Gerlitzen: Ski Runs, Winter Trails and Mountain Panorama

Gerlitzen offers you a combination of groomed slopes, natural ski routes and winter trails for a ski holiday. On the Gerlitzen Alpe, you can choose between sporty runs, longer mountain tours and quieter paths through the snow-covered mountain landscape. When looking for suitable accommodation, it is therefore particularly important to consider which activities you would like to combine during your stay and which valley station or cable car fits your daily plan.

Key facts on the topic

• The Gerlitzen Alpe has 26 ski runs of all difficulty levels, 45 kilometres of groomed slopes and 15 kilometres of natural ski routes.
• The Gerlitzen summit is 1,911 metres high and offers a 360-degree panorama of mountains and lakes.
• The Kanzelbahn runs from its valley station at Lake Ossiach, at an altitude of 550 metres, to the Kanzelhöhe Adventure Arena at an altitude of 1,440 metres in around 10 minutes.
• More than 12 kilometres of groomed winter and snowshoe hiking trails lead through the snow-covered mountain landscape.
• Ski touring on the slopes is permitted exclusively on the official Gerlitzen–Klösterle ascent route, on the ski-tourer strip of the 6.3-kilometre Klösterle downhill run.
• The Kanzelhöhe circular trail takes about one hour and is suitable for prams and wheelchairs.

Runs, ski routes and clear rules

The 26 ski runs on Gerlitzen offer options for different ability levels. The 45 kilometres of excellently groomed slopes form a different category from the 15 kilometres of natural ski routes. If you are planning varied days of skiing, it is therefore worth distinguishing between groomed slopes and natural routes. This allows you to adapt your choice of equipment and your daily planning to the respective intended route.

There is a particularly clear restriction on ski touring on the slopes: this activity is permitted only on the official Gerlitzen–Klösterle ascent route, on the ski-tourer strip of the Klösterle downhill run. It is 6.3 kilometres long. Ski touring on all other slopes is prohibited. This rule is one of the points you should include in your planning before setting out on a tour.

Cable cars and trails for different daily plans

The Kanzelbahn connects Lake Ossiach with the Kanzelhöhe Adventure Arena. From the valley station at an altitude of 550 metres, the ride takes around 10 minutes directly to 1,440 metres. Those who would like to reach the summit on foot can use an easy, family-friendly hiking trail from the mountain station of the Pöllingerbahn at an altitude of 1,660 metres. The trail is more than 1.8 kilometres long and takes around 30 to 45 minutes to reach the 1,911-metre-high Gerlitzen summit.

Another short hiking option leads from the mountain station of the Pöllingerbahn two-seater chairlift to the Kammerhütte in around 30 minutes on foot. The flat, family-friendly trail offers views of the Hohe Tauern and the Carinthian Nock Mountains. For a longer loop, the Traumbogen high-altitude circular trail around the summit of the Gerlitzen Alpe is available; it takes about one and a half hours. Those looking for a more demanding sporting alternative will find the Bergsteig 1000, a trail that begins directly at the Kanzelbahn valley station and climbs almost 1,000 metres in altitude.

Winter days with and without skis

The more than 12 kilometres of groomed winter and snowshoe hiking trails expand the options away from the ski runs. This is particularly relevant when not all travellers are following the same daily plan. For families, the Bergeralm circular trail also offers activity stations for children. The Kanzelhöhe circular trail takes about one hour and is described as suitable for prams and wheelchairs. Depending on the chosen trail, this allows different requirements regarding the route and daily activities to be taken into account without requiring everyone to have the same level of sporting ability.

Planning accommodation and arrival

When looking for accommodation, you should first decide whether the focus is on daily skiing, winter hiking or a combination of both. If you are arriving by car, there is a multi-storey car park with 800 free parking spaces directly at the valley station of the Gerlitzen cable cars. The specific location of your accommodation and the desired valley station should be considered separately in your daily planning. This makes it clear whether you would prefer to head to the Kanzelbahn, the Pöllingerbahn or a trail in the Kanzelhöhe area for your preferred activities.

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Gerlitzen, you can also check Köstenberg, Goritschach, Treffen Am Ossiacher See, Innere Einöde, Hohenthurn, Wernberg, Schloß Treffen and Nötsch Im Gailtal.

FAQ

What skiing options does Gerlitzen offer?

The Gerlitzen Alpe has 26 ski runs of all difficulty levels, 45 kilometres of groomed slopes and 15 kilometres of natural ski routes.

Is ski touring on the slopes permitted on all slopes?

No. Ski touring on the slopes is permitted exclusively on the official Gerlitzen–Klösterle ascent route, on the ski-tourer strip of the 6.3-kilometre Klösterle downhill run. It is prohibited on all other slopes.

What winter alternatives to skiing are there?

The Gerlitzen Alpe offers more than 12 kilometres of groomed winter and snowshoe hiking trails. There is also the approximately one-hour Kanzelhöhe circular trail, as well as other designated hiking trails.

How do you get to the Kanzelhöhe Adventure Arena?

The Kanzelbahn runs from its valley station at Lake Ossiach, at an altitude of 550 metres, directly to the Kanzelhöhe Adventure Arena at an altitude of 1,440 metres in around 10 minutes.

Which trail leads to the Gerlitzen summit?

An easy, family-friendly hiking trail leads from the mountain station of the Pöllingerbahn at an altitude of 1,660 metres over 1.8 kilometres to the 1,911-metre-high summit in around 30 to 45 minutes.

Is there also a demanding mountain tour?

The Bergsteig 1000 is a demanding trail. It begins directly at the Kanzelbahn valley station and climbs almost 1,000 metres in altitude towards Kanzelhöhe.

To the higher-level travel overview: Villach Region.