Hochkrimml sits at 1,700 metres on the Gerlos Pass, right on the border between Salzburg and Tyrol. As the highest village in the Zillertal Arena, it gives you direct access to 150 kilometres of slopes. Unlike the louder hubs of Zell am Ziller or Gerlos, Hochkrimml is a quiet, purpose-built alpine base. The settlement splits into three hamlets: Filzsteinalm, Duxeralm, and Silberleiten. You stay here for the altitude. The snow cover holds up well, and the local slopes on the Gerlosplatte are wide and forgiving. The lifts connect directly to Königsleiten, so you can ski across the entire Zillertal Arena without ever catching a bus. The village focuses on practicalities over nightlife. It is a functional starting point for long days on the mountain.
Mountain culture and milestones
Hochkrimml grew up alongside the Zillertal Arena. For decades, the Gerlosplatte operated as an isolated ski hill. Access was notoriously difficult until the Gerlos Alpine Road was built in the 1960s, finally opening the high plateau to winter tourism. In 1999, the lift operators in Zell am Ziller, Gerlos, Königsleiten, and Hochkrimml merged their networks. This linked the Tyrolean Zillertal with the Salzburg Pinzgau, turning a handful of small resorts into one of Austria’s largest ski areas.
The operators have steadily upgraded the Gerlosplatte infrastructure to handle the crowds. The Plattenkogel X-Press chairlifts modernised the uplift from the village in the early 2000s. In 2024, the new Duxer-X Press six-seater chairlift replaced the old Duxeralmbahn. This cleared up a major bottleneck for skiers heading towards the Königsleiten connection. The new lift has heated seats and weather bubbles, which you absolutely need on this exposed plateau. The village itself has grown slowly. Strict planning laws in the Hohe Tauern region block large hotel developments, so the area remains dominated by smaller chalet buildings.
Valley bases: where to stay
Hochkrimml is not a traditional valley town. It is a high-altitude settlement scattered across the mountainside. You will mostly find self-catered chalets and apartments here, rather than large hotels. The buildings rely heavily on wood and stone, blending into the surrounding pine forests.
Filzsteinalm sits slightly lower and draws families who want easy access to the local drag lifts. It is the first area you hit when driving up from Krimml. Duxeralm acts as the main transit point. You will find the local Spar supermarket here, along with a ski depot and the base station for the Duxer-X Press. Silberleiten is the highest of the three hamlets, offering the fastest route up the mountain via the Plattenkogel X-Press lifts.
You need a car or the local ski bus to move between the hamlets if you are not on skis. This spread-out layout means you rarely have to walk far to a lift, but you also lose the traditional high street for evening strolls. Chalets usually provide underground parking or spaces right outside the door. You will appreciate this when the heavy snow hits.
Ski sectors at a glance
Most of the local skiing happens on the Gerlosplatte, a high plateau that catches the sun for most of the day.
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The Gerlosplatte leans heavily towards blue and easy red runs. The lift network is modern. Several high-speed six- and eight-seater chairs move people quickly out of the village. If you ski down from the Plattenkogel into the Königsleiten sector, you hit steeper, tree-lined pistes. Gerlos is further away and takes a full day to explore properly, but it has the best snowparks in the region.
The mountain and skiing
The Gerlosplatte is essentially a massive, tilted snowfield. The runs here are wide and lack the steep pitch you find further down the valley. This makes it an excellent area for carving and building confidence. The Plattenkogel X-Press lifts move you quickly out of the village. From the top of the Plattenkogel at 2,040 metres, you get a clear view across the Pinzgau valley and the Hohe Tauern peaks.
To reach the rest of the Zillertal Arena, you take a red run down to Königsleiten. The connection is straightforward, but the return journey requires catching the Krimml-X-Press back up to the Übergangsjoch at 2,500 metres. This marks the highest point in the Zillertal Arena. The terrain becomes progressively steeper and more challenging as you move towards Gerlos and Zell am Ziller. The recent addition of the Wilde Krimml 10-seater gondola has vastly improved the connection between Zell and Gerlos. This makes the full arena crossing much faster for skiers starting in Hochkrimml.
Cross-country skiers have access to a high-altitude trail at 1,600 metres. This loop is snow-sure and gives you a demanding workout due to the thin air. Down in the valley, the 100-kilometre Pinzgau trail connects Krimml with the rest of the region.
The local ski schools use the Arena fairy-tale meadow in the centre of the village for beginners. The gentle gradient of the Filzsteinalm makes it easy for novices to progress from the magic carpet to the drag lifts. You don’t have to worry about faster skiers intimidating you here.
The village and après-ski
Hochkrimml is quiet. If you want table dancing and loud music, you should book a place in Gerlos. The evenings here revolve around chalet dinners and a few local restaurants, like the Plattenalm. You will find 31 huts and snow bars spread across the wider Zillertal Arena, but the local options in Hochkrimml stay subdued.
You will find a couple of sports shops and two winter sports schools, which keeps things practical for families. The local Spar supermarket at the Duxeralm base covers basic supplies. Still, you might want to do a larger shop in the valley before driving up the pass.
A 700-metre funpark provides some entertainment for teenagers, and you have two natural toboggan runs nearby. The isolation is the point. People stay here to ski hard during the day and sleep well at night.
Snow and season
The altitude provides a buffer against poor winters. At 1,700 metres, Hochkrimml holds its snow well into April. The Gerlos Pass catches weather systems from the north and west, which often results in heavy dumps of snow. The plateau shape means snow settles evenly across the pistes. The Gerlosplatte is exposed to the wind, which can scour the higher slopes during storms. The sheer volume of snow usually makes up for it.
The Zillertal Arena uses extensive snowmaking systems to guarantee coverage on the lower connecting runs. The season typically runs from early December until the middle of April. Because the village sits on a pass, the access road can get difficult during heavy snowfall. You absolutely need winter tyres, and carrying snow chains is highly recommended.
Summer and year-round
When the snow melts, the Gerlos Pass turns into a route for motorcycles and cyclists. The nearby Krimml Waterfalls, the highest in Europe, draw heavy crowds in July and August. Hochkrimml itself empties out, but the hiking trails remain open.
The Hohe Tauern National Park borders the village, giving you access to high alpine routes and mountain huts. Mountain bikers use the forest tracks to explore the Pinzgau valley. The summer season is shorter than the winter one, running primarily from late June to early September.
Safety and mountain etiquette
The Gerlosplatte is generally safe and forgiving, but the weather can change rapidly at 2,000 metres. The wide pistes make it easy to build up too much speed, so you need to watch out for beginners and ski school groups. The FIS rules apply across the mountain, and local patrols keep an eye on the busier intersections.
If you venture off-piste towards Königsleiten, you must carry avalanche equipment and know how to use it. The local ski schools offer guiding if you don’t know the terrain. The transition between the Salzburg and Tyrol sides of the ski area is seamless, but you should keep an eye on the time. Missing the last lift back from Gerlos means paying for a very expensive taxi ride around the mountain.
Who it suits best
Hochkrimml works well for families and groups who want ski-in, ski-out convenience without the noise of a major resort. The local slopes are perfect for intermediates. Advanced skiers might find the Gerlosplatte too flat, but the connection to the rest of the Zillertal Arena provides enough mileage for a week. It is not the right choice for non-skiers or anyone looking for a lively village atmosphere.
Getting there
The drive up the Gerlos Pass is steep and requires winter tyres.
Nearest airports: Innsbruck (95 km), Salzburg (155 km), Munich (194 km).
Nearest rail hub: Zell am See.
Deadline: February 13th
Winner Announcement: February 14th
