Nordkette / Seegrube Ski Area
One of the nine ski resorts in the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck, Nordkette / Seegrube is the perfect place for people looking for a ski experience with demanding terrain, amazing surroundings, and easy access from the city. Access Nordkette / Seegrube from the city center by a funicular mountain train and cable car in less than thirty minutes; it is located on the northern edges of Innsbruck. Apart from some of the most exciting and steep slopes in Europe, one may see amazing views of Innsbruck (575 m), the Inn valley, and the Southern Alps from the summit station at Hafelekar (2,300 m).
Nordkette / Seegrube is not a ski resort suitable for those with limited cardiac capacity. It offers 1,440 meters of vertical, four ski routes, one black run, four red runs, and a blue run together with 15 kilometers of demanding skiing. Every one of the routes faces south and provides amazing city views. Because of its steep, tight, and often slippery character, the black run and the ski paths are just suitable for experienced skiers. Though they are challenging as well, the red routes offer more variation and excitement. Though it is the least difficult, the blue run still requires some degree of talent and courage. Attracting freestyle enthusiasts, the Nordkette Skyline Snowpark boasts a halfpipe, boxes, rails, and jumps suitable for all ability levels of riders. Although Nordkette / Seegrube may be skied in half-day, traversing its slopes calls for a great degree of endurance and physical fitness.
One ski area you will remember a lifetime is Nordkette / Seegrube. It offers a unique chance to ski on the fringes of a city with amazing views and terrain. Popular among both residents and visitors, the modern sun deck and Restaurant Seegrube are great places to enjoy the surroundings and tan. You can relax and enjoy the amazing panoramic views of Innsbruck, the Inn valley, and the Southern Alps while drinking a cool beer or hot beverage. For both skiers and non-skiers, Nordkette / Seegrube, a jewel of the Alps shining year-round, is a “must-visit”. In addition, it provides hiking paths and climbing routes for the more adventurous as well as some of the toughest mountain bike courses in the Alps throughout the summer. The ski region Nordkette / Seegrube will enthrall, inspire, and excite you.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Innsbruck, Austria |
| Resort Altitude | 860–2,256 m |
| Ski season | 24 November – 21 April |
| Ski pass prices | 34 euros for adults, 17 euros for children, 27 euros for seniors |
| Opening times | 8:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Number of pistes | 6 |
| Total piste length | 13 km |
| Longest Run | 2.2 km |
| Easy Slopes | 4 km |
| Moderate Slopes | 4 km |
| Advanced Slopes | 5 km |
| Directions of Slopes | N, NE, E |
| Night skiing | No |
| Snow Making | Yes |
| Total Lifts | 6 |
| Uphill Capacity | 8,000 people per hour |
| Highest Lift | 2,256 m |
| Gondolas/Cable cars | 2 |
| Chairlifts | 4 |
| Drag Lifts | 0 |
| Snow Parks | 1 |
| Ski rentals | Yes |
| Après-ski | Yes |
Location and Accessibility
Few kilometers north of Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol and a well-known winter sports destination, Nordkette / Seegrube Ski Area is situated in the middle of the Alps. Situated inside the Nordkette mountain range, the northern limit of the most vast protected region in the Alps, the ski area forms part of Karwendel Nature Park. Comprising an elevation range of 860 to 2,256 meters, the ski area provides amazing views of the city and the neighboring mountains.
One of main advantages of the Nordkette / Seegrube Ski Area is accessibility. One may easily reach the ski area by cable car, public transit, or vehicle. Skiers may use free parking at the Hungerburgbahn station, on the outskirts of Innsbruck. Should you be driving, you might park there. From there, in about eight minutes, you may reach the Hungerburg station using the Hungerburgbahn funicular. After that, you could go to the Nordkettenbahn cable car, which will get you to the Hafelekar station in an extra 4 minutes and the Seegrube station in 12. Operating every 15 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the cable car offers an amazing trip over the mountains and the city.
If you ride public transit, you can get from the main train station or city center the bus line J to the Hungerburgbahn station. Operating every ten minutes from six a.m. until eleven p.m., the bus runs On the other hand, tram line 1 links the Congress station to the main train station in the city center and runs every ten minutes from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. There is about a 10-minute walk from there to the Hungerburgbahn station. Then you might follow the same steps as before mentioned to reach the ski area by cable car.
Those lodging in Innsbruck also have access to the Innsbruck Card, which offers discounts on a range of attractions and activities in the city as well as free access to the cable car and public transportation. One may buy the Innsbruck Card online or at several travel information agencies in the city. For 24 hours the fee is 43 euros; for 48 hours it is 50 euros; and for 72 hours it is 59 euros.
Skiing and Snowboarding Trails
With 15 km of moderately to tough slopes, the Nordkette / Seegrube Ski Area is There are two portions to the ski area: Seegrube and Hafelekar. In the lower part of Seegrube, beginners and intermediates will find moderate and broad slopes together with a terrain park and a children’s area. The top portion, Hafelekar, allows experienced and advanced skiers and snowboarders to test their abilities on steep and narrow lines as well as on the famous Karrinne, a 70-degree couloir among the toughest ski courses in Europe.
Beginner Trails
Beginning their skiing journey in the Seegrube sector, novices would find the 500 m long, basic slope with magic carpet lift ideal. They might also sign up for ski lessons at the Seegrube station’s ski school. Beginning enthusiasts can also enjoy the breathtaking views of Innsbruck and the valley provided by the Seegrube terrace while loungers provide relaxation and music listening.
Intermediate Trails
Intermediates in the Seegrube portion may find more challenging slopes including the 500 m long Kasermandel – Talele, an exciting ride, and the 700 m long medium hill known as the Kurzes Tal, which leads to the Seegrube station. Intermediates might also try the halfpipe, box, rail, jump terrain park Nordkette Skyline Park. Nestled on the Seegrube plateau, the park provides an amazing perspective of the metropolitan skyline.
Advanced Trails
For advanced and professional skiers and snowboarders looking for the best freeride experiences, the Hafelekar sector is their ultimate destination. The Hafelekar part consists just of natural snow and topography; it lacks developed slopes. The most remarkable feature of this part is the Karrinne, a 70-degree couloir considered as one of the most difficult ski routes worldwide. The Karrinne is just suitable for experienced and competent skiers and snowboarders who need avalanche gear and a guidance. Starting at the Hafelekar summit, the highest point in the ski region at 2,256 m, the Karrinne ends at the Hafelekar station, at 2, 269 m. The Karrinne has a vertical descent of 800 meters and runs around two kilometers in length.
Ski Lifts and Infrastructure
Modern and effective, the ski lift system at Nordkette / Seegrube Ski Area lets you quickly and easily reach the skiing ground. The ski area boasts six ski lifts overall—two cable cars, two gondolas, two chairlifts—two of which are Operating from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the ski lifts can carry 8,000 people an hour overall.
The main ski lift connecting the ski area to the city is Nordkettenbahn cable car. It runs from Hungerburg station to Hafelekar station stopping at Seegrube station. There are two sections to the cable car, each able to hold 160 people. While the second portion runs from the Seegrube station to the Hafelekar station in four minutes, the first section takes twelve minutes from the Hungerburg station to the Seegrube station. Apart from giving panoramic views of the city and the mountains, the cable car is fitted with audio commentaries covering the history and culture of the area.
The Seegrube gondola, the Hafelekar gondola, the Seegrube chairlift, the Karrinne chairlift service the ski area. Among the other ski lifts are these ones Operating in parallel with the cable car, both the Seegrube and the Hafelekar gondolas are 8-person models. They provide an other way to reach the Seegrube and Hafelekar stations. Serving the lower and higher sections of the ski slope respectively, the 4-person Seegrube chairlift and the Hafelekar chairlift are both Access to the Karrinne ski run, the steepest ski line in Europe, is offered by the two-person Karrinne chairlift.
| Name | Type | Capacity | Length | Vertical drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungerburgbahn (Sektion I) | Funicular | 127 | 1800 m | 287 m |
| Seegrube (Sektion II) | Cable car | 160 | 2200 m | 1020 m |
| Hafelekar (Sektion III) | Cable car | 160 | 1000 m | 376 m |
| Seegrube | Chairlift | 4 | 800 m | 200 m |
| Hafelekar | Chairlift | 4 | 600 m | 200 m |
| Karrinne | Chairlift | 2 | 500 m | 200 m |
