The rear Tuxertal valley, a side valley of the Zillertal, features the famous glacial skiing area on the Hintertux Glacier
Image gallery: Hintertux Glacier
Hintertux Glacier - Hintertuxer Gletscher, in German - is the denomination for the Gefrorene-Wand Glacier and the Riepenkees Glacier in the back of the Tuxertal valley. Both glaciers are accessed by lift facilties and are skiable on 365 days a year. Moreover, the Hintertux Glacier is also perfect for hiking tours, with several refuges that invite you to a stop.
In fact, the skiing area extends to an altitude of 3,250 m a.s.l., to the Gefrorene-Wand Glacier. The so-called "Glacier Buses" gondolas, among the most spectacular gondolas in the Alps, take you into the great skiing area, where you can enjoy skiing along 60 km of well groomed slopes. By the way: The glacier is barrier-free, as you can even reach the panoramic terrace at the mountain station of the "Glacier Bus 3" at 3,250 m a.s.l. with a pram or wheelchair, directly from the underground carpark at the valley station. From there, a lift takes you to the panoramic terrace.
The total amount of ice on the glacier is 190 millions of cubic metres, which corresponds to 171 billion litres of frozen water. The icesheet is up to 120 m thick and the glacier features a length of 4 km, which varies from year to year. Due to glacial movement, also lift facilities have to be adjusted up to three times a year. The glacier world can be discovered in a guided glacier information tour.
Characteristics: cave trekking in the Spannagel Cave, glacial hike, Nature's Ice Palace, passenger lift to the panorama terrace (3,250 m a.s.l.)
Skiing area: Ski Zillertal 3000 - Hintertux Glacier from October to May
