Scheffau ski holidays
Established in ? the Austrian ski resort Scheffau lies at 752 metres altitude in the Tirol / Tyrol region of the Austrian Alps / Alpes. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 1650m the area is not snow sure. Over 150 snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 242km of trails, which equates to around 74 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Scheffau is Munich at a distance of ?km or approximately ? minutes driving time. Their season runs from December to April.
SNO-man says
A key resort in the Ski Welt, Austria's largest inter-connected ski area, Scheffau is located between Ellmau and Söll. It is smaller than its two neighbours but is otherwise similar, with traditional Tyrolean chalet-style buildings clustered around the white washed church with its sharp spire.
Alpine Downhill Runs
Beginner Trails
 1 runs 55km |
5% |
Intermediate Trails
 8 runs 192km |
40% |
Advanced Trails
 10 runs 149km |
50% |
Expert Trails
 1 runs 1km |
5% |
Resort and Holiday Stats
| Beginners |  |
| Intermediate | |
| Advanced/Expert | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family/child Friendly | |
| Snow-Sure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | €178 - €209.5 |
Traditional Village / Purpose Built Resort |
| Resort Opens | Dec 2013 |
| Resort Closes | Apr 2014 |
| (snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Mountain and Slopes
| Downhill Runs | 413km |
| total length of Scheffau trails |
| Longest Lift-Served Run | 8km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by lift |
| Slope Orientation | N S E W |
| direction Scheffau area faces |
| Top Altitude | 1650m |
| top station of highest lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 685m |
| bottom of lowest run |
| Resort Altitude | 752m |
| centre of Scheffau ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 965m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 965m |
| can include extra hike up above top lift |
Skiing in Scheffau
20 pistes and trails means approximately 413km of runs. 16 Scheffau lifts have capacity to transport 26728 per hour. The longest run in the Austrian ski resort is over 8km.
The mountain has 5% beginner runs or nursery slopes, 40% intermediate, 50% advanced slopes and 5% for experts - the most difficult piste is the 55km Route Moderer run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Snowboarding in Scheffau
Of the 16 ski lifts, 2 are surface lifts or "drag lifts" - this gives an indication of how modern the lift system is and how good Scheffau is for snowboarding - especially for beginners learning to board. Facilities include 1 terrain parks and 1 half pipe (longest half pipe length is 0 metres), 0 quarter pipe and 0 boardercross courses.
Rating for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Scheffau Apres Ski
Off-Slope activities include:
3 apres ski bars 7 restaurants 1 bowling 0 night club 0 cinema 0 billiards / pool 0 games room 0 concert 0 indoor swimming 0 outdoor heated pools 1 saunas 0 hot tubs 0 solariums 0 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 0 outdoor ice skating 0 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 1 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 1 horse riding 20 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 0 golf 0 fishing 1 museum 1 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities ?.
SNO-man says
Scheffau's facilities are limited, but it's easy to get to the indoor attractions at neighbouring resorts such as Ellmau's or Söll's swimming and leisure complexes on either side. There is a beauty farm, the Studio Harmony in Ellmau, a bowling alley in the Waldhof Inn and a village library.
The parish church is worth visiting if you like churches or history! It was built - like the church in Söll - by Franz Pock from Kufstein in 1755 and 1756. Only the spire is a remnant of the Gothic church which had been there before. The frescos on the ceiling painted by Mathias Kirchner from Kitzbühel show scenes from the life and death of St. John the Baptist. The scene which is particularly interesting is the one about the self-burial of St. John the Evangelist. Another jewel is a Gothic Madonna statue from 1460 standing in one of the niches. Beautiful crosses can be found in the graveyard.
There are 50km (31 miles) of cleared paths for walking, sleigh rides can be organised in the resort and a toboggan run begins above Ellmau and continues down above Ellmau to Going. Curling or skating on the natural ice rink in the village are other possibilities.
The cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg are both within an hour's drive for excursions.
Rating for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
"Scheffau" by any other name
The Austrian resort is also known as Scheffau Brandstadl and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Scheffau slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Scheffau has slopes facing N S E W.
Rating for snow gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Scheffau reviews, 3.3 star rating and information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.