Piste Overview
Blue
115 km (47%)
Red
121 km (49%)
Black
10 km (4%)
Ski Route
29 km
Total: 246 km
Lift System
Gondolas
Chairlifts
T-Bar Lifts
Aerial Trams
Total: 69 lifts
Slope Map
Resort Review
A large, interconnected ski area with plenty of access points, lots of blue and red runs, and a strong family focus—plus one of its most distinctive highlights: night skiing in Söll.
Advantages
- Very large, interconnected ski area (275 km) with plenty of access points and a well-designed “flow” to the pistes.
- A strong all-round package for families (lots of easy runs, practice areas, and on-mountain childcare for toddlers).
- Plenty of variety beyond daytime skiing as well: night skiing in Söll, toboggan runs, and winter hiking, among other activities.
Disadvantages
- No high-alpine/glacier setting: in mild winters, more heavily dependent on snowmaking.
- Freeriding is more of an add-on (ski routes/selected sectors) than a true core focus.
- Après-ski is highly village-dependent: if you’re consistently after the "scene," Söll is a great fit; elsewhere it can be noticeably quieter.
Large, interconnected, and with many access points – ski days without changing resort
The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental is one of Austria’s largest interconnected ski areas, and it truly shines as a “network” resort: you can start from several different villages and still stay within one linked domain. Its reliable headline figures are 275 km of pistes and 81 lifts.
Piste skiing takes center stage: plenty of blue/red runs, plus a sporty kick
Its character is clearly piste-focused: wide, easy-flowing descents dominate, with a strong emphasis on blue and red runs—ideal for relaxed cruising, mixed-ability groups, and “many-runs-a-day” skiing.
Those looking for more challenge will find a few steeper sections (black runs are, relative to the overall size, more of an add-on). On top of that, ski routes provide a second layer alongside the groomed pistes.
Snow reliability: not a high-alpine setting, but very strong snowmaking
With an elevation range of roughly 620 m to 1,869 m, SkiWelt isn’t a classic high-alpine or glacier ski area—during mild spells, that can be noticeable. Its compensating strength is exceptionally powerful snowmaking (including targeted snowmaking on key connections), with over 1,800 snowmakers.
Freestyle in several zones: from easy lines to larger setups
In SkiWelt, freestyle isn’t just “one park somewhere”—it’s spread across multiple spots:
- Kaiserpark Ellmau with Easy, Medium, and Pro lines (plus a kicker line) — great when your group spans different ability levels.
- BIG PLAYGROUND (Westendorf) as a larger park with easy/jib/jump features and a super-cross/banked slalom option for a wide range of riders.
Freeride: possible as a bonus, but not the core strength
In SkiWelt, freeriding works mainly as an add-on to piste skiing: via ski routes and typical off-piste sections near pistes and lifts. For a true “big-mountain” freeride profile, however, the elevation and terrain are less naturally suited than high-alpine destinations.
Family-friendly by design – including childcare for toddlers right in the ski area
Families benefit from many gentle pistes, practice areas, and an infrastructure deliberately designed with children in mind. A real highlight is toddler childcare directly in the ski area (from 5 months), giving parents much more flexibility in planning their ski day.
Après-ski: Söll as the hotspot, otherwise more spread out and varied in volume
Après-ski density varies greatly from village to village. Söll is the most prominent gathering point, including the Moonlight Bar right by the valley run (DJ/party-focused), as well as other venues with music and event formats.
Plenty to do off the slopes: night skiing, tobogganing, winter hiking
A standout extra is night skiing in Söll with around 10 km of floodlit pistes.
There are also tobogganing options (several runs, some lit and groomed) as well as winter hiking—ideal if not everyone wants to ski every single day.
Detailed Ratings
With 275 kilometres of pistes and 81 lifts, SkiWelt is clearly made for long days on the slopes. The mix of plenty of blue and red runs adds variety and makes it ideal for groups; there are sporty sections, but they’re not the main focus. When it comes to snow reliability, an exceptionally strong snowmaking network is a big help, as the altitude is comparatively moderate.
With the Kaiserpark (Ellmau) and the BIG PLAYGROUND (Westendorf), there are several clearly defined freestyle hotspots. A real plus is the range from easy to pro lines, complemented by fun and cross elements. For dedicated park holidays there are larger “specialist destinations”, but as part of the overall offering it’s highly convincing.
Freeriding works best here as an add-on to piste skiing—via ski routes and off-piste sections close to the runs. For long, high-alpine terrain the area is less naturally suited, which fits its focus as a resort geared toward piste skiing. Anyone planning to ski variants should take the avalanche bulletin and local conditions seriously.
SkiWelt is very family-oriented: plenty of easy runs, wide practice areas, and an offer that clearly keeps children in mind. A particular highlight is the option of childcare for toddlers right in the ski area (from 5 months). This makes it easy to plan a day on the slopes even with very young children.
The après-ski scene is in place, though it isn’t equally pronounced everywhere. Söll stands out as a hotspot (including the Moonlight Bar and other venues with music-driven formats), while other access points can feel noticeably quieter. All in all, it’s solid—without the intense party focus found in some top destinations.
Besides classic winter hiking and sledding, night skiing in Söll is a truly unique highlight within the region. Several toboggan runs (some floodlit) add even more variety—perfect for mixed groups or rest days.