Mountain Layout — Skiing

Here is a larger, more detailed trail map.

Here is the interactive Kitzbühel trail map.

If you ski well, Kitzbühel is close to unbeatable. You can spend all day on its slopes and not use the same lift or ski on the same run twice. There are more than 56 prepared runs across an amazing 168 km. of mountain. This is the site of one of the first ski safaris, where skiers travel 30 km. by lift and descend 35 km. between Kitzbühel and Pass Thurn. It’s marked by round signs with an elephant on skis pointing the way and the entire route can be made on skis. Start early. The trip takes a full day.

The main area is a north/south ridge that is defined by a pass headed to Pass Thurn strung with the villages of Aurach and Jochberg. The valley used to define the eastern side of the area finds Kirchberg and Aschau. A new lift over Pass Thurn connects the Kitzbühel/Kirchberg area with the Brixental and another rising from the Kirchberg valley links the area with Westendorf in the Ski Welt.

There is more skiing on the opposite side of each valley. To the southwest there is the Kitzbüheler Horn that has become a snowboarders mountain. To the east, on the other side of Kirchberg, is the Gaisberg area with its new quad-chairlift. The Fleckalmbahn goes to the Ehrenbachhöhe above the Hahnenkamm race circuit.

Real experts can always find good skiing just off the marked trails. Some of the best spots are beyond the Pengelstein peak where the Hochsauerkaser trail drops to the west and the Schwarzkogel runs to the east. Both provide off-piste possibilities at any point an expert wants to turn his or her skis. The Steinbergkogel bowl is another expert playground offering a variety of chutes and steep, ungroomed terrain via an old single chair and a new 8-passenger chair brining skiers back to the top of the bowl. Trails like Powder Heaven and Direttissima are aptly named with the right snow. Way up the valley the Bärenbadkogel peak has plenty of expert drops where anyone with real skill can pick their own trail down the mountain.

Off the Kitzbühelerhorn, experts can take the Larchenhang then Horn Standard trails from the peak with thousands of off-piste possibilities all along the way. Gaisberg is more of a practice mountain for intermediates and beginners.

Pengelstein is an intermediate peak with short trails dropping to the west and a long trail into Kirchberg. The Kirchberg trail is a good morning sun route.

The best runs are a closely guarded secret. Guides are tight-lipped about where to find good powder and empty runs. For a long uninterrupted slope try the Niedere Fleckalm, which in the morning is uncrowded and offers a very fast gondola. In the afternoon stick to the Ehrenbachhöhe, which provides a variety of terrain from intermediate to challenging. The Giggling (off the single chair near the Steinbergkogel bowl) is one of the longest runs and a good way to end the day. At the bottom walk to the bus stop, find a cab or stop in for a drink at one of the bars.

Mountain rating
Trail skiing in Kitzbühel and Kirchberg is strictly intermediate with a few black stretches. There are enough smooth, mellow crusing runs for the beginner and lower intermediate to keep harmony in any mixed-skill group.

Experts, except those concentrating on their times down the Hahnenkamm run or the Gaisberg course above Kirchberg, should ski on something more challenging than the prepared runs. Guides can take serious skiers on off-trail expeditions from Kitzbühel or Kirchberg that will delight even the most hardened experts.