10.01.2024 Four Valley Ski Lifts – And Plenty of Reasons to Love Every Ski Day
High above Höfen rises the Bergwelt Hahnenkamm Ski Resort - the region’s flagship ski resort and one of the four absolute highlights of the Naturparkregion Reutte. Local children often start skiing here as early as the age of three, heading down from the Mountain Station of the Höfener Alm Cable Car at over 1,880 metres. From there, they tackle the famous Kanonenrohr and Schüttler sections, carving their way down the nearly four-kilometre-long main run all the way into the valley.
However, as some sections of the pistes can be challenging for less experienced skiers, the first turns are usually practised at one of the valley ski lifts in the region. These areas stand out for their family-friendly kilometres of pistes and are ideal for learning the basics of skiing. For this very reason, they play an important role in the region’s diverse range of ski slopes.
Unfortunately, several of these “micro ski areas” have disappeared from the winter landscape of the Reutte Nature Park Region over the years for a variety of reasons. The Sonnen Lift in Wängle, the Langtennen Lift in Lechaschau, and most recently the Sintenbichl Lift in Breitenwang, affectionately known by locals as the “Todeslift” (Death Lift), have all been closed and now live on only as legends. In many cases, the reasons were insufficient snow reliability and the resulting lack of economic viability.
This development also includes the Konradshüttle in Vils, which was forced to cease operations due to the absence of a new owner. For many, this marked the loss of yet another piece of living ski history. The Schollenwiesen Lift in Höfen is currently on a winter hiatus - whether it will transport skiers again in the future remains uncertain, but hope still lingers.
Even though the range of ski facilities has changed over the years, the valley ski lifts of the region, with all their individual quirks, have shaped and continue to shape the winter identity of the Reutte Nature Park Region. We now want to turn our attention to the stories of these four small ski areas, from those still in operation to those that have achieved legendary status. So, strap on your skis and enjoy - Ski Heil!
The Cradle of Alpine Skiing in the Reutte Nature Park Region: The Waldrast Lift in Ehenbichl
The forefather of all ski lifts in the region is -unsurprisingly - the Waldrastlift.
With barely half a kilometre of piste and a vertical drop of less than 130 metres, it is the smallest lift in the region and also the only one located on the right-hand side of the Lech.
Nevertheless, according to a report in the Außerferner news dated 3 March 1951, “the Reutte ski paradise on the Schlossberg slope became reality” - long before the first gondola ever ascended the Mountain Hahnenkamm.
But wait! “Gliding through the air with skis strapped on”? “Carried upward once again”?
That doesn’t really sound like the drag lift at the Waldrast! Could there be some truth to the rumours that a chairlift once ran up this slope?
Indeed - exactly so! What sounds like a bold future vision from today’s cable car engineers was actually put into practice more than 70 years ago by the merchant Josef Thummer. But the original plans went even further: “We are considering extending the lift over the course of the summer all the way up to the Schlossberg and its old ruins; this would give the Reutte basin a new and highly attractive focal point,” the visionary Thummer is quoted as saying. A project that was never realised - but one that likely influenced the later development of the Hahnenkamm nonetheless.
Over the years, the Waldrast Lift changed owners several times, and every few years discussions about its continued existence resurfaced. Yet each period of “concern for the Waldrast Lift” was followed once again by celebrations marking the “resurrection of the Waldrast.”
Today, the lift is 100% owned by the Reutte Nature Park Region. The two-seater lift system, built by Doppelmayr, is operated by the municipality of Ehenbichl. In recent years, both the lift and the surrounding area have truly flourished. The Waldrast now forms a key junction for several cross-country ski trails, and it has also become home to the local biathlon club.
A Sun-Soaked Family Ski Resort: The Schollenwiesen Lift in Höfen
The Schollenwiesen Lift is located at the foot of the Mountain Hahnenkamm and is especially blessed with abundant sunshine. One could almost say that nowhere else in the region do snow, sun, and skiers come closer together than here.
Opened in 1967, the “Scholli” is primarily used by beginners and less experienced skiers, for whom it offers nearly ideal conditions. Very young children also get their money’s worth thanks to the dedicated children’s practice lift. A modern snowmaking system in the lower section even ensures reliable snow conditions well into spring.
On the nearly 1.6 kilometres of pistes, more experienced skiers also found plenty to enjoy, tackling a vertical drop of around 150 metres. Although the Schollenwiesen Lift was considered part of the Hahnenkamm Ski Resort, it did not have a direct connection via pistes or lifts.
For many years, the facility was operated by the Schretter family, pioneers of ski lifts in the region, before being transferred entirely into the ownership of the municipality of Höfen a few years ago. Most recently, day-to-day operations of the Schollenwiesen Lift were managed by Reutte Nature Park Region.
At the "Schollenstüberl" near the valley station, visitors could also rent sledges for the approximately 300-metre-long, groomed toboggan run along the edge of the piste. This meant that the Schollenwiesen Lift offered not only great skiing but also plenty of fun for tobogganing enthusiasts.
The ‘High-Altitude Ski Area’ Among the Region’s Valley Ski Lifts: The Konradshüttle Lift in Vils
In contrast to the Schollenwiesen Lift, the Konradshüttle Lift in Vils was not exactly blessed with abundant sunshine and was usually shaded - something that, however, had a positive effect on snow reliability. Beyond that, the Konradshüttle Lift featured several other unique characteristics and could quite confidently be described as the birthplace of future World Cup racers…
In the past, even getting there was often an adventure in itself. After heavy snowfall, access was sometimes only possible with spinning tyres - or even snow chains.
Nestled along the ridge of the Mountain Vilser Kegel, the lift was situated higher than any other in the region. With a mountain station at over 1,100 metres, it featured the region’s longest drag lift at around 840 metres, complete with a distinctive S-shaped curve, and offered a total of approximately 1.75 kilometres of pistes.
From the top station, impressive panoramic views opened up over Pinswang, Musau, and the Mountain Säuling.
Everything in Vils began around 1978 with a homemade tractor lift, which evolved into a drag lift over the following years. The later two-seater lift system built by Doppelmayr was operated by Schretter & Cie and also remained in their ownership.
Over time, the Konradshüttle Lift became a popular meeting place for families with children as well as for more experienced skiers. The lower section of the slopes was gentler and therefore ideal for very young children, while the section above the lift’s curve was noticeably steeper and featured small challenges such as the so-called “camel humps.” (Countless high-spirited local children have probably had to collect their skis here at least once.)
In addition to recreational skiers, the lift was also extremely popular with numerous ski clubs for many years—both for training sessions and competitions. That training in Vils paid off is demonstrated not least by the careers of two World Cup racers: Konrad Walk and Dietmar Köhlbichler.
In 1988, Konrad Walk claimed overall victory in the Giant Slalom standings of the European Cup and went on to achieve several top-10 finishes in the World Cup as well as at the Alpine World Ski Championships in 1991. Dietmar Köhlbichler, meanwhile, finished second in the World Cup slalom at the Lauberhorn in Wengen on 18 January 1987 - clearly pushing world stars Alberto Tomba and Ingemar Stenmark - two of the four most successful ski racers in history, to their limits.
That Konrad Walk and Dietmar Köhlbichler acquired the skills necessary for these remarkable achievements while training with the Ski Club Vils at the Konradshüttle is, at the very least, undisputed among experts.
The Winner of Hearts: The Moosberg Lift in Weißenbach
Although this overview is by no means intended as a ranking - and such a ranking would not be possible anyway due to the very different characteristics of each lift - there is still a clear “winner of hearts.” And the reason is simple.
Located on the outskirts of Weißenbach, the Moosberg Lift, built in 1972, is blessed with a charming and varied piste. With a capacity of around 1,200 people per hour, it boasts the highest uplift capacity of all the valley lifts mentioned and, with a vertical drop of more than 190 metres, also the greatest elevation difference in the region.
Yet it earns its title as the winner of hearts for an entirely different reason:
After the facility narrowly escaped closure and demolition in 2010, the “Association for the Preservation of the Moosberglift Weißenbach" was founded at the very last minute. Thanks to numerous sponsors, financial support from the municipality of Weißenbach, and above all the tremendous commitment, passion, and countless voluntary hours contributed by the association, the lift was saved.
For this extraordinary and far-from-obvious dedication, everyone involved deserves heartfelt thanks. Small valley ski lifts - whether in Ehenbichl, Höfen, Vils, Weißenbach, or elsewhere in Tyrol - offer immense value both to local youth and to holiday guests, and should be preserved whenever possible.
Conclusion
The four valley ski lifts of the Reutte Nature Park Region are not only symbols of winter sports diversity, but also witnesses to a deeply rooted skiing tradition. Each lift, with its individual characteristics and unique history, contributes in its own way to the charm and appeal of the region.
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The Waldrast Lift, the historic pioneer, combines nostalgic flair with modern winter sports.
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The Schollenwiesen Lift was known as a sun-drenched paradise, offering ideal conditions for beginners and children.
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The former Konradshüttle Lift, the breeding ground of World Cup racers, challenged both beginners and experienced skiers with its varied pistes.
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And the Moosberg Lift, the winner of hearts, stands as a living example of how local community spirit and dedication can keep winter sports alive.
Each of these lifts has its own story to tell and offers unforgettable experiences—from a child’s very first cautious turns to the powerful training runs of future World Cup stars. They are the heart of the region and a treasure trove of memories that have shaped generations of skiers.
A stay in the Reutte Nature Park Region - whether as a local or a visitor - is not complete without a day of skiing at one of these picturesque locations. They offer not only sporting challenges, but also the opportunity to immerse oneself in local culture and history. These lifts are living places of encounter, where the joy of winter sports reveals itself in its purest form.
A day on the slopes at one of these four valley ski lifts therefore represented far more than sporting pleasure alone - it stood for a piece of living Tyrolean history and tradition. A visit - then as now - has always been more than just a day of skiing: it meant immersing oneself in the very soul of the Reutte Nature Park Region.
Current Information Live Status and Opening Hours
Detailed information on the lifts - including contact details, opening hours, and current live status can be found, among other places, on the interactive map at maps.reutte.com.
Written by:
Hanspeter