersportarena Tegelberg is located at altitudes between 825 m and 1,720 m. Here, winter sports enthusiasts have the opportunity to explore a total of 8 kilometres of pistes, which are accessed by 4 T-bar lifts and a cable car. With 3 kilometres of blue and 5 kilometres of red pistes, the area is ideal for beginners and families with children, as the lower part of the ski area with its 4 T-bar lifts and gentle, flat slopes is designed for ski and snowboard beginners. But winter sports enthusiasts who want more will also get their money’s worth here. The highest point of the ski area is the top station of the gondola at an altitude of 1,720 metres. Here you can stop at the former hunting lodge of Maximillian II, the Tegelberghaus, and enjoy regional delicacies with a fantastic view. The main downhill run also starts here, which is lined by trees and covers almost 4.3 km and 900 metres in altitude. The destination of this popular downhill run is the valley station of the gondola.
Ski area Brauneck-Wegscheid (1,712 m)
A total of 83 kilometres of pistes at altitudes between 700 m and 1,712 m can be explored with the “Alpen Plus” ski pass. The pistes, accessed by 47 lifts, are spread across the Wallberg, Brauneck-Wegscheid, Sudelfeld and Spitzing-Tegernsee ski areas, all of which are located in the Bavarian Alpine foothills. Most of the slopes can be found in the Brauneck-Wegscheid ski area. The 32 kilometres of pistes are ideal for families. A highlight for the little ones is the “Villa Listig” children’s area, which is only a few metres away from the central entrance to the ski area and covers an area of no less than 20,000 m². Here the little racers can playfully learn their first turns under perfect conditions and professional guidance. Advanced skiers and snowboarders also get their money’s worth on the total of 21 red and around 7 black kilometres of slopes.
Daredevil advanced winter sports enthusiasts can also take on a very special challenge: The black-marked World Cup run to Lenggries starts at the Brauneck mountain station and is notorious for its humps at the beginning of the run and its considerable gradient.
Even at a late hour, snow lovers can wedel down the slopes of the small but fine night skiing area at the Streidl lift in Lenggries. The pistes are floodlit several evenings a week and offer a special kind of experience that winter sports enthusiasts will not soon forget.
Ski area Oberstaufen (1,708 m)
The Oberstaufen ski area is located not far from the border triangle of Germany – Austria – Switzerland and impresses with a total of 53 kilometres of pistes and 26 lifts in the four Allgäu ski areas of Sinswang, Hochgrad, Hündle/Thalkirchdorf and the SkiArena Steibis. With the “Oberstaufen PLUS Card” ski pass, skiers and snowboarders have access to all the slopes in the varied ski areas. In the SkiArena Steibis as well as in the ski area Hündlekopf and Thalkirchdorf, snow lovers have the largest selection of slopes. Both ski areas impress with around 18 kilometres of pistes, most of which are marked in blue and some in red. These two ski areas are therefore ideal for beginners and families with children.
Advanced and expert skiers will find suitable slopes in Steibis or on the Hündle. The Hündle steep slope is a special challenge and the slopes in Steibis at the Flüh and at the Bärenlochlift are also popular among heaters. Incidentally, women’s World Cup races have already been held on the Hündle steep slope.
Freestylers definitely get their money’s worth in the ski area too. The “Almdudler Steibis Park” is located in the Bärenloch in the SkiArena Steibis. Here, beginners and advanced skiers can prove their skills on various challenging lines. The snow park boasts numerous kickers, rails, boxes, a stair setup and much more.
So, fancy a skiing holiday including a ski pass in Germany? Here you can browse through all the SnowTrex offers. Have fun!
FAQs about the highest ski resorts in Germany
The Garmisch-Classic/Zugspitze ski area is the highest ski area in Germany and lies at altitudes between 732 m and 2,720 m.
The best-known ski areas in the Alps include the Garmisch-Classic/Zugspitze ski area (60 kilometers of slopes), the Brauneck-Wegscheid ski area (32 km) and the Winkelmossalm-Steinplatte ski area (42 km).
The largest skiing area in Germany is the skiing area Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal with 128 kilometers of slopes, which are partly located in Austria. The ski resort Liftverbund Feldberg impresses with 63 kilometers of slopes and these are located exclusively in Germany. Other large ski resorts in Germany are the ski resort Garmisch-Classic Zugspitze, the ski resort region Berchtesgaden and the ski resort Oberstaufen.
