Hippach: skiing Mountopolis in the heart of Zillertal

Hippach lies in the Mayrhofen-Hippach holiday region in upper Zillertal at roughly 630 metres above sea level. It offers a quieter, more traditional base for skiers who want rapid access to one of Tyrol’s major ski areas without staying in the busier centre of Mayrhofen. The main ski gateway is the Horbergbahn in neighbouring Schwendau, while accommodation higher on Schwendberg can use the Möslbahn. Both feed directly into the large Penken-Horberg sector.

Visitors who want to organise equipment before arrival can use the SKiSET page for ski hire in Hippach and choose between three SKiSET locations at the valley station, on the mountain and at Hochschwendberg.

Mountopolis: 142 km of pistes and 61 lifts

Mountopolis Mayrhofen officially offers 142 km of prepared pistes and 61 modern lifts. The ski experience is divided mainly between Mount Penken and Mount Ahorn. From Hippach, Horbergbahn and Möslbahn provide direct entry to Penken; Ahorn is accessed from Mayrhofen and is not linked to Penken by ski pistes.

The two mountains complement each other. Penken has the stronger sporting focus, including steep black runs, a major snowpark, race facilities and many red pistes. Ahorn is known for broad slopes, family skiing, winter walking and a long black valley run. This makes it easy to alternate energetic and more relaxed ski days.

Winter 2026/27: Horbergbahn, Penkenbahn and Möslbahn

For winter 2026/27, Horbergbahn and Penkenbahn are scheduled from 4 December 2026 until 11 April 2027. Until 24 December, the main access lifts are planned from 08:30 to 17:00; from 25 December they open at 08:00. Lifts inside the ski area generally operate until 16:00, with the last ascent on the main access gondolas at 16:30.

Möslbahn is scheduled from 12 December 2026 until 4 April 2027. Because Mountopolis covers a large area, the operator recommends returning to the chosen access gondola in good time. Wind, snowfall and grooming operations can affect the daily timetable.

Horbergbahn: the easiest gateway from Hippach

The Horbergbahn starts in Schwendau immediately beside Hippach and is the natural access point for many guests. At the top, skiers join the Horberg-Penken system and can continue towards Penkenjoch, Rastkogel, Finkenberg and other connected sectors. A large car park is available at the base, although free ski buses often make it easier to travel directly from accommodation.

KinderLand Horberg and one SKiSET shop are at the valley station, while another SKiSET location operates on the mountain. This means equipment can be collected, adjusted or stored close to the lift used every day.

Möslbahn from Hochschwendberg

Guests staying on the slopes above Hippach can use the Möslbahn from Hochschwendberg. The gondola enters the Penken system directly and avoids travelling down to the valley floor before skiing. Sport Fankhauser - Hochschwendberg, the third SKiSET shop listed for Hippach, is located directly beside this access.

Möslbahn has a shorter operating season than Horbergbahn in 2026/27. Skiers touring far across the area should therefore note the final return time before leaving the Hochschwendberg side.

Harakiri: Mayrhofen’s famous steep piste

Penken is home to the legendary Harakiri, described by Mayrhofner Bergbahnen as Austria’s steepest piste experience, with a maximum gradient of 78%. This black run is for highly confident skiers who can control speed and edge grip on very steep groomed terrain.

Other black runs such as DevilsRun and BlackAttack provide sporting alternatives, while the extensive red network makes it possible to increase difficulty gradually without tackling Harakiri.

PenkenPark, FunRides and RacingParadise

PenkenPark is one of Zillertal’s best-known freestyle areas. It contains five zones with lines for different ability levels, including kickers, rails and a FunCross. The exact layout changes with snow depth and shaping, but both advanced riders and newcomers can find suitable features.

Elsewhere on Penken, FunRides use elements inspired by boardercross and ski-cross. RacingParadise Unterberg has two permanent giant-slalom courses, while SkiMovie can record a skier’s run. These facilities add simple challenges to a conventional piste-skiing day.

Families and KinderLand Horberg

Hippach is particularly convenient for families with first-time skiers. KinderLand Horberg at the Horbergbahn valley station has a 69-metre magic carpet and a 180-metre T-bar. Children can learn the basic movements without immediately riding into the main mountain network.

Higher up, Albert’s Penken Tour offers an easy run with playful obstacles. Ski schools across Mayrhofen-Hippach provide group and private tuition for children and adults.

Mount Ahorn: a different ski day

For a complete change of atmosphere, guests can travel into Mayrhofen and use the Ahornbahn. It is scheduled from 12 December 2026 to 4 April 2027 and opens from 07:30. Ahorn’s sunny plateau has broad blue and red pistes, family facilities, the WhiteLounge SnowBar and winter walking options for non-skiers.

Advanced skiers can tackle ValleyRun Ahorn, a 5.5 km black piste with more than 1,300 metres of vertical descent to the valley. Ahorn and Penken are not ski-linked, so changing mountain requires returning to the valley.

Winter walking and the Easy Trail

Mayrhofen-Hippach has an extensive winter walking network. The easiest route to use directly from the valley is the Easy Trail Mayrhofen-Hippach, a 24.5 km route linking Mayrhofen, Hippach, Schwendau and Ramsau without major climbs or descents. It can be walked in shorter sections and combined with local public transport.

Higher up, winter hiking paths are available on Penken and Ahorn, including the route towards Filzenkogel at 2,227 metres. Access depends on snow and weather conditions.

Cross-country skiing around Mayrhofen-Hippach

Classic and skating trails are prepared on the valley floor when snow conditions allow. The tourism office states that grooming begins once snow depth reaches at least 30 cm. The network includes easy loops, more athletic routes and several floodlit trails.

Because Hippach is relatively low compared with the alpine ski terrain, Nordic conditions can change quickly during mild weather. Checking the interactive trail status before setting out is recommended.

Tobogganing on Schwendberg and PistenBock

The Schwendberg slopes above Hippach provide several traditional toboggan outings. The regional tourism authority highlights Brindlingalm, Nasenalm and Rastkogelhütte. These outings often combine a winter walk uphill, a hut stop and a toboggan descent, making them a strong alternative to another full ski day.

On Mount Ahorn, PistenBock uses a dedicated 700-800 metre course. It is a separate attraction rather than part of the normal ski pass and helmets are compulsory.

Zillertaler Superskipass

For guests who want to explore the whole valley, the Zillertaler Superskipass for two to 21 days is valid in winter 2026/27 from 4 December to 11 April. It covers the major Zillertal lift systems according to the pass conditions, allowing additional days in areas such as Zillertal Arena, Hochzillertal-Kaltenbach and the Tux-Hintertux region.

Mountopolis alone provides enough variety for several days, so the valley-wide pass is most useful for longer stays or visitors specifically planning to compare different ski areas.

Getting to Hippach

By car, visitors enter Zillertal around Jenbach-Wiesing and follow the main valley road towards Zell am Ziller and Hippach. No major Alpine pass is required to reach the village, but suitable winter tyres and snow chains when road conditions demand them remain important.

Long-distance trains serve Jenbach, where travellers change to the Zillertalbahn. Ramsau-Hippach station at Talstraße 70 serves the local area directly. Trains, buses and ski buses then connect Hippach, Ramsau and Schwendau with Horbergbahn.

Three SKiSET shops in Hippach

SKiSET currently lists three shops. Skicenter Horberg-Tal is at the Horbergbahn valley station; Skicenter Horberg-Berg is at the mountain station; and Sport Fankhauser - Hochschwendberg is directly at Möslbahn, Hochschwendberg 525.

All three are listed as slope-front shops and normally open daily from 08:30 to 17:00. Each provides boot fitting and free lockers; both Skicenter Horberg locations also list workshop repairs. Their valley-and-mountain distribution makes it easy to choose the most convenient collection point for the accommodation and lift used.

Planning a ski holiday in Hippach

Hippach offers a strong balance between a quieter village and immediate access to a major ski network. Horbergbahn goes straight to Penken, Möslbahn serves Hochschwendberg and Mountopolis provides 142 km of pistes covering sport, family skiing and freestyle. Ahorn adds a second mountain with a more panoramic character, while cross-country skiing, tobogganing and the Easy Trail broaden the programme away from alpine skiing.

For an efficient stay, check lift status each morning, leave enough time to return to the correct gondola and reserve equipment in advance during holiday periods. With three SKiSET shops, free ski buses and the Zillertalbahn, a winter holiday with limited car use is straightforward to organise.