The Ski Area

Sonnenkopf is a real hidden treasure when it comes to skiing in St. Anton. With wide, open slopes (mostly blues and reds for easy cruising), accessible off-piste, and some unbelievably picturesque tree runs, it should definitely be part of your St. Anton itinerary!

If it’s been snowing and you’ve got a powder day ahead, Sonnenkopf is where you want to be. Between the pistes there are plenty of powder routes to enjoy, ideal for those less confident in the powder who will benefit from the security of being close to the piste.

The real draw of Sonnenkopf though is how quiet it is. Though it is covered under the Arlberg lift pass, many people either don’t know that this area exists, or are put off by the fact that you have to catch a bus to get there. However, the journey isn’t all that long (around 20 minutes on the bus) and it’s well worth it for deserted slopes and fresh tracks all day long. Where the fresh powder in St. Anton can get tracked out within an hour or two, Sonnenkopf allows you to enjoy the powder from first lifts to last.

To get there, ski down to Stuben and then catch the free ski bus, which drops you off near to the base gondola at Sonnenkopf.

Image © TVB St. Anton am Arlberg – Patrick Bätz

Fancy a challenge? The ‘Run of Fame’ is a 85km ski circuit that offers one of the best and most beautiful ways to experience this ski area. The longest ski circuit in the Alps, this is a circular route that takes you to various viewing platforms across the Arlberg to drink in all the area has to offer.

Covering a whopping altitude difference of 18,000 metres, the route takes you through the entire Arlberg ski area, from Rendl, in the south of St. Anton, through the famous areas of Lech and Zürs, to Shrocken and Warth, the Arlberg’s most northern area.

The ‘Run of Fame’ is dedicated to the many historical skiing stars of the Arlberg, with a museum celebrating these athletes at the Flexenbahn station at Zurs.

For a serious challenge, try to complete the route in one day, or to truly appreciate the route, you can take it easy and enjoy the trail over a few days.

Image © TVB St. Anton am Arlberg – Patrick Bätz

A trip to St. Anton is not complete without taking in the breathtaking 360 degree views of Valluga. At 2811 metres altitude, you truly do feel on top of the world.

Serious freeride skiers can actually ski from the peak here, but only with a guide, as it’s quite the challenging descent and should only be attempted by experienced skiers. If you don’t have a guide, you’ll have to leave your skis at the bottom of the Valluga II gondola.

If you aren’t travelling with a guide, but want to get your off-piste on, never fear. You can go up and enjoy the views sans-skis, before heading back to Valluga I and taking either the Red 92 and 85 runs down. From here, you have a number of off-piste options, from marked itinerary runs to broad powder fields.

Image © TVB St. Anton am Arlberg – Patrick Bätz