The road up the Tux Valley ends at the Hintertux valley station, at 1,500 m (4,921 ft). From there, three gondolas climb to the Gefrorene Wand at 3,250 m (10,663 ft). Skiing up there typically starts around the beginning of October. The rest of the Zillertal ski areas open in early December, about two months later.
That makes it one of the few places in Austria to ski in October or November.
Year-round lifts, not year-round skiing
For decades Hintertux marketed itself as a 365-day ski area, and some of the operator's pages still say "365 days a year". That holds for the lifts: they run daily from 8:15 (8:15 am) to 16:30 (4:30 pm) all year. Skiing doesn't. The operator now gives the ski season as around the beginning of October to around mid-July.
In recent summers, skiing has paused from mid-July until the autumn reopening. According to reports, the operator cited low demand for summer skiing. Check the live lift status before you drive in, especially at either end of the season.
Getting there
Take the train to Jenbach, where all express trains stop. Change to the Zillertalbahn to Mayrhofen, then take the local bus that runs straight up to Hintertux. Bus times are on the glacier's bus schedule page.
By car, leave the A12 Inntal motorway at the Zillertal exit and drive about 50 km (31 mi) up the valley. Parking at the valley station is free from 8:00 to 17:00 (8 am to 5 pm). It's day parking only, and camping is not allowed.
Going up, and what's open in autumn
From the valley station it takes about 40 minutes to reach the top: three gondolas, two changes. The first stops at the Sommerberg (2,100 m / 6,890 ft), the second at the Tuxer Fernerhaus (2,660 m / 8,727 ft).
Early in the season, only part of the area is open: a selection of lifts and pistes up high. The operator says more lifts and pistes open in the course of the autumn, and the Sommerberg area starts in late autumn. Until the valley run opens, plan on riding the gondola back down. The last gondolas down leave the Gefrorene Wand at 16:00 (4 pm), the Tuxer Fernerhaus at 16:30 (4:30 pm) and the Sommerberg at 16:45 (4:45 pm).
At 3,250 m (10,663 ft) the air is thin and the wind is sharp, even on a sunny day. Pack a warm layer and goggles, not just sunglasses.
Go early. Lifts start at 8:15 (8:15 am). Ski operations end at 16:00 (4 pm), so finish your last run in time for the gondola down.
From early December to mid-April, a glacier day or multi-day pass also covers the other Zillertal 3000 areas: Eggalm, Rastkogel, Finkenberg, Penken and Ahorn. The glacier itself has up to 64 km (40 mi) of pistes. Its 6 km (3.7 mi) valley run, the Schwarze Pfanne, ends in Hintertux. The operator gives no fixed opening date for it; the lift status page shows whether it's open.
Nature's Ice Palace, 30 m (98 ft) below the piste
The best reason to come up if you don't ski is under the slope. About a ten-minute walk from the top station of Gletscherbus 3, a guided tour takes you into a natural cave inside the glacier, about 30 m (98 ft) below the ski run.
Inside it's a constant 0 °C (32 °F), with huge icicles, ice formations and tunnels. Tours run every hour from 10:30 to 14:30 (10:30 am to 2:30 pm), every day of the year and in any weather. The extended tour takes about 70 minutes and includes a boat ride on the glacier lake.
You can walk in without registering, but an online ticket guarantees your place. The cave ticket doesn't include the gondola. Skiers ride up on their ski pass; everyone else needs the Panoramic ticket Fascination Ice or the Tux³ ticket. Details are on the Nature's Ice Palace page.
Children can join from age 6. You climb a few short ladders, so wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes. If you came up without them, the sports shops on the glacier rent warm clothing.
Stand-up paddling and ice swimming on the glacier lake are bookable extras, not part of the standard tour. Book them ahead by phone or email; the contacts are on the ice palace page.
In summer: the next valley over
Once hiking season starts, the next valley over is worth a day of its own. The Schlegeis reservoir and the walk up to the Olpererhütte are among the most photographed views in the Zillertal. See our Zillertal guide.
In any season, open the lift status page on the morning you go: it lists which lifts and runs are open that day.
Last checked: October 2026