Saalbach Ski Resort

Resort Overview

Last updated: 24.08.2026

Saalbach at a Glance

The villages of Saalbach and Hinterglemm lie in the Glemm valley (or “Glemmtal”) in the province of Salzburg in western Austria in an area known as the Pinzgau.

The Ski Circus area, which shares lifts with the resorts of Leogang and Fieberbrunn in a neighbouring valley, is one of the most extensive in Austria and has a good snow record, although the top stations of many of the lifts are not that high compared to other resorts in the west of Austria.

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1000 -

2095 m

270 km

(

1000

2095

ft)

(

270

mi)

Elevation

Piste length

Ski lifts

Luxurious

Apres Ski

Big area

Is Saalbach Right for You?

Best for

extensive range of skiing around the valley on intermediate runs

‘ski resort’ style villages at the bottom of the slopes with no bus journey necessary

attractive villages with some nightlife but that are also suitable for families

Not ideal for

most ski runs go all the way down to the valley and highest runs are not so high, although snowmaking is good on major connecting pistes

limited amount of challenging skiing

About Saalbach Ski Resort

Saalbach and Hinterglemm were originally villages in the farming valley of the Glemmtal and, despite, the changes that the ski industry has brought, that rural character remains during the summer months. But the developments brought about by winter sports have led to Saalbach-Hinterglemm becoming one of Austria’s top ski resorts.

The boom in winter tourism and skiing in the area really started after World War II, and the communities have profited from an increase in general prosperity and an influx of inhabitants. From a population of around 1,000 in the mid-1900s the number of inhabitants has grown to over 3,000 with the biggest increase taking place in the 50s and 60s as tourism developed.

Since 1987 the separate village of Saalbach and Hinterglemm have officially become one local council area called Saalbach-Hinterglemm. The ski area also includes the communities of Vorderglemm further towards the entrance of the Glemm valley, and the former mining village of Leogang in the neighbouring Leogang valley.

The combined ski area includes over 200km of ski runs and enough variety that the visitor needs to get up early in the morning just to do a loop around the whole area, and that’s without stopping too much along the way! The 62 lifts in what is termed the “Skicircus” are a result of the massive amount of investment that has been pumped into the resorts to make the linked ski area a rival for the title of “biggest in Austria”.

And the connection with Fieberbrunn has meant that the area is now even bigger…

Saalbach-Hinterglemm is reached from the main road between Zell am See and Saalfelden, while Leogang is even more convenient and is on the road between Saalfelden and St Johann in Tirol.

Visitors have quite a few options when looking for where to stay. Saalbach is the best-known ‘name’ and is the easier of the two villages to get to.

Hinterglemm on the other hand is higher and has more access to a wider range of immediate skiing.

Leogang is over on the other side of the mountain from Saalbach. It is more convenient for those arriving from the west and north and is quieter than the other two resorts.