From Sportgastein to Ortberg
The Bad Gastein area has several ski resorts, and for freeriding the best of them is Sportgastein. Around it there are not only superb cross-country loops but above all plenty of ski touring objectives of varying difficulty. One of the basic tours is the panoramic Ortberg (2401 m).
Route overview: car park by the information centre (1585 m) – past Valeriehaus along the summer hiking trail to the road to the Bockhartseehütte hut – depending on the snow either on the trail or on the road – at the last bend before the tunnel turn onto the summer ascent route, on foot when snow is low (slightly exposed in places and secured with ropes) – Bockhartseehütte (1933 m) – descent to the dam of Unterer Bockhartsee (1872 m) – beyond the dam climb north on slopes of varying steepness – along the partly exposed ridge to the pole marking the summit – descent along the ascent route.
Drive up the Gasteiner Alpenstraße (toll charged per person) to the car park in Sportgastein. Some people will prefer freeriding, the pistes or the cross-country loops here; our goal is the nearest panoramic summit, Ortberg (2401 m). Both the ascent and the descent can vary with current snow conditions. When snow is low (March 2025), expect to carry your skis on your backpack for a while.
From the information centre to the Bockhartseehütte (1933 m)
Park at one of the many car parks in Sportgastein (it is always better to choose one further from the lift) and put on your skins. Past Valeriehaus join the summer hiking route. In good snow follow the marked trail. When snow is low, join the road to the Bockhartseehütte after about 300 metres. The road gains height quite quickly up to the last bend before the tunnel. The tunnel through the rock is usually closed, so turn back onto the summer trail.
When snow is low, strap your skis to your backpack and follow the path, occasionally secured with ropes, above the trees to about 1900 m. Put your skis back on there and continue to the hut with a superb view. Alternatively, traverse the slope below the hut.
From the hut to the summit of Ortberg (2401 m)
Behind the hut skin down to the dam of Unterer Bockhartsee (1872 m). Cross the dam on the right-hand side of the spillway. Beyond the dam a path continues around the reservoir on its east side. Turn right here and start climbing a sparsely overgrown slope, soon passing a small hut. You can follow the summer hiking trail or choose your own line according to the snow. At about 2050 m bear slightly east towards the ridge.
Climb the ridge due north for the last roughly 300 vertical metres. While the western slopes are gentle and only exceed thirty degrees higher up, the eastern slopes drop steeply into the Nassfelder Tal and the ridge may carry cornices. The final section to the summit is almost flat. Ortberg is unusual in that there is no summit cross, just a wooden pole.
Descent from Ortberg (2401 m)
There are several ways down from the summit. A steeper variant leads a little south of the summit down a rocky west-facing slope that needs plenty of snow – this way you can ski to the Miesbichlscharte saddle (2237 m) and continue south to rejoin the ascent track. The standard descent in mixed conditions, including poor visibility, follows the ascent track. Around the summit watch out for cornices and the occasional protruding rock.
Lower down, head towards the reservoir. Above it, turn towards the small hut and from there ski straight to the dam. You can cross the dam by double-poling or put your skins back on. Beyond the reservoir climb back up to the hut.
In good snow you can ski from the hut straight south to the road below the tunnel. When snow is low, as in March 2025, ski to the summer ascent path and walk down it to the road. Follow the road and lower down the hiking trail back to the car park in Sportgastein.