Hochsölden lies at 2,083 metres, right in the heart of the ski area. In winter, direct access to the ski slopes from your doorstep shapes the character of the resort. The lift connections tell the story of how the resort has developed, while the winter hiking trail and snowshoe trails offer other ways to get around. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore choose Hochsölden based on your specific travel interests: access to the slopes, winter trails or cable-car rides followed by a descent or ascent.
Winter in Hochsölden: Slopes and Trails
In Hochsölden, you have direct access to the ski slopes from your doorstep. One specific route option is the HARBE LINE: it starts right in front of the Giggijochbahn mountain station and ends in Hochsölden after a descent of 180 metres in elevation. Direction matters when planning: the route leads downhill from the mountain station to the resort; check the trail status before setting out.
For winter hiking and snowshoeing, you can choose between two other types of trail: the Panorama Trail in Hochsölden is a winter hiking trail, and Hochsölden is home to snowshoe trails maintained by Ötztal Tourismus.
Summer Trails and Cable-Car Connections
In summer, you can take the Giggijochbahn to Giggijoch and walk downhill from there to Hochsölden in about 20 minutes. Check the cable car’s seasonal operating schedule before your trip. The Hochsölden-Rotkoglbahn is a 10-person gondola lift between Hochsölden and Giggijoch, operating in both directions. So, for the journey between Giggijoch and Hochsölden, you can either walk downhill in about 20 minutes or take the gondola lift in either direction.
In summer, Sonnblick is also accessible to pedestrians via the Giggijochbahn and the Hochsölden-Rotkoglbahn; you need to walk between the mountain stations. Tyrolean specialities are served there on a panoramic sun terrace, and the food and drink service is seasonal.
To reach Rotkoglhütte, first take the new gondola from Hochsölden; the ascent from there takes about an hour. The lift and hut operate seasonally, so check their operating schedules when planning your trip. For planning your time, it is useful to compare the two routes: the walk downhill from Giggijoch to Hochsölden takes about 20 minutes; after the gondola ride to Rotkoglhütte, the ascent takes around an hour. The routes and destinations are quite different.
Lift History in Two Stages
The history of the lifts can be viewed in two stages. In 1948, after the Second World War, a single-chairlift to Hochsölden was built, marking the beginning of the area’s rise as a tourism centre. In 1971, the Langegg 1 and Langegg 2 chairlifts made it possible for the first time to travel from Gaislachkogl to Hochsölden. The single-chairlift marks the start of this tourism development, while the later chairlifts created the first direct connection from the direction of Gaislachkogl. The dates therefore represent different stages in the resort’s history: the beginning of its rise as a tourist destination and the first direct lift connection.
Discover more destinations: Vent, Hochgurgl, Bodenegg, Obergurgl, Zwieselstein
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