Sankt Gallenkirch

Sankt Gallenkirch is the primary mechanical heart of Austria’s expansive Silvretta Montafon ski area, sitting squarely in the middle of the Montafon valley. By anchoring the critical gondola links to both the Nova and Hochjoch mountain sectors, this village allows skiers to access 141 kilometres of connected, high-altitude terrain without ever waiting for a bus. The terrain ranges from a valley floor at roughly 900 metres up to the striking 2,430-metre peak of the Hochalpila summit, delivering a vast 1,740-metre vertical drop. The ski area consistently over-delivers for ambitious intermediates and advanced freeriders, balancing wide, sweeping red pistes with some of the steepest black runs and secured ski routes in the Vorarlberg region. The valley avoids the intense, international commercialisation of the Arlberg, maintaining a strong agricultural heritage alongside its highly modernised lift infrastructure. For those focused entirely on spending long days exploring diverse, snow-sure alpine bowls and tackling immense vertical descents, Sankt Gallenkirch is an exceptionally efficient and practical base.

Mountain culture & milestones

The Montafon valley initially gained recognition in the mid-19th century as a summer retreat for those seeking fresh alpine air. Winter sports took hold much later. In the 1920s, the writer Ernest Hemingway famously spent his winters in nearby Schruns, bringing early international attention to the valley’s deep snowpack. However, the true expansion of ski infrastructure only arrived after the Second World War.

Industrial development accidentally kick-started the local ski industry in the 1950s when the Illwerke power company opened their industrial cable cars on the Golm to tourist use. The specific development of Sankt Gallenkirch as a winter destination was spearheaded by German entrepreneur Walter Klaus in the late 1960s. He systematically expanded the lifts, eventually uniting the slopes above Sankt Gallenkirch and Gaschurn to create the Silvretta Nova area.

The most defining milestone occurred in 2008 when the Silvretta Nova domain merged with the Hochjoch area across the valley, forming the unified Silvretta Montafon resort. The infrastructure continues to evolve aggressively. In 2021, the resort opened the completely rebuilt Valisera Bahn. This semi-automatic 10-seater gondola launched alongside the Silvretta Park Montafon, a massive base station development that entirely modernised the valley floor access.

Valley bases: where to stay

Deciding where to stay in the Montafon valley dictates how you start your skiing day. The settlements stretch linearly along the valley floor, each offering a distinct character and differing degrees of lift proximity.

Sankt Gallenkirch is the strategic centre point. Staying here puts you right at the base of the Valisera and Grasjoch gondolas. The village itself is spread out, mixing traditional timber-clad farmhouses with modern apartment blocks. It is entirely practical, prioritising rapid mountain access over late-night entertainment.

Just slightly further up the valley sits Gortipohl, a much smaller and quieter hamlet. It has its own direct access to the Nova sector via the Garfrescha chairlift, which is an excellent option for avoiding the main morning queues at the larger gondolas. Continuing south brings you to Gaschurn, a livelier village that offers direct access to the southern end of the Nova area via the Versettla gondola. Gaschurn tends to have a more pronounced après-ski atmosphere.

To the north, the market town of Schruns is the regional hub. It features the railway terminus and a wider array of restaurants, shops, and historical architecture. Schruns offers direct cable car access to the Hochjoch side of the mountain but requires a short drive or bus journey to reach the Nova sector.

Ski sectors at a glance

The Silvretta Montafon ski area operates across two distinct but seamlessly connected mountain ranges. The Grasjoch and Valisera gondolas depart from the same terminal complex in Sankt Gallenkirch, sending skiers off to the Hochjoch and Nova sectors respectively.

The Nova sector is a sprawling expanse of wide, rolling terrain that naturally encourages fast, carving turns. It feels expansive and open, with the majority of the runs sitting above the treeline. The Hochjoch sector is distinctly more rugged and dramatic. It sits slightly higher on average and contains the resort’s longest descents, as well as its most accessible off-piste bowls.

The mountain & skiing

Silvretta Montafon delivers 141 kilometres of marked pistes, and the overall grading skews firmly towards competent skiers. Beginners are accommodated with 60 kilometres of blue runs, many of which are high-altitude rather than relegated to the valley floor, ensuring good snow quality for learners. However, the resort truly excels for intermediates. There are 45 kilometres of red runs, most of which are exceptionally broad and follow a consistent, satisfying fall line.

For advanced skiers, the sheer vertical drop and steepness provide a serious workout. The resort features 8 kilometres of black pistes, headlined by the ‘Black Scorpions’. This is a marketed collection of seven extremely steep runs, with gradients reaching an intimidating 81 per cent on the steepest sections. Piste 44, a dedicated 2-kilometre black run, is reserved for experts seeking sustained pitch.

Endurance skiers invariably gravitate to the Hochjoch-Totale. This is the longest run in the Vorarlberg region. It begins at the 2,430-metre Hochalpila summit and descends 12 kilometres continuously down to Schruns at 690 metres, yielding a massive 1,740-metre vertical drop. The route even routes skiers through a 470-metre-long mountain tunnel. The resort also hosts the ‘Ländle Früah Sport’ on Saturday mornings, allowing early risers to board the lifts at 7:30 am to ski freshly groomed corduroy before the main crowds arrive.

Freestylers gather at the Snowpark Montafon, situated in the Grasjoch area. After being relocated and expanded, it now features dozens of heavily shaped kickers, rails, and boxes, frequently hosting international competitions. The lifting infrastructure moving everyone around consists of 35 installations, including 10 high-capacity gondolas and 18 chairlifts.

The village & après-ski

Sankt Gallenkirch avoids the intense, table-dancing party culture found in some of the larger Tyrolean resorts. The architecture is a functional mix of the traditional ‘Montafonerhaus’ – structures featuring a white stone base topped with dark, weathered timber – and newer, minimalist hotel buildings.

The 2021 addition of the Silvretta Park Montafon at the base station completely changed how the valley floor works. Instead of a muddy car park and a ticket window, it is now a massive transit hub with an underground garage, equipment shops, and a market hall serving regional food. It streamlines the whole transition from car to mountain.

Après-ski does exist, but it is largely concentrated in the few hours immediately following the lift closures. You will find a couple of energetic umbrella bars near the valley stations in Sankt Gallenkirch and Gaschurn, where skiers gather for a beer before heading to dinner. Evening dining focuses on hearty, calorific mountain fare. Local specialities invariably feature ‘Sura Kees’, a traditional sour milk cheese unique to the Montafon valley, which is heavily incorporated into local dishes like Käsespätzle.

Snow & season

Geographically positioned on the northern flanks of the Alps, the Montafon valley acts as a natural catch’s mitt for weather systems rolling in from the northwest. The resort routinely registers between 8 and 10 metres of annual snowfall. The critical factor for snow preservation here is altitude: over 50 per cent of the skiable domain sits above 2,000 metres.

The main winter season opens in early December and runs steadily until mid-April. While the high-alpine bowls rely almost entirely on natural snowfall, the resort has invested heavily in artificial snowmaking capability. Extensive networks of SUFAG snow cannons ensure that the critical lower-elevation return runs into Schruns, Sankt Gallenkirch, and Gaschurn remain open and navigable even during prolonged dry spells or late-season warming.

Summer & year-round

Once the winter snowpack retreats, the focus pivots immediately to hiking and mountain biking. The main gondolas continue to run throughout the summer, giving walkers rapid access to the high-altitude trails weaving through the Verwall, Rätikon, and Silvretta mountain ranges.

The valley offers hundreds of kilometres of marked hiking paths. E-biking has fundamentally changed summer tourism here, allowing casual cyclists to easily manage the severe gradients required to reach the upper alpine pastures. A significant regional attraction is the Silvretta High Alpine Road. This spectacular toll road links the Montafon with the Paznaun valley in Tyrol. It is a famously winding route that climbs past deep blue reservoirs and provides stark, imposing views of the glaciers clinging to the Piz Buin, Vorarlberg’s highest peak.

Safety & mountain etiquette

Silvretta Montafon has a formidable reputation among freeriders, but the terrain demands respect. The resort manages 28 kilometres of marked ski routes; these are secured against avalanche danger by the patrol teams but are deliberately left ungroomed.

Venturing beyond these marked routes means entering completely uncontrolled, high-alpine environments. The bowl structures off the Hochjoch and the steep, complex terrain dropping back towards the valleys are particularly prone to rapid weather changes and high avalanche risk. The resort uses extensive avalanche fencing to protect the pistes, and it is critically important never to ski through or underneath these structures. Anyone heading off-piste must carry a transceiver, shovel, and probe as a bare minimum. Hiring a local UIAGM-qualified mountain guide from the offices in Schruns or Sankt Gallenkirch is highly recommended. The guides understand how the local wind patterns load the gullies and can safely navigate the complex exits back to the valley floor.

Who it suits best

Sankt Gallenkirch caters brilliantly to competent skiers who measure a good day by the distance covered and vertical dropped. The combination of sweeping, high-speed red pistes and a rapidly efficient lift system makes it an intermediate paradise. Advanced skiers will push themselves on the steep gradients of the Black Scorpions and the expansive, lift-accessible off-piste bowls.

The resort is less ideal for absolute beginners who prefer a compact, unintimidating nursery area right next to their accommodation, as much of the learning terrain requires a gondola ride. It is also not the right destination for groups looking to party heavily until dawn. However, for dedicated skiers and families focused on maximising their time on high-quality, snow-sure slopes, the setup is highly effective.

Getting there

– Nearest airports: St. Gallen-Altenrhein (75 km), Friedrichshafen (100 km), Innsbruck (135 km), Zurich (170 km) – Nearest rail hub: Schruns

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.