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Customer review

Rußbach

28 Number of reviews:

85 % Recommendation rate:

Resort 8.6
Ski area 7.8

Ski area Dachstein West

Information about the ski area
Highest point: 2,100 m Gondola lift: 11
Lowest point: 780 m Pistes in total: 131 km
Altitude ski resort: 813 m
Pistes:
44 km
Lifts in total: 57
Pistes:
80 km
Tow lifts: 35
Pistes:
7 km
Chair lifts: 11 Ski routes: 40 km

Ski area Dachstein West

The lift pass "Dachstein West" gives you access to a varied lift network with a total of 131 km of piste and 57 lifts. Included are the ski resorts of Rußbach, Gosau and Annaberg, the freeriding Mecca at Krippenstien, the Feuerkogel, Karkogel, Bad Dürrnberg, St. Martin am Tennengebirge, as well as Lungötz.

The Hornbahn lift goes from Rußbach up to the ski area on Hornspitz, Edtalm and Zwieselalm. The ski mountain offers mainly red pistes for pleasure skiers. Further access points to this family-friendly resort are Gosau and Annaberg. At the valley station of the Hornbahn lift the children's club "Spatzennest" can be found, a loving child care service and with a ski school and practice slope. On the mountain challenging slopes, some of which are lined with trees, can be found, as well as wide carving areas. If you are seeking a challenge, the black slope "Wilde Hilde" can be found on the Edtalm, which begins beneath Dachstein West's snow park and has a 67% gradient.

The professional fun park offers freestylers a full programme, whereas newcomers to freestyling can make their start in the beginner parks "Annapark" in Annaberg, the "Ötscher Kids Park" in Gosau, as well as the "Rookie Park" at the Hornbahn lift in Rußbach. Besides the snow parks and the floodlit slope in Gosau, the Gaudi slopes are another highlight. They are spread throughout the ski area and promise a diverse day of skiing, with slalom areas with timekeeping, snowcross, wave track and mogul pistes. In addition, there are Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the ski area, so you can post photos and message others without barriers.

Freeriders will find the entrance point to the "Freesports Arena Krippenstein" in Obertraun. The ski area at the Dachstein Massif is an outstanding freeriding-hotspot, which enjoys a good reputation throughout the country. The largest off-piste area offers 30 km or varied slopes and, with a length of 11 km, possesses the longest freeride slope in Austria. Little skiers can learn to ski in the Krippi-Park at the valley station, and older kids are introduced to adventure off-piste skiing in the Adventure Park with an obstacle course made from natural trees. A panorama highlight on the Krippenstein is the Five Fingers view point.

In Rußbach, one of the entry points to the popular "Panoronda" can be found. This panorama ski circuit has been another highlight since its opening in the 2016/17 season. It includes 44 km of diverse pistes, alongside which rustic huts and sun terraces invite you to take a break and enjoy the fantastic view.
Piste map Dachstein West
To enlarge, please click on the ski area map

Night skiing Rußbach

On Fridays the ski area Dachstein West near Rußbach has extended opening hours: night skiing is possible between 18:30 and 20:30, namely on the valley side of Gosau. Here, the skiing fun continues even after the lift's official closing time. Winter sport fans can ski down the 1 km long floodlit night skiing slope on the lower part of the valley run by the Ötscher lift. As a red piste, it is certainly challenging for more advanced skiers too. If you like it a little easier, simply head to the night skiing slope in Brumsiland, near the valley station of the Hornspitzbahn lift.

Après ski Rußbach

In the ski region of Dachstein West, aprés ski takes place in a rustic and cosy atmosphere in the ski huts. In Gosau or Annaberg there are also umbrella bars in the ski area and at the valley station, but lavish parties shouldn't be anticipated here. In Rußbach, activities such as sunbathing on the hut terraces and relaxation in nature are much more the focus for post-skiing activities.

Furthermore, there are plenty of leisure activities for young and old both in and around Rußbach. The 3 km long toboggan run in Abentau is great for the whole family and is lit until 22:00 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Snow shoe hikers can tramp along brand new paths through the wild – without startling the forest's animal residents – and can discover remote farms, icy brooks and lots of untouched nature all around Rußbach. In addition, there are numerous spacious hiking paths to the mountain viewpoints on the Gosau Massifs. For something much cosier, pack yourselves in to a horse-drawn carriage and explore the winter wonderland around you. In the nearby area around Rußbach there are several ice skating rinks and in Bad Goisern there is the opportunity to go ice climbing.

The wider surrounding area promises good days out for those interested in culture. The City of Mozart, Salzburg, with Schloss Hellbrun (around a 60 minute drive) or the imperial city of Bad Ischl, with the Kaiservilla (around a 40 minute drive), are both definite must-see destinations. The venue for the World Ski Championships 2013, Schladming, is also only a few minutes away by car.

Snowpark: Dachstein West Rußbach

The ski region Dachstein West offers four different Snowparks and fun parks. In Gosau you can dive into the fun in the "Playground Snowpark Gosau", which is located in direct proximity to the valley station. With their own lift, freestylers can explore the runs in the park, ready with their different obstacles, undisturbed.

The largest park with obstacles for the professionals is the "Snowpark Dachstein West". Obstacles like the 3 to 6 m Butter Boxes, 4 m jib lines and jumps with a height up to 4 m ensure enough airtime. Newcomers can practice on the easier jumps. In addition, the park offers a free Wi-Fi hotspot, so that everyone can immediately share their successes online. The "Rookie Park Rußbach" and the "Youngsters Freestyle Park Annaberg" are also worth a visit and are perfectly suited for newcomers.

Snow park map Dachstein West
Click on the snow park plan to enlarge.

Is the Dachstein West ski area not right for you? Then have a look here instead: Ski areas Austria

Expert rating report Dachstein West

The rating report Dachstein West comprises the main groups "Top rating categories", "Categories for special interests" and "Further rating categories" which all influence the overall result with their own count.

Overall rating

(4 out of 5 stars)

Top rating categories
These ratings count double for the result.

Lifts & cable cars
Reliability for snow

Rating categories for special interests

Families & children
Beginners
Experts & freeriders
Snow parks
Cross-country facilities & trails

Further rating categories

Après ski
Orientation (piste maps, info boards & sign posting)
Mountain restaurants, huts & gastronomy
Getting there & parking facilities