Skigebiet Damüls-Mellau-Faschina
Among the snowiest villages in the Alps
Damüls-Mellau-Faschina is a linked ski area in Austria's Bregenzerwald, famous as one of the snowiest inhabited places in the Alps. Sunny, uncrowded and hugely reliable for snow, it is a family-friendly favourite in the green heart of Vorarlberg.
- 689 m Base
- 2,021 m Top lift
- 1,332 m Vertical
- 71 Pistes mapped
- 31 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
Après is gentle and family-focused, built around cosy Bregenzerwald huts, regional cheeses and hearty Vorarlberg cooking rather than any raucous nightlife.
The resort
Set high in Vorarlberg's Bregenzerwald, this area links the villages of Damüls, Mellau and Faschina into one connected ski region reached by gondola and lifts. Damüls in particular is celebrated for receiving some of the heaviest, most consistent snowfall of any village in the Alps, which underpins the whole area's reputation. The slopes are open, sunny and predominantly gentle to intermediate, framed by the rolling, forested landscape typical of the region. It stays refreshingly quiet compared with the big-name Austrian resorts. The overall character is wholesome, scenic and reliably snowy.
Go for extraordinary snow reliability, sunny and confidence-building terrain, and the unspoilt charm of the Bregenzerwald away from the crowds. It is an outstanding family and intermediate destination, combining dependable conditions with authentic village life and celebrated regional food. Skiers who value quiet slopes and deep snow over glamour and nightlife will feel at home.
Storms sweeping in from the north-west dump heavy, frequent snow on Damüls, so powder days are common and the season is long and dependable. The open, sunny slopes make for lovely cruising between snowfalls, and the modest crowds mean fresh snow lasts. Midwinter brings the deepest cover, while spring offers bright, soft skiing beneath big skies.
Snow & weather
Live conditions from the mountain, plus the average snow you can expect month by month.
- Feels like
- —
- Conditions
- —
- Wind
- —
- Fresh snow (3-day)
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Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Outstanding: Damüls is among the snowiest inhabited places in the Alps, giving the whole area a deservedly strong reputation for dependable, plentiful snow.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face E — 43% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Gentle, sunny slopes and good ski schools make it an excellent, unintimidating place to learn.
Rolling blues and reds across the linked villages are the core of the skiing and a joy to cruise.
A few steeper runs plus abundant off-piste after fresh snow keep advanced skiers happy.
Experts are drawn mainly by the frequent powder and freeride potential rather than steep pisted challenge.
Powder in Damüls
Damüls' reputation as one of the snowiest villages in the Alps means untracked snow is unusually easy to come by after a storm. Combined with modest crowds, it offers powder days that far larger resorts struggle to match.
Mellau gondola link
The gondola up from Mellau connects the valley floor to the high, sunlit slopes and ties the linked area together. It lets you range across Damüls, Mellau and Faschina on a single ski pass for varied, uncrowded days.
Bregenzerwald hut culture
The region is known for its distinctive wooden architecture and its cheese and dairy traditions, and mountain huts here serve genuine local specialities. A long lunch is a memorable part of any day on the hill.
On the map
Legend
Run difficulty
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced / Expert
- Freeride / Extreme
- Unknown
Run types
- Downhill — groomed
- Downhill — ungroomed
- Downhill — gladed
- Nordic (groomed)
- Ski tour
- ☾Lit (night)
- △Not patrolled
- →One-way
- ❄Snowmaking
Lifts
- Operating
- Operating (private)
- Non-operating
- Lift station
Slope-gradient grading
Downhill / ski tour
- Flat<3°
- Easy3–14°
- Intermediate14–22°
- Advanced / Expert22–45°
- Freeride / Extreme>45°
Nordic
- Easy<6°
- Intermediate6–9°
- Advanced>9°
Aspect (sun exposure)
- N — least sun
- E — morning
- S — most sun
- W — afternoon
Legend after OpenSkiMap
Stay in Skigebiet Damüls-Mellau-Faschina
Damüls sits highest and closest to the snowiest slopes, Mellau offers a valley-floor gondola base, and Faschina is quiet and traditional; all are welcoming Bregenzerwald villages rather than resort towns.
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.
How to get there
Zürich (ZRH) is the packet gateway, with a scenic road transfer into Vorarlberg's Bregenzerwald; Innsbruck and Friedrichshafen are other regional approaches.
The drive winds up into the green hills of the Bregenzerwald, and the area's tucked-away position is part of why it stays so quiet and snowy.
Best time: January and February bring the deepest, most reliable snow, with sunny cruising continuing well into spring.
Nearby resorts & areas
Other resorts within reach.
Balderschwang – Hochschelpen/Riedberger Horn
- Vertical
- 485 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 17
- Lifts
- 11
Getting to Skigebiet Damüls-Mellau-Faschina
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.