Lech Mountain Info
Lech ski resort (also known as Lech Am Arlberg) is a plush snowsports destination set on the banks of the River Lech in the Bludenz district of the western state of Vorarlberg. Part of the Ski Arlberg area, which is Austria’s largest linked ski domain, Lech is also in striking distance of sister resorts St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben, Zürs, Warth and Schröcken.
Lech has a 1450m resort height, a snow range from 1304m-2811m and there’s a huge 305km of gorgeous, groomed powder to explore. Counting A-List celebs and royalty amongst its stellar clientele, this is a swish and sophisticated Austrian ski resort which is ideal for anyone who likes quality skiing, warm hospitality and a touch of luxury.
Snow-reliability is excellent here and the expansive tree-lined slopes are an absolute joy for intermediate skiers to explore. Furthermore, beginners and advanced skiers will be satisfied with ample blue slopes and a good collection of black graded runs and some fine off-piste terrain where you’ll find fresh dumps of pow. Meanwhile, there are four swift lifts that whisk you from Lech to Zürs, Stuben and St Anton and a rapid new connection to Warth-Schröken, so making the most of Ski Arlberg is easy.
Snow-reliability is excellent here and the expansive tree-lined slopes are an absolute joy for intermediate skiers to explore. Furthermore, beginners and advanced skiers will be satisfied with ample blue slopes and a good collection of black-graded runs and some fine off-piste terrain where you’ll find fresh dumps of pow. There are four swift lifts that whisk you from Lech to Zürs, Stuben and St Anton and a rapid new connection to Warth-Schröken, so making the most of Ski Arlberg is easy. If you’re going snowboarding in Lech, there’s a fun park with lots of awesome obstacles for freestylers, and plenty of ungroomed powder for freeriding, while the apres-ski establishments and restaurants are top-notch and there are plenty of bijou boutiques in the trendy town centre.
Snow-reliability is excellent here and the expansive tree-lined slopes are an absolute joy for intermediate skiers to explore. Furthermore, beginners and advanced skiers will be satisfied with ample blue slopes and a good collection of black-graded runs and some fine off-piste terrain where you’ll find fresh dumps of pow. There are four swift lifts that whisk you from Lech to Zürs, Stuben and St Anton and a rapid new connection to Warth-Schröken, so making the most of Ski Arlberg is easy. If you’re going snowboarding in Lech, there’s a fun park with lots of awesome obstacles for freestylers, and plenty of ungroomed powder for freeriding, while the apres-ski establishments and restaurants are top-notch and there are plenty of bijou boutiques in the trendy town centre.
Away from the slopes, there are 15km of scenic hiking trails to explore, a neat floodlit toboggan run, horse-drawn sleigh rides and more. We can arrange Lech ski holidays to suit any type of snowsports traveller and we always make our ski breaks as economical as possible, however given the exclusive setup in this particular resort, it’s not the best place for families to find a bargain. All said, if you want to splash out a little on a European ski holiday where everything from the accommodation options to apres-ski, cuisine, ski lessons and off-slope entertainment are second to none, Lech is a legendary ski resort that remains a favorite of celebrities and well-known public figures.
Lech offers 255km of well-groomed slopes for beginners intermediates and advanced skiers alike. There are fantastic off-piste opportunities, gorgeous tree-lined runs and gentle slopes just above the main village. Lech's fantastic snow record and heavy snowfall results in an abundance of deep powder bowls across the terrain. The slopes range between 1,304-2,811m in altitude.
With a 1450m resort height, skiing available right up to 2811m and great snow conditions around the resort and the rest of the amazing Ski Arlberg area, there’s great skiing available for all styles and aptitudes on and off-piste in Lech. Here are some tips on skiing in Lech:
If you’re in Lech for a long weekend, a week or more, there’s no need to worry about day visitors overcrowding the slopes ̶ day passes are restricted to 14,000 per day, so you’ll always feel that there’s plenty of room to do your thing.
Lech sits in the middle of its local ski area, with the smaller satellite village of Oberlech above, Warth-Schröcken to the north and Zürs to the south. This varied ski area splits into three discrete sections which suit different types of skiers.
The sun-kissed side of the mountain around Oberlech features a network of easy, cruisy blue runs and more demanding red and ungroomed runs set high on each face of the lofty 2377m Zuger Horlicht. The latter are designated at itinerary runs and aren’t avalanche controlled or patrolled, therefore even advanced skiers should weigh up the risks of tackling them and perhaps seek advice from local mountain guides.
For a slightly less intimidating off-piste and itinerary experience, head to the other side of Lech on the slopes opposite Oberlech, where you’ll catch a breath-taking cable car ride up 2362m from the resort to the Rüfikopf summit. Even if you’re at lower intermediate level you can really make the most of the mountain here and as well as the off-piste terrain, there are some wonderful wide, sweeping, long blue runs that let you cruise right down to Zürs.
The last area in this snowsports trinity is Warth-Schröcken, which you can reach from Oberlech via the Auenfeldjet gondola, followed by a fast six-person gondola which zips you from the other side of the valley to the heady 2043m Saloberkopf. There are a mix of runs to choose from here ̶ some straightforward blues and reds on the Lech side and a smattering of short and testing black runs.
There’s much more to explore in the rest of the 305km Ski Arlberg area and there are four efficient lifts connecting the St Anton side of the Arlberg Massive to the Lech side, with the crucial lift and the heart of the entire area being the Flexenbahn Gondola, an uber-efficient (six minute) 10-seater that links Zürs to Alpe Rauz in Stuben.
As you can see, skiing in Lech really has something to offer everyone, with a nice range of slopes in the local area and easy connection to further adventures throughout Ski Arlberg.
If you love tearing up the slopes on your snowboard, Lech won’t let you down. With 305km to explore in the Ski Arlberg area, there’s fresh powder, wide turns and cliff drops for freeriders, parks for freestylers and plenty of perfectly-pressed corduroy to carve. Here are a few tips on Snowboarding in Lech:
The Lech Snowpark has 17 gnarly obstacles that are freshly prepared each day. There’s a fab Fun run with a few kickers for beginners, a faster pro Line with bigger kickers where advanced boarders can catch big air, and a rail line where boarders of all abilities can practice together.
There’s 200km of freeriding terrain here where novice freeriders can find their feet and expert boarders have an absolute blast ripping up fresh pow and zipping down vertiginous descents. If you’re a complete beginner, there are several supportive snowboarding schools which will teach you the basics of turning, drifting and carving in a few hours and have you flying solo on the slopes in a few days.
Hire a local mountain guide if you want to discover virgin snow and amazing powder runs ̶ they’ll take you to hotspots you would never find on your own, supervise your session and maintain eagle-eyed avalanche and general safety awareness, then get you safely back to base.
So there you have it ̶ snowboarding in Lech delivers dynamic fun for everyone from beginners to intermediates and experts. See you on the slopes!
The entire Ski Arlberg area is renowned for its snow reliability and its natural blessings in terms of altitude, aspect and topography can be enhanced by artificial snow making whenever necessary. Here’s the lowdown on historical snow conditions in Lech:
The ski season across Arlberg runs from early December until mid-April and there’s an average snowfall of a whopping 11 metres each winter, making this one of the most snow-sure areas in the whole of Europe.
The Valley Run is open almost perpetually and the artificial snowmaking arsenal here comprises 1094 snow cannons which cover an impressive 72% of the slopes.
For the past few seasons in Lech, the snowiest week has been the first week in March, with 57cm of snowfall and 4.3 snowfall days.
In the most recent Lech ski season, the maximum summit depth was 75cm, average summit depth was 52cm, average base depth was 41cm and maximum base depth 65cm.
You can expect excellent snow at any time of the season in Lech and the snow-making facilities mean you’ll never be disappointed.
Are you fond of relaxing, socialising and indulging in a few refined refreshments after a thrilling day on the slopes? The apres-ski scene in Lech and around Ski Arlberg should suit you down to the ground. Here are a few places to sample during a soiree:
The Eisbar outside Hotel Tannbergerhof serves divine glühwein, great music and as the evening progresses, the Cottage Bar in the hotel basement continues the party with DJs and dancing until 3am. There’s a vaguely Celtic theme here and you’ll get a good pint of the black stuff on tap.
K-Club is a high end disco at the posh Krone hotel, which is open from 10pm til 4am. The resident DJ T Cane knows just which tunes to spin to soundtrack a sophisticated evening and you can people watch while sipping champers in one of the VIP booths or enjoying a beer or cocktail on the atmospheric terrace.
Archiv Bar is a hip establishment next to the Rüfikopf cable car where you can enjoy perfectly mixed cocktails and bouncing dance music until the wee small hours.
Mooser Wirt is located on the valley route from Zimmermoos to St Anton and it’s probably St Anton’s most popular ski bar. Self-described as a ‘ski hut’, this chalet-style establishment is usually rammed with guests inside and out and the atmos is electric.
Krazy Kangaruh is another popular après bar on the St Anton valley run and it has been entertaining guests with its friendly ambience and great drinks selection since 1965. Now run by former Olympic and double world champion slalom skier Mario Matt, the sun terrace transforms into a huge dancefloor after dark and the music mix is second to none.
Balmalp is situated at the Zugerberg lift mountain station at 2106m above sea level and its lofty location means that it’s a great place to gather with friends on the terrace to sip some bubbles and gaze at the gorgeous mountain views. As you can see, when it comes to partying, there really is something to suit everyone in Lech, but remember to leave yourself plenty of time to actually ski and snowboard!
Amenities and facilities in Lech are excellent, as you would expect from such a top class resort. We can advise on everything you need to make your skiing holiday here as enjoyable, comfortable, safe and secure as possible.
With lots of magical activities on and off the slopes, Lech ski holidays are fantastic for families travelling with children of all ages.
