Sledding & tobogganing Tirol
Tirol's number 1 popular sport
Sorry skiing, but it’s true. Tobogganing simply inspires all generations. Including the baby slumbering in a lambskin bag but also sprightly seniors who celebrate the toboggan trip with a spicy hot tea in the mountain hut. Truly varied tobogganing opportunities do their bit to ensure that you grab a sledge at every opportunity in Tirol - by day, in the evening, for sport, for fun, even on New Year's Eve. You will find a particularly exciting toboggan area with 15 snow-sure toboggan runs and over 50 km of sledding action on two runners in Ötztal.
Family sledding in Ötztal: yearning for easy runs
Often a hill is enough for the kids to speed down on a snow slider, mini bob or other basic devices. Every Tirolean mom will confirm that. But only a real toboggan run provides the right toboggan feeling. And lower Ötztal has plenty of them in a family-friendly format. An easy route leads from lake Piburger See near Oetz downhill on about 1 km and the short uphill climb motivates you to repeat it several times. The 1 km long toboggan run in Sautens has the advantage that you hike up on a separate route and enjoy downhill adventures without oncoming traffic and extra safety.
Natural toboggan run
The next challenge is the easy toboggan run from Ochsengarten to Feldringalm (1888 m), a leisurely family hike of just under an hour. Always in mind: a splendid refreshment stop at Feldringalm and the 2.2 km long downhill adventure covering almost 200 altitude meters. If you don't have your own toboggan, you can rent it from the hut tenant. There are also other natural toboggan runs in Niederthai, Längenfeld, Gries and Sölden. Some of them are up to 6 kilometers long and offer even more downhill sledding fun.
Enjoy & repeat: Lift-assisted tobogganing
“Business before pleasure” is not your motto at all when you are on vacation? Are you interested in the essence of a toboggan adventure - in sledding itself? Then you can take a comfy mountain lift ride in several Ötztal holiday villages and save time. In Sölden the new toboggan run takes you down from Gaislachkogl middle station on incredible 7.3 kilometers, one of the longest toboggan runs in Austria. For the uphill ride on Gaislachkogl mountain gondola I you need a valid skipass, a toboggan or a single ride ticket. The route also features snow-making facilities and is freshly groomed every day.
Hochgurgl & Vent
In Hochgurgl you can prove your skills - preferably several times - on the 3 km long natural toboggan run with 25 turns from the top to the valley station of Hochgurgl mountain gondola. And in Vent, the Wildspitze double chair lift comfortably whisks you up to the start of the 5 km long Stablein toboggan run.
Tobogganing in Ötztal in Tirol
Frequently asked questions about sledding & tobogganing in Tirol
It all depends. Are you a speed queen? An absolute beginner? Part of a toboggan community? Or do you prefer to speed downhill on your own? Ask the experts in the Ötztal sports shops, who will sell or rent the perfectly matching model for your sledding day, ranging from children's toboggans to racing sleds.
The sun sets already but your tobogganing spirit remains the same? Just perfect - in Ötztal there are still loads of opportunities at dusk. As part of night skiing, the toboggan run in Sölden is illuminated every Wednesday, and the toboggan run in Hochgurgl every Thursday. The family toboggan runs in Piburg-Oetz and Sautens are floodlit, too, and invite you to go on adventures under the starry sky every day. Special tip: Headlamps are still a good idea to see and to be seen better.
One thing is for sure: you can do a lot to protect yourself! Always wear a helmet when sledding down, choose the right speed so that you can brake at any time and don’t drink alcohol. On heavily frequented toboggan runs you better ascend one behind the other and in the inner bend. Lift-supported toboggan runs prevent many dangerous situations automatically. For example, you enjoy the XL toboggan run in Sölden in a relaxed way because it is only used for tobogganing down.
According to the latest studies, young children are best protected when they sit behind the adult person on the toboggan. In case of a collision with a tree, the larger body acts like a buffer. Children should only toboggan on their own if they can master braking and steering technology and the general conduct guidelines.
The 955 m long natural toboggan run of Grantau in Umhausen is THE number one address for competitive athletes. National and international competitions take place here regularly, including World Championships and European Championships for tobogganists on natural tracks. But it is also an important training center for local youngsters and national teams. The tobogganing stronghold of Ötztal therefore repeatedly produces successful toboggan stars like Thomas Kammerlander who know how to skillfully use their home advantage on the Grantau toboggan run. That means for toboggan fans like you and me: just watch and be amazed!