The review Lofer/Loferer Alm (Almenwelt Lofer) was created by Skiresort.info, the world’s largest test portal for ski resorts.
The Almenwelt Lofer is a medium-sized ski resort in the province of Salzburg.
Altitude difference
1030 m (Valley 640 m - Mountain 1670 m )
Lifts/ cable cars
10
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 4 ← 2
Slope offering, variety of runs
The majority of the slopes are easy and intermediate at the ski resort. The slopes are mainly easy at the 6 person Family Express chair lift. Nice intermediate and easy slopes are located at the Schoenbuehel quad chair lift. Two black runs entice the advanced skiers.
Run location
just above tree line, under tree line
A very modern 8 person gondola lift (new since the 2011/2012 season) begins in the valley as a feeder lift to the resort. From there, you continue up with a 6 person gondola lift to the Loferer Alm. The modern 6 person Family Express with weather protectors and seat heaters is waiting there. Another fixed-grip chair lift as well as practice lifts also transport guests.
Total capacity
11660 Passengers / hour
Length of all lifts
8.3 km Total
The ski resort is very snow reliable due to its geographic location. All main runs also have snow-making capabilities.
Worth knowing
- Artificial snow-making
50 Snow canons
70 % of the slopes have snow-making capabilities
- The valley run is open most of the time.
Season 2008/2009
131 Days open
123 Days when valley run open
The slope preparation is very good.
Five modern slope grooming machines prepare the runs daily.
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.
The nearest expressway is about 30 km away. There is free, but limited parking directly at the valley station of the gondola I (P1). Just above the valley station of the gondola I, there is a larger parking lot with 300 parking spaces (P3) and direct access to the valley run. To access this parking lot, you drive from the centre of the village on the Loferer Almstrasse about 600 metres uphill and park 100 metres above the valley station.
Access via Autobahn A8 München-Salzburg, Ausfahrt Traunstein/Siegsdorf
Loferer Almbahn (Lofer), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 37 km · approx. 35 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: usually enough available,
Tarred parking lot,
free of charge
Access via Autobahn A8 München-Salzburg, Ausfahrt Bad Reichenhall
Loferer Almbahn (Lofer), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 32 km · approx. 31 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: usually enough available,
Tarred parking lot,
free of charge
Access via A12 Inntal-Autobahn, Ausfahrt Wörgl Ost
Loferer Almbahn (Lofer), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 56 km · approx. 53 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: usually enough available,
Tarred parking lot,
free of charge
Orientation (trail map, information boards, sign-postings)
Trail map and overview maps:
The trail map depicts the ski resort very well. They could add more detailed information such as additional altitude indications.
Information boards and sign-postings on the slopes:
There are information boards with the current slope and lift status distributed throughout the ski resort. Information boards at the lifts feature lift details. Sign-postings on the slopes and slope markings could be added.
The ski resort is clean and well-maintained.
Environmentally friendly ski operation
Local transportation without cars is actively encouraged. A solar power facility at Loderbichl produces electricity.
Public transportation/ on-site mobility
- No direct train connection
The nearest train stations are in Salzburg (45 km away from Lofer) and Bad Reichenhall (25 km away from Lofer).
- Ski busses
- Scheduled busses
- The Kaserasi Truck picks up guests from some of the accommodation establishments in Lofer and brings them to the Loferer Alm lift I. All scheduled buses between St. Martin and Lofer can be used for free with a valid ski pass. Free ski buses circulate between Au, Scheffsnoth, Lofer and Faistau.
The staff is friendly, but could show more initiative at the lifts.
Mountain restaurants, ski huts, gastronomy
There are good self-service and serviced restaurants in the ski resort. Typical ski menus and Pinzgau specialties are offered.
7 Mountain restaurants & Ski huts
Mountain hut tip
The Après-Ski umbrella bar Hasnstall can't be missed on the Alm-Loderbichl run. You can also end your skiing/snowboarding day at the base of Lofer in the Karussell or in Café-Bar BoBo's.
Accommodation offering directly on the slopes and lifts
There are about 20 alm huts with accommodations and direct access to the slopes that are distributed throughout the ski resort. Numerous accommodations are also available in Lofer. Most of these are not located directly at the slopes however. The Kaserasi Truck picks up guests from some of the accommodations and brings them to the valley station.
Ski-in/Ski-out
There are some accommodations with direct access to the slopes and to lifts (Ski-in/Ski-out)
Towns/villages
- Lofer
Distance to ski resort fewer than 1 km
Guest beds 2600
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.
The Almenwelt Lofer offers very family-friendly lift prices for day and multi-day tickets. The 6 person Family Express with weather protectors and seat heaters, which provides access to the easy family slopes, is very comfortable for families. Two large children's areas at the mountain station of the Loferer Alm lift II, beginners' and children's lifts at Loderbichl, in the valley as well as at the mountain station of the Loferer Alm lift II complete the first-class offering for families and children.
Information for families and children
- Kid's Land/ separated area for children
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
- Beginner's lifts in ski resort directly at the feeder lift
Special tips for children
There is an ideal area for beginners at the mountain station of the Loferer Alm lift II. Two practice lifts and the 6 person Family Express provide access to easy slopes. There are also easy slopes at the quad Schoenbuehl chair lift. The Loderbichl j-bar lift at Loderbichl (mountain station of the Loferer Alm lift I) connects to a practice slope. Two rope tows are in operation in Faistau and there is a tow rope for practicing at the base area in Lofer. The valley run is an intermediate slope, so pure beginners should take the gondola back down to the valley.
Information for beginners
- Easy and manageable slope offering, which is easy to achieve
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
- Beginner's lifts in ski resort directly at the feeder lift
Ski schools on-site
Advanced skiers, freeriders
3 km of difficult slopes and the possibility of exploring the deep snow will delight experienced skiers. Both of the difficult runs are accessed with t-bar lifts.
Information for advanced skiers, freeriders
- some freeride / deep snow areas
Slope offering advanced skiers
Most difficult run
-
Hochwena Alpin · Length 1.5 km · Altitude difference 320 m
Note: Always mind the avalanche warnings and barriers, please. Never ski into a closed and unsecured area.
There is a snowpark at the Loferer Alm.
Information for Snowboarders
- some freeride / deep snow areas
Snow parks
Offering snow parks
Cross-country skiing and trails
- Cross-country trail offering
Total trail length: 41 km
In addition to the high altitude trail at the Loferer Alm, there are 37 km of cross-country trails in the valley areas of Lofer/St. Martin.
Trail tip(s)
-
High altitude trail Loferer Alm
Located at the Loferer Alm, up to 4 km of high altitude trails, changing room and lockers at the mountain station of lift II.
Length: 4.0 km ▪
Cross-country skiing style: classic, skating
Service offering: Changing rooms
Conclusion
Family-friendly lift prices, children's areas and beginner's area, new, modern feeder lift.
Few black and challenging slopes for very good skiers.
Test Report issued on 2012-03-06
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