11 km
1030 m - 1456 m
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Test report Arber
Skiresort.info Test of the ski resort Arber
Total result: 3.6 out of 5 stars
Test Arber
The review Arber was created by Skiresort.info, the world’s largest test portal for ski resorts.
Top evaluation criteria
These evaluations count double in the total result.
Further evaluation criteria
Evaluation criteria for special interests
In detail: Test report for ski resort Arber
Top evaluation criteria
These evaluations count double in the total result.
Arber is the largest and highest ski resort in the Bavarian Forest.
Runs/slopes
Additional runs
5 km Marked ski routes
Altitude difference
426 m (Valley 1030 m - Mountain 1456 m )
Lifts/ cable cars
6
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 2 ← 1
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 2 ← 1
Photos
There are runs of all difficulty levels on the Grossen Arber. The slopes incrementally increase in difficulty starting on the right side with the easy children's area and the Thurnhof lifts up to the difficult World Cup course along the gondola lane and the extension of the Osthang slope (Eastern slope). So, you can travel between the easy, intermediate and difficult slopes from right to left according to your ability and mood. The many wide slopes, which are perfect for carving, the black FIS World Cup course, as well as the parallel grand slalom course with time measurement are the highlights. There is also a 5 km long ski route to the village of Bodenmais.
Runs/slopes
Total 11 km
Easy
4 km
(37 %)Intermediate
4 km
(36 %)Difficult
3 km
(27 %)
Additional runs
Marked ski routes
5 km
Ski route to the village of Bodenmais does not feature lift connection back to the resort.
Longest run
1.5 km
Run location
just above tree line, under tree line
Worth knowing
- Valley run available
- Public race course with time measurement
- Skiline
Photos
The lift offering on the Grossen Arber consists of a 6 person gondola lift, two rapid detachable 6 person chair lifts and 3 t-bar lifts. The highlights are the rapid Nordhang chair lift with weather protectors and the rapid Sonnenhang chair lift with special child-friendly safety bars.
Number of ski lifts
6
Total capacity
10930 Passengers / hour
Length of all lifts
3.7 km Total
Lifts and cable cars
1
2
3
Additional
4
The fully-automatic snow-making facility on the Arber is one of the most modern in Germany. All of the machines are connected via a central control system in the valley station. This enables optimal ski conditions to be achieved within a short time during below zero temperatures. A very high snow reliability exists as it is the highest ski resort in the Bavarian Forest and due to the modern snow-making facilities.
Worth knowing
- Artificial snow-making
50 Snow canons
80 % of the slopes have snow-making capabilities
- The valley run is always open when ski resort is open; without the valley run, ski operation is not possible.
Season 2008/2009
143 Days open
143 Days when valley run open
143 Days when valley run open
Photos
The slope preparation is very good.
All of the slopes are freshly prepared daily and also before the night skiing sessions. Even the steep slopes are groomed well using snowcats with cable winches.
Tip: By new snow, an optimal slope prepartion is not always possible, even with a large effort. In addition, the new snow can not combine with the snow lying underneath and moguls are created quickly. For safety reasons, usually no slope preparation is possible during operating times.
Photos
Further evaluation criteria
You can reach the Arber in about 1 hour from Passau, in about 1 1/4 hours from Regensburg and in about 2 hours from the North of Munich. The route leads to the Deggendorf highway intersection (A3 Passau-Regensburg/A92 Munich-Deggendorf) and from there it's about 40 minutes to the Arber. One advantage is that the highways are usually not too jammed. The parking lots are located along the country road, slightly below the ski lifts.
Access via Autobahn A92 München-Deggendorf, Autobahnende Deggendorf B11
- Arberbahn (Bayerisch Eisenstein), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 48 km · approx. 40 Minutes driving time
Roads: Main street, Mountain road, well-developed, with significant incline
Parking spaces: usually enough available, Tarred parking lot, free of charge
Trail map and overview maps:
The trail map depicts the ski resort very well and a lot of important information is included.
The trail map depicts the ski resort very well and a lot of important information is included.
Information boards and sign-postings on the slopes:
There are many large information boards featuring current information distributed throughout the ski resort. The sign-posting on the slopes is good, but could be increased in some places.
There are many large information boards featuring current information distributed throughout the ski resort. The sign-posting on the slopes is good, but could be increased in some places.
On the roof of the Arber mountain station, the highest solar power plant in Eastern Bavarian produces 5000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year for the Arber mountain lifts. The rest of the required electricity is produced using environmentally friendly hydro power.
Public transportation/ on-site mobility
- No direct train connection
- Ski busses
- Scheduled busses
- Ski busses: Lam-Lohberg-Arber, Bay. Eisenstein–Arber, Bodenmais–Arber, Zwiesel-Arber
Photos
There are mountain restaurants and ski huts distributed throughout the ski resort featuring fair prices and nice rooms.
5 Mountain restaurants & Ski huts
Mountain hut tip
-
Eisensteiner Hütt'n
Directly below the mountain station of the Arber gondola lift.
Good food, guest rooms with ceramic oven and a beautiful view of the Eisenstein Valley await the guests. The highest registry office in the Bavarian Forest is also located in this building - so, if you want to get married.....
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Arberschutzhaus
Directly below the mountain station of the Arber gondola lift
Good Bavarian cooking at 1358 m with cozy rooms and ceramic oven.
-
Berghaus Sonnenfels
On the Family Run E and at the mountain station of the Thurnhof lifts.
Popular traditional restaurant with a cozy Bavarian atmosphere and a sun terrace.
Photos
As there are almost no accommodations located directly at the Arber ski resort, the Après-Ski is pretty calm.
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Après-Ski Schirmbar
At the mountain station of the Sonnenhang chair lift.
Photos
Most guests stay in the villages of Bodenmais, Zwiesel, Bayerisch Eisenstein, Lam or Lohberg, which are not located directly at the ski resort. There is no village right at the ski resort, but the Arberschutzhaus provides accommodations.
Ski-in/Ski-out
There is only one accommodation with direct access to the slopes and to lifts (Ski-in/Ski-out)
Tips
-
Arberschutzhaus
Directly below the mountain station of the Arber gondola lift.
A total of 12 rooms with 41 beds are available. There is also a wedding suite for romantics with a four-poster bed and large starry ceiling above the bed. The registry office, which performs wedding ceremonies, is located next door in the Eisensteiner Huett'n.
Towns/villages
- Bayerisch Eisenstein
Distance to ski resort 5-10 km
Guest beds 2200 - Bodenmais
Distance to ski resort 10-20 km
Guest beds 7000 - Lam
Distance to ski resort 10-20 km
Guest beds 2800 - Lohberg
Distance to ski resort 10-20 km
Guest beds 1500 - Zwiesel
Distance to ski resort 10-20 km
Note: For the evaluation, only the accommodations which are located directly on the slopes and lifts, or have very easy access to the ski resort have been considered.
Photos
Evaluation criteria for special interests
The Arber is an ideal family ski resort. With the large ArBaer children's area, a parallel grand slalom for kids with a double time measurement system, the family cross park as well as a toboggan run, a great family offering is provided. The 6 person Sonnenhang chair lift is specially equipped for children. It closes the safety bar automatically and opens automatically at the mountain station. The good price-service ratio for families in the Bavarian Forest is to be highlighted.
Information for families and children
- Kid's Land/ separated area for children
- Wave ride for children
- Adventure course
- People mover
- Children's lifts
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
- Ski kindergarten
- Ski school for children
Special tips for children
-
ArBaer children's area
The new children's area at Thurnhof offers children optimal conditions. Four magic carpets with lengths of 15 m, 30 m, 70 m and even 100 m are located within the fenced-off ArBaer children's area. The entrance to the children's area is directly at the sun terrace of the Thurnhofstueberl. The conveying capacity is an impressive 1000 children/hour, so that there is almost never a wait. The mascot is the Ar Baer (Ar Bear). There is a Zwergerl Garden (Dwarf Garden) slightly below the ArBaer children's area for very young children. Playrooms for the children with child-friendly bathrooms round off the offering.
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Toboggan run
The ascent to the beginning of the 1,200 m long toboggan run is with the 6 person Sonnenhang chair lift. The relatively flat and easy run leads to Thurnhofstueberl. A free toboggan bus brings the tobogganers back to the Sonnenhang chair lift again for more tobogganing fun. There is also a small children's toboggan run in the ArBaer children's area.
Beginners have everything they require to learn to ski on the Arber. The slopes range in skiing proficiency level from right to left on the Arber. In other words, the slopes become more challenging as you go from right to left. New skiers begin all the way on the right in the ArBaer children's area on the Thurnhof slope with four people movers. The next step is the easy slopes at the Thurnhof t-bar lifts. Then on to the easy Family run further to the left and the somewhat steeper Damen run at the 6 person Sonnenhang chair lift. The first intermediate Sonnenhang run is also located at this chair lift. On the left side, the slope difficulty increases all the way to the difficult World Cup course at the gondola lift.
Information for beginners
- Easy and manageable slope offering, which is easy to achieve
- Wide slopes
- Beginner's area
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
Ski schools on-site
- Ski School Arber
- Ski School in ArberLand
- Ski School Bayerwald-Zwiesel
- Eisenstein Ski School
- Snowboard School HALFPIPE
- Ski and Snowboard School Koller
- Koetztinger Kristall Ski School
- Ski School Lamer Winkel
- Ski School Bayerwald - Lam-Lohberg
- Ski School Bayerwald, Sport Weinberger
- Snowsport School Bodenmais / Arber
- Snowsport Center Over The Border Bodenmais
- Ski School outdoor and more Bodenmais
- RACIO Tschechische (Czech) Ski and Board School
Photos
Advanced skiers will find their territory at the gondola lift. There are two difficult runs waiting for them - the World Cup course and the Osthang slope. The black World Cup course on the Arber is even approved for FIS women's and men's slalom and grand slalom World Cup races. There are also some mogul slopes bordering on the slopes. Freeriding is not allowed due to protection of the natural environment.
Information for advanced skiers, freeriders
- few freeride/ deep snow areas
- some mogul slopes
Slope offering advanced skiers
Runs/slopes
Total 11 km
Difficult
3 km
(27 %)Additional runs
Marked ski routes
5 km
Ski route to the village of Bodenmais does not feature lift connection back to the resort.
Most difficult run
-
FIS World Cup course · Length 1 km · Altitude difference 342 m
Approved for the FIS women's and men's World Cup slalom and grand slalom races.
Note: Always mind the avalanche warnings and barriers, please. Never ski into a closed and unsecured area.
Photos
Information for Snowboarders
- few cat tracks
- no runs with ascent
- few freeride/ deep snow areas
Snow parks
- Familien-Cross-Park am Thurnhofhang
The funpark is set up for children and youths and is located on the Thurnhof slope. The dangerous jumps are replaced with fun wave runs, small jumps, boxes and a boarder cross course. Fun for the kids is guaranteed!
Offering snow parks
- Snow park/ Fun park
- No halfpipe
- Rails/ Slides
- Cross-country trail offering
Total trail length: 160 km
The AberLand is famous for its snow reliable and beautiful cross-country trails. Very well prepared trails and a well-established trail network are waiting for cross-country skiers. The Bretterschachten Cross-Country Centre in the Arber Region is one of the most significant and snow reliable in the Bavarian Forest.
Trail tip(s)
-
Bretterschachten Cross-Country Centre
The trail offering for cross-country skiers includes 10 trails. The Cross-country Centre is located on the state road from Bodenmais to Arbersee. Altitude: 1118 m - 1265 m
Cross-country skiing style: classic, skating
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Lohberg-Scheiben Cross-Country Centre
Length: 23.0 km ▪ Altitude: 1050 m - 1200 m
Cross-country skiing style: classic, skating
Conclusion
Very well groomed and wide runs, modern lifts, clean, family friendly, ArBaer children's area, good price-performance ratio
Only one accommodation directly at the ski resort, sometimes crowded on weekends
Test Report issued on 2012-02-11
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Highlights
Highlights
Bodenmaiser Hof
****
Experience life in the Bavarian Forest
94249 Bodenmais
13 km to ski resort Details »
Experience life in the Bavarian Forest
94249 Bodenmais
13 km to ski resort Details »
