Balderschwang – Hochschelpen/Riedberger Horn
Germany's highest village, reliably snowy
Balderschwang is a snow-sure Allgäu ski area set around Germany's highest village, offering dependable cover and relaxed, family-friendly runs across the Hochschelpen and Riedberger Horn.
- 1,002 m Base
- 1,487 m Top lift
- 485 m Vertical
- 17 Pistes mapped
- 11 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
Cosy Allgäu huts and village inns serve regional fare in a calm, unpretentious atmosphere geared to families rather than nightlife.
The resort
Sheltered in a high, wooded fold of the Allgäu Alps, Balderschwang surrounds what is billed as Germany's highest permanently inhabited village, and it wears its altitude and weather-catching position as a badge of snow reliability. The linked slopes of the Hochschelpen and Riedberger Horn deliver mellow, tree-lined pistes that suit families, beginners and unhurried intermediates, while a superb network of cross-country trails threads the valley floor. It is a quiet, wholesome sort of place, far from the glitz of the big Alps, where the appeal is dependable powder days, fresh air and traditional Allgäu hospitality rather than serious vertical.
Snow & weather
Live conditions from the mountain, plus the average snow you can expect month by month.
- Feels like
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- Conditions
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- Wind
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- Fresh snow (3-day)
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Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Among the more dependable areas in the German Alps — its sheltered high valley catches heavy Allgäu snowfall and holds cover well through the winter.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face NW — 74% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Very good, with gentle nursery slopes and easy runs ideal for families and first-timers.
Pleasant, mostly relaxed blue and red pistes through the trees.
Modest; a few steeper sections but limited sustained challenge.
Little expert terrain — this is a gentle, family-focused area.
Snow-sure Allgäu days
Balderschwang's sheltered, high-lying position makes it one of the German Alps' most snow-reliable areas, often skiable when lower resorts struggle.
Cross-country country
An extensive network of prepared Nordic trails runs through the valley, making it as much a cross-country destination as a downhill one.
On the map
Stay in Balderschwang – Hochschelpen/Riedberger Horn
The tiny, high-set village of Balderschwang offers guesthouses and hotels right by the slopes, with a peaceful, tucked-away feel.
Lifts and pistes from the door — the point of a high, purpose-built resort.
Self-catering residences, the bulk of the beds and the flexible-budget option.
Catered and self-catered chalets for groups wanting the whole place.
From simple to high-end, with pools and spas to thaw out in.
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How to get there
Memmingen (FMM) is the nearest airport, with Munich (MUC) the larger international gateway around two hours away; Friedrichshafen and Zürich are also within reach.
Access is by car up the winding Allgäu valley roads; a hire car is the practical choice given limited public transport to the village.
Best time: December through March, with the area's snow reliability making even the shoulder months a fair bet.
Nearby resorts & areas
Other resorts within reach.
Faces north Hinterstaufen
- Vertical
- 439 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 12
- Lifts
- 8
Faces east Skigebiet Ifen
- Vertical
- 762 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 16
- Lifts
- 4
Faces east Skigebiet Fellhorn/Kanzelwand
- Vertical
- 1048 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 26
- Lifts
- 13
Faces east Lech/Zürs
- Vertical
- 1006 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 91
- Lifts
- 32
Faces north-west Hindelang Oberjoch
- Vertical
- 429 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 15
- Lifts
- 5
Getting to Balderschwang – Hochschelpen/Riedberger Horn
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Zürich (ZRH) — search and compare without leaving the page.
Ski data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via OpenSkiMap & Skimap.org. Basemap © OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles. Editorial: mynext.holiday. Accommodation via Stay22; transfers via Kiwitaxi; car hire via Travelpayouts.