The Schmittenh\u00f6he is Zell am See’s home mountain and, at 1,965 metres, one of the finest viewpoints in the Salzburg Alps. Repeatedly awarded as Austria’s best summer mountain railway, the “Schmitten” combines comfortable lifts with a panorama of around 30 three-thousanders \u2013 in summer as in winter. Unlike the high alpine Kitzsteinhorn it is a wooded, friendly mountain that sits directly above the town and stays reachable on foot.<\/p>\n\n
Several cable cars take you up from Zell am See. The gondolas start at the edge of town and at the Schmittenh\u00f6he area; within minutes you glide over forest and alpine meadows \u2013 with no toll road and no traffic jam. At the top, further lifts open up the high-level promenade and the summit region.<\/p>\n
That is the Schmitten’s practical advantage over any other mountain in the region: you do not need a car. From Zell am See station the base stations are reachable on foot or by ski bus, and in winter the valley run ends within walking distance of town again. If you arrive without a car, this is where you are most flexible.<\/p>\n
One planning note: the mountain railway is frequently included in the summer or guest card. Ask at your accommodation before buying a ticket \u2013 that applies to many properties in Zell am See.<\/p>\n\n
The heart of the Schmittenh\u00f6he is the view. From the summit it reaches across the deep blue Zeller See and the town to around 30 three-thousanders \u2013 among them the Kitzsteinhorn and the glaciers of the Hohe Tauern. The “Kaiserblick” viewing platform stages this panorama particularly effectively.<\/p>\n
When you go up decides the experience more than anything else. Visibility is usually clearest in the morning; over the course of the day, summer cumulus often builds and hides the view of the Tauern. In winter it is precisely the high-fog day that pays off: with grey soup in the valley you frequently stand up here in sunshine above a closed sea of cloud.<\/p>\n\n
In summer the Schmittenh\u00f6he is above all a hiking mountain \u2013 and one that serves an unusual range of abilities at once, because the cable car takes care of the ascent.<\/p>\n
For a first visit the high-level promenade is the right choice: largely flat, well signposted, with places to stop along the way and shortenable at any point. Easy routes are described in detail in our article on easy walks on the Schmittenh\u00f6he<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n In winter the Schmitten, with around 77 piste kilometres, is the larger of the two local ski areas \u2013 and the more varied one. Forest as wind protection, broad cruising runs and valley descents into town make it the everyday mountain for anyone staying in Zell am See.<\/p>\n Honestly placed: if you are after altitude, spring snow or snow reliability in October, you are better served at the Kitzsteinhorn<\/a>. The Schmitten plays its strengths with fresh snow in the trees, short distances and with children. The direct comparison is under Kitzsteinhorn or Schmittenh\u00f6he<\/a>, and the ski pass is explained in ski pass prices explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Schmidolin the dragon leads younger guests through interactive adventure worlds with puzzles, stations and dares. The mountain becomes an adventure playground \u2013 and the family spends the day exploring rather than negotiating about moving on.<\/p>\n Practical for parents: the stations sit along easily walkable paths in the summit area, so the round can be shortened at any time. In winter there is a dedicated Kidsslope and children’s ski courses; for learning to ski the Schmitten is considerably more pleasant than the glacier thanks to its short distances and sheltered position.<\/p>\n\n Numerous mountain restaurants and huts are spread across the summit plateau \u2013 from a quick snack on the sun terrace to lunch with regional specialities, always with a panorama.<\/p>\n Two notes from practice: during holiday weeks lunchtime between twelve and half past one is busiest; eat at eleven or at two and you will find a place in the sun more easily. And the terraces with a lake view fill first on fine days \u2013 if you want that spot, come early.<\/p>\n\n The Schmittenh\u00f6he is rarely just a destination; it is usually a starting point. High-level paths lead from the summit plateau in several directions, paragliders launch here, and in winter the valley run begins straight down to Zell am See.<\/p>\n If you want to explore further, the Schmittental<\/a> and our overview of the ski areas in Zell am See-Kaprun<\/a> pick up from here. What the region otherwise offers in winter is under Zell am See in winter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nWinter in the Schmittenh\u00f6he ski area<\/h2>\n
A family mountain with Schmidolin<\/h2>\n
A bite to eat with a view<\/h2>\n
Tips for your visit<\/h2>\n
Take off from the Schmittenh\u00f6he<\/h2>\n
Summer or winter \u2013 when is the Schmitten worth it?<\/h2>\n