Skiing in St. Leonhard
St. Leonhard is the elongated municipality at the back of the Pitztal in Tyrol, Austria, and home to the Pitztal Glacier ski area and the neighbouring Rifflsee area. Everything here is about altitude: in our data the ski terrain sits between 2,446 and 2,912 metres, with the lifts climbing even further into glacier terrain. The Pitztal Glacier is known as Tyrol's highest glacier ski area. Together the glacier and Rifflsee offer 59 kilometres of pistes and 16 lifts. Snow is rarely an issue: recent winters recorded up to 212 centimetres, and this past week 4 centimetres of fresh October snow already fell. We list 7 accommodations, with prices from 924 euros per person.
Last checked: 2026-10-26 · Sources: Open-Meteo (snow data), OpenStreetMap (lifts and pistes), partner offers refreshed daily.
Accommodations in St. Leonhard
St. Leonhard8.8Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
Hotel Wiese
St. Leonhard8.1Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
Hotel Möderle
St. LeonhardPitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
Alpine B&B
St. Leonhard7.7Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
Sport & Vital Hotel Seppl
St. LeonhardPitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
Panorama Chalets Pitztal
St. Leonhard9.0Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
Sportiv-Hotel Mittagskogel
St. Leonhard9.3Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee, Oostenrijk
DAS VIER - Sport- & Wellnesshotel
Snow report & 7-day forecast
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Skiing the Pitztal Glacier and the Rifflsee
From the valley an underground glacier railway whisks you into the high mountains. Up top, wide glacier pistes await with views across the Ötztal Alps; the adjacent Rifflsee area offers alpine descents around the high mountain lake.
Together the two areas count 59 kilometres of pistes and 16 lifts. The terrain is compact but sporty, with long, often quiet descents at altitude. Crowds are rare here, even in peak weeks.
Snow reliability: close to guaranteed
With ski terrain sitting between 2,446 and 2,912 metres in our data, and glacier slopes continuing above that, this is one of Austria's most snow-sure spots. The season starts in autumn and runs deep into spring.
Recent winters recorded up to 212 centimetres of snow, and this past week 4 centimetres of fresh snow fell, in mid-October. If you want guaranteed skiing in December or late season, this is an excellent bet.
St. Leonhard: hamlets in a quiet high valley
St. Leonhard is not a classic village centre but a string of hamlets along the valley road, with Mandarfen at the back as the base by the lifts. The mood is quiet and alpine: a handful of hotels, mountain restaurants and otherwise mostly nature.
Apres-ski is limited to a friendly bar here and there. The Pitztal deliberately positions itself as the calm alternative to Tyrol's busier valleys, and you feel that throughout.
Who this destination suits
This is a destination for skiers who come to ski: snow-chasers, early and late season travellers, and sporty intermediates and experts who love altitude. Snowboarders and powder fans do well too.
Families are welcome, though children's entertainment and apres-ski are limited. Complete beginners will find practice terrain, but often a lower, friendlier area makes more sense for them; the strength here is the high mountains.
Practical: getting there and booking
You reach the Pitztal via Imst in the Inn valley; from the Benelux it is about 9 to 10 hours' drive to the back of the valley. Innsbruck is the nearest airport.
We list 7 accommodations in St. Leonhard, from 924 euros per person. The glacier makes early and late season weeks attractive, and they are often cheaper than Christmas and half-term. Book holiday periods well ahead, as capacity in the valley is limited.
St. Leonhard on the map
Webcams · St. Leonhard
📷 Gemeinde St. Leonhard im Pitztal › North
📷 Gemeinde Kaunertal: Kaunertal - Verpeilschlucht
📷 Gemeinde Kaunertal: Kaunertal - Verpeilschlucht
📷 Kaunertal: Verpeilschlucht
📷 Gemeinde Solden: Sölden, Ötztal - Giggijoch
📷 Gemeinde Solden › North-east: Hochsölden
📷 Gemeinde Langenfeld: Längenfeld - Ortsblick
📷 Gemeinde Langenfeld: Längenfeld, Ötztal - Therme Längenfeld
FAQ about St. Leonhard
How much piste can you ski from St. Leonhard?
From St. Leonhard you reach the Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee ski area with around 59 km of marked pistes and 16 lifts.
What does a ski holiday in St. Leonhard cost?
Accommodations in St. Leonhard start from around €929 per person; Nivosola compares 7, refreshed daily.
Is there enough snow around St. Leonhard?
Yes. Recent winters in Pitztaler Gletscher & Rifflsee reached a maximum snow depth of around 212 cm. December to March is the most reliable period.
How high is the ski area at St. Leonhard?
The glacier and Rifflsee terrain sits between 2,446 and 2,912 metres in our data, with glacier lifts reaching higher still. You ski almost entirely in the high mountains here.
When can you ski the Pitztal Glacier?
The glacier season starts in autumn and runs deep into spring, considerably longer than regular areas. In mid-October 2026 fresh snow had already fallen.
Is this area suitable for beginners?
There is practice terrain on the glacier, but the area mainly appeals to those who can already ski. Beginners often pick a friendlier, lower area first and return later for the altitude.
How busy does the Pitztal Glacier get?
Remarkably quiet: the Pitztal is a dead-end valley with no through traffic and draws smaller crowds than its famous glacier neighbours. Even in holiday weeks, queues usually stay short.