Kals Am Grossglockner

Kals am Großglockner sits at the foot of Austria’s highest peak, anchoring the easternmost major ski domain in Tyrol. The village is a quiet mountaineering hub that merged its ski operations with neighbouring Matrei in 2008, creating the Großglockner Resort Kals-Matrei. The result is a 47.1-kilometre network of pistes that climbs to 2,426 metres, offering long valley descents and stark views of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Unlike the sprawling, purpose-built mega-resorts of the French or Swiss Alps, Kals retains a deeply traditional farming character, even as modern infrastructure like the Gradonna Mountain Resort has brought luxury to the slopes. Skiers come here for the uncrowded pistes, the reliable snowmaking, and the sheer scale of the surrounding three-thousand-metre peaks. It is a place that feels remote but skis big, balancing high-altitude sport with the slow pace of an East Tyrolean winter.

Mountain culture & milestones

Kals has always been defined by the Großglockner. Long before the lifts arrived, the village was a base camp for alpinists attempting the 3,798-metre summit. The local mountain guide association, established in 1869 on the initiative of the Prague businessman Johann Stüdl, is one of the oldest in the Alps. Stüdl also financed the original Stüdlhütte in 1868, laying the foundation for modern alpinism in the region. He was later made an honorary citizen of Kals, and the largest bell in the local parish church was named in his honour. The culture here is deeply rooted in mountaineering rather than mass tourism, and the locals treat the high alpine environment with a mix of reverence and practicality. Farming remains a vital part of the local economy, and the village has resisted the urge to replace its agricultural heritage with purely tourist-focused infrastructure. Winter tourism began modestly in 1961 with the construction of the Glocknerblick single chairlift. For decades, Kals operated as a small, standalone ski hill, catering mostly to locals and a handful of dedicated visitors. The turning point came in 2008 when the Schultz Group took over the struggling local lift company and linked Kals with the Matrei ski area on the other side of the mountain. This merger created East Tyrol’s largest ski domain. The recent addition of the six-seater Glocknerblick chairlift, complete with heated seats and weather bubbles, marks a shift from rustic charm to modern comfort, yet the village has deliberately avoided the overdevelopment seen in other Tyrolean valleys.

Valley bases: where to stay

The resort spans two distinct valleys, each offering a different base experience. Kals at 1,325 metres is the quieter, more traditional side, while Matrei at 980 metres sits on the Felbertauern road and functions more like a busy transit town. In Kals, accommodation ranges from centuries-old farmhouses and family-run guesthouses to the striking Gradonna Mountain Resort. This modern, timber-clad complex is situated directly on the piste, offering a level of ski-in/ski-out luxury that is rare in East Tyrol. The village itself is spread out, with several small hamlets like Großdorf providing immediate lift access. Matrei offers a wider range of standard hotels and apartments. It lacks the immediate alpine charm of Kals, but a fast gondola connects the town directly to the upper slopes.
BaseAltitudeVibeAccess to slopes
Kals am Großglockner1,325 mQuiet, traditional, luxury enclavesDirect lift access and ski-in/ski-out
Matrei in Osttirol980 mBusy, practical, road-trip hubGondola ride to the main ski area

Ski sectors at a glance

The Großglockner Resort is effectively split into two halves that meet at the Cimaross peak at 2,426 metres. The Matrei side, known as Goldried, is heavily forested and family-focused, while the Kals side offers longer, more exposed runs beneath the Blauspitz.

The mountain & skiing

The skiing here is heavily skewed towards intermediates, with 25.5 kilometres of red runs making up the bulk of the terrain. The pistes are wide, impeccably groomed, and rarely crowded, even during peak holiday weeks. The layout makes it easy to navigate, with most of the major runs funneling back toward the central lifts. From the Adler Lounge at the summit, skiers can drop down either side of the mountain. The descent back to Kals features an exclusive carving piste and a long, sweeping valley run that holds its snow well thanks to comprehensive snowmaking. The Matrei side offers a winding, tree-lined descent that is ideal when visibility drops or the wind picks up on the higher ridges. The contrast between the high, open bowls of the Cimaross and the sheltered glades of Goldried gives the resort a dual personality. Advanced skiers have fewer options, though the black run under the Cimaross gondola provides a steep, sustained pitch that will test tired legs. There are also 4.6 kilometres of marked but ungroomed ski routes for those wanting to push into the powder without venturing completely off-piste. These routes offer a taste of freeriding in a relatively controlled environment, often holding untracked snow for days after a storm. Beginners are well catered for with dedicated areas at the top of the Matrei gondola and down in the Kals valley at Großdorf, where magic carpets and gentle gradients create a safe learning environment. The progression from the beginner slopes to the long blue runs on the Matrei side is smooth, allowing novices to build confidence before tackling the steeper red descents.

The village & après-ski

Kals is not a party town. The après-ski scene is subdued, revolving around a few umbrella bars at the lift base and the terraces of local mountain huts. The Adler Lounge at the summit is the architectural centrepiece – a glass-and-steel cube serving high-end Tyrolean food with panoramic views of the Großglockner. It is the sort of place where you stop for a long lunch rather than a quick drink. Down in the village, evenings are spent in traditional Gasthöfe eating heavy, comforting local dishes. The culinary focus is on regional ingredients, with menus featuring Schlipfkrapfen (stuffed pasta), Tiroler Gröstl, and locally sourced game. The atmosphere is quiet and familial. For those wanting a louder night out, Matrei has a few more bars and pubs, but neither side of the mountain competes with the raucous nightlife of the Arlberg or the Zillertal. The appeal here is the silence.

Snow & season

The season runs from early December to early April. While East Tyrol can sometimes miss the big north-westerly snowstorms that hit the northern Alps, it benefits from a specific microclimate. When low-pressure systems move up from the Mediterranean – a weather pattern known locally as a “Genuatief” – they dump massive amounts of snow on the southern side of the main alpine ridge. To supplement natural snowfall, the resort has invested heavily in snowmaking infrastructure. Almost 100 percent of the pistes, including the three main valley runs, are covered by snow cannons. This guarantees top-to-bottom skiing even during lean winters. The altitude of the upper slopes, with much of the skiing taking place above 2,000 metres, ensures that the snow stays cold and chalky through the core winter months. The southern exposure of some runs means they can soften up in the late spring sun, making the early morning corduroy the best time to ski. The snow management team here is highly regarded, often keeping the pistes in excellent condition long after the natural snowfall has stopped.

Summer & year-round

When the snow melts, Kals reverts to its original purpose: a base for hikers and climbers. The Hohe Tauern National Park offers hundreds of kilometres of trails, ranging from gentle valley walks along the Dorfertal to multi-day alpine traverses. The summit of the Großglockner remains the ultimate prize, drawing mountaineers from across Europe during the short summer climbing window. The Stüdlhütte, rebuilt in 1996 as a modern cylindrical structure, serves as the primary high-altitude base for climbers tackling the Stüdlgrat ridge or the normal route. The hut is a marvel of alpine engineering, equipped with solar panels and a vegetable-oil-driven combined heat and power unit. Lower down, the Kalser Glocknerstraße, a toll road leading up to the Lucknerhaus, offers spectacular views and serves as the starting point for many high-altitude routes. The Adler Lounge and several key lifts stay open during the summer, providing easy access to the high ridges for mountain bikers and day-trippers. The village remains active year-round, supported by agriculture and a steady stream of summer tourists looking for pristine nature rather than manicured attractions. The Stüdlhütte also marks a key transition point on the Eagle Walk, a long-distance hiking trail that crosses Tyrol in thirty-three stages.

Safety & mountain etiquette

The terrain off the marked pistes in the Hohe Tauern is a serious high-alpine environment. Glaciers, hidden crevasses, and complex avalanche paths are real hazards. Anyone venturing beyond the ski routes should hire a local guide from the Kals mountain guide association. The guides know the microclimates and the snowpack history, which is crucial in a region where the weather can turn violently. On the pistes, the standard FIS rules apply. The wide, fast nature of the red runs means that speed control is essential, particularly on the valley descents late in the day when the snow can become heavy or icy. The resort is popular with families, so faster skiers need to give way and maintain a safe distance around the beginner areas and the narrower woodland tracks on the Matrei side.

Who it suits best

Kals am Großglockner is ideal for families, intermediate cruisers, and anyone who values scenery and quiet pistes over nightlife and massive, interconnected ski domains. It appeals to skiers who want the infrastructure of a modern resort but the atmosphere of a traditional Tyrolean village. The uncrowded slopes and the high-quality mountain dining make it a strong choice for couples and older skiers. Hardcore freeriders and those looking for a lively après-ski scene will find it too quiet, and beginners might eventually want more variety, but for a relaxed, scenic ski week, it is hard to beat.

Getting there

The resort is located in East Tyrol, which requires a slightly longer drive from the major northern hubs.
  • Nearest airports: Salzburg (160 km), Innsbruck (166 km), Klagenfurt (176 km), Munich (255 km)
  • Nearest rail hub: Lienz
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Written by the Alps2Alps editorial team.

This guide is published by Alps2Alps for general information only. It is not affiliated with Wikipedia or any resort, airport, or lift operator. Facts were accurate at the time of writing; always check official sources before travel.