Ski touring Arlberg: Top 5 tour tips from the ski guide
Alexander Kunert 7 July 2026
Discover the most beautiful ski tours in Arlberg. From Hochkarspitze to Wösterspitze – exclusive route tips & requirements for your adventure.
The Arlberg is the undisputed mecca of alpine winter sports. But away from the world-famous, prepared pistes of St. Anton, Lech, Zürs and Stuben, true wilderness awaits you. Nestled between the rugged peaks of the Verwall, the mighty limestone walls of the Lechtal Alps and the untouched cirques of the Lechquellengebirge mountains, it reveals itself when Ski touring in the Arlberg a completely different world.
What's special about our area: The dense network of modern cable cars often allows you to shorten the first part of the ascent without expending too much energy. As soon as you leave the lifts behind, you attach your skins and enter the solitary silence of the three-thousanders. The most brilliant result of this „Arlberg formula“? Few metres of ascent face gigantic, often untracked descents.
Choosing from such a wealth of options is difficult. However, as passionate ski tour guides, we've given it a shot: here are our personal Top 5 ski tours in the Arlberg region.
The Rendl area on the south side of St. Anton am Arlberg is famous for its steep slopes and excellent snow quality. The tour up to the Hochkarspitze is a prime example of highly efficient alpinism: minimal effort on the ascent, maximum reward on the descent.
The key facts at a glance:
Requirement (PEAKX Scale): Middle
Ascension approx. 400 metres of ascent (from the Rendl mountain station)
Departure approx. 1,500 metres in altitude (to St. Jakob)
Starting point Rendlbahn St. Anton, continue to the Riffelbahn mountain station.
Character and route description:
After leaving the lifts behind, you ascend towards the summit of the Hochkarspitze in a pleasant, moderately steep track. The roughly 400 metres of ascent are easily manageable even for advanced beginners with solid kick-turn technique.
Once at the summit, a breathtaking view of the Verwall Alps opens up. However, the real highlight awaits beneath your wide freeride skis: the descent leads down the shady, often powdery north face. A fabulous 1,500 metres of vertical drop of finest terrain stretches all the way down into the valley to St. Jakob.
PEAKX Safety Tip: The north flank of the Hochkarspitze is steep. This tour demands absolutely safe avalanche conditions and a precise assessment of the slope before entry.
Those who seek vastness and for whom a short, exposed summit ridge doesn't cause shaky knees will find their perfect tour destination in the Verwall at the Kreuzjochspitze.
The key facts at a glance:
Requirement (PEAKX Scale): Mtitle
Ascension Approx. 500 metres of altitude
Departure up to 1,600 metres above sea level
Starting point St. Anton / Rendl Area
Character and route description:
Scenically, this tour is among the most impressive that the Verwall has to offer. The ascent of around 500 metres is quite pleasant. The last few metres to the summit cross are challenging: sure-footedness on rocky terrain is required here, and for the final steps to the summit, the skis often have to be strapped to your rucksack.
For your return journey, two spectacular options are open to you:
The North descent: Extremely steep and directly down into the Malfontal – only recommended for absolute experts in perfect conditions.
The classic round A scenically magnificent descent southwards towards Sessladalpe, followed by a transfer to the Kappler ski area via chairlift and the long descent back to Pettneu.
The Wildebene (often also referred to as Wildebenkopf) is a ski tour that can be excellently integrated into an extensive, varied freeride day.
The key facts at a glance:
Requirement (PEAKX Scale): Middle
Ascension Approx. 600 metres of elevation gain
Departure approx. 1,300 metres altitude
Starting point Stuben / Albona
Character and route description:
This classic tour usually starts with a short ascent and a warm-up descent from the Maroikopf down into the Maroital. Once at the bottom, it's time to put your skins back on. Around 600 metres of ascent will take you up to the Wildebenkopf. The climb leads through undulating terrain before the steep final slope requires secure climbing technique and, above all, a stable snowpack.
The descent into the Verwalltal valley in the southeast is an absolute dream for powder lovers. The wide slopes offer plenty of space for wide turns in the deep snow. A forest path through the Verwall then leads to the rustic Wagnerhütte, where a well-deserved refreshment awaits. The bus will take you back to St. Anton.
The Große Kaltenberg majestically towers over the Klostertal and offers one of the most challenging, yet also most rewarding ski tours in the entire Arlberg region. Despite using the Albona cable car for ascent, this undertaking remains an authentic, high-alpine ski tour.
The key facts at a glance:
Requirement (PEAKX Scale): Difficult
Ascension approx. 1,000 metres of altitude
Departure Approx. 1,700 metres of altitude
Starting point Stuben am Arlberg / Albonabahn
Character and route description:
After ascending with the Albonabahn, the plan is first to make the short climb to the Maroikopf. Descending via southeast slopes takes you down to the Kaltenbergalm, the actual starting point of the tour. The almost 1,000 metres of ascent require excellent fitness and solid hairpin turns in steep terrain. The finale to the summit is alpine in character: a exposed rock passage, secured with fixed ropes and ladders, leads to the highest point. Here, a head for heights and absolute surefootedness are a must.
The departure options are legendary:
The classic about the beggar's cart: You ski down through vast slopes into the lonely Nenzinggasttal and continue to the depot in Langen.
The Northern Variant With a short, sharp ascent over the Krachelspitze, you'll ride directly down to the station in Langen.
Not just St. Anton, the Lech side also offers world-class ski touring options. The ascent of the Nördliche Wösterspitze is a challenging adventure for alpinists seeking the thrill of a steep descent.
The key facts at a glance:
Requirement (PEAKX Scale): Difficult
Ascension approx. 500 metres of ascent (including steep couloir ascent)
Departure Approx. 1,100 metres of altitude
Starting point Rüfikopf Mountain Station (Lech)
Character and route description:
After a short descent from the Rüfikopf mountain station down to the Ochsengümple, you will be facing the west flank of the Wösterspitze. The steep ascent through the couloir demands experienced use of ski crampons in hard conditions, or even trudging with crampons and ice axe (skis on your rucksack).
The summit rewards you with a vast panorama of the Lechquellengebirge. The descent through the Front grub is among the best the Arlberg has to offer for very good skiers. The key section is often the entry over the gully on the summit slope – extreme caution is advised here. After that, a 600-metre-long slope in direct fall line awaits, promising pure enjoyment with safe powder snow.
The way home Either accept the 300-metre altitude gain over the Wöstersattel back to Lech, or descend through the wild Bockbachtal valley, take a taxi to Warth and ski back to Lech via the ski area.
The countless hidden valleys, gullies, and untracked slopes between St. Anton, Stuben, and Lech make the Arlberg an incomparable playground. However, to navigate here with maximum enjoyment and the necessary safety, three things are required:
A solid basic fitness level (see our PEAKX Requirements Matrix).
Modern freeride equipment with touring bindings, skins, and full safety gear (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, airbag backpack).
Local Expertise.
Our guides in the Arlberg are not just Certified ski instructor, but almost without exception also possess the highest level of training in snow sports: they are state-certified ski instructors.
This is your decisive advantage: you are not only accompanied by an absolute safety expert in high alpine terrain, who perfectly interprets the current snow and avalanche conditions. At the same time, you have a coach by your side who refines your ski technique in deep snow. This way, you not only ski more safely, but also more save energy, more elegantly and with significantly more enjoyment.
Would you like to discover the real insider tips away from the crowds and take your technique to the next level?
👉 Send us a no-obligation enquiry for your private guiding experience in Arlberg now!
Our guided ski tour on the Arlberg takes you away from the crowds into unspoilt terrain. With a state-certified guide, safely planned and individually tailored to you.
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Discover the legendary slopes of the Arlberg with our state-certified ski guides. In St. Anton am Arlberg, Lech Zürs and Stuben.
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Discover the most beautiful ski tours in Arlberg. From Hochkarspitze to Wösterspitze – exclusive route tips & requirements for your adventure.
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Ski touring is more than just a sport – it's the ultimate freedom in the mountains. However, for your first time in untouched terrain to be a pleasure and not an ordeal, the right preparation is crucial. Professional ski guide Alex Kunert explains for peakx.at what really matters when it comes to fitness, technique, and planning.