Sankt Leonhard in the Pitztal Valley

If you are looking for a ski hotel in Sankt Leonhard in the Pitztal Valley, the most important winter attraction is the Pitztal Glacier-Rifflsee ski area. It is Austria’s highest ski area and reaches an altitude of 3,440 metres. When choosing your accommodation, the documented travel options, routes to the valley stations and the various excursion destinations in the Pitztal Valley are also relevant.

Winter starting point and travel options

The nearest railway station is Imst in the Inn Valley. From there, bus route 310 travels through the Pitztal Valley to the valley stations of the Rifflsee cable car and the Glacier Express. This means that the journey is described not only via the railway station, but also via a specific public transport connection right to the mountain lifts. From the valley, you can reach Café 3440 by Glacier Express and Wildspitzbahn in around 20 minutes. Coffee specialities, homemade cakes, breakfast and regional delicacies are served there. The view extends over thousands of mountain peaks in the Ötztal Alps and towards the Wildspitze.

Rifflsee and routes at different elevations

The circular Rifflsee hiking trail starts and ends at the Sunna Alm mountain restaurant. It follows an easy path around the clear mountain lake, offering an independent way to explore the Rifflsee area away from skiing. If you are planning a raft trip on Rifflsee, you can get tickets at the Rifflsee ticket office, at the Sunna Alm restaurant ticket office or directly at the raft before departure. Another route is the St. Leonhard high-altitude trail. It leads from St. Leonhard in the Pitztal Valley along old hunters’ paths to the Luibisböden or as far as Piösmes. For a hike in the valley, the easy walk from Stillebach to Wiese is a good option. It follows the Pitze River and passes waterfalls that originate in the Kaunergrat and Geigenkamm mountain ranges. Specific routes are also documented for less demanding activities: The Mittelberg Weg starts at the bus turning area in Mittelberg and follows a technically very easy gravel road that is also suitable for beginners. The Klockelefall near Stillebach is a gently sloping, not particularly steep icefall and is well suited to beginners. The adventure trail in the Pitztal Glacier climbing park is suitable for children aged 10 and over. At the upper end, it opens up a view of Tyrol’s highest glacier.

Nature, history and regional features

The Tyrolean Ibex Centre in Sankt Leonhard in the Pitztal Valley combines a photographic exhibition with an accessible ibex enclosure. The pilgrimage church of “Maria Hilf” at Bichele adds a cultural highlight; its history dates back to 1610. The local traditions also include the “Fiancés’ Holidays”. These are days of devotion imposed by the community itself to protect the population from dangers such as natural disasters, infectious diseases, the threat of war and livestock epidemics. The restored Schrofenhof is considered the oldest farm in the Pitztal Valley mentioned in historical records. For another tour option, the “688 | Söllbergalm” tour starts at the Wiese car park at the beginning of St. Leonhard in the Pitztal Valley. The local and valley surroundings include Wiese (Wiese), Plangeross (Plangeross), Mandarfen (Mandarfen), Boden (Boden) and Zaunhof (Zaunhof). Other destinations in the Imst district are Stams (Stams), Imst (Imst) and Köfles (Köfles).

For the broader travel overview: Imst district.