Veľká Rača is a family ski resort at Oščadnica in Slovakia's Kysuce region, spread across wooded ridges close to the point where Slovakia, Poland and Czechia meet.
- 637 m Base
- 1,044 m Top lift
- 407 m Vertical
- 17 Pistes mapped
- 6 Lifts
Best known for
Après & vibe
Après is low-key and family-friendly, based around the pensions and eateries of Oščadnica and the resort's own base facilities.
The resort
Veľká Rača, based above the village of Oščadnica, is one of the larger ski areas in the quiet Kysuce hills of north-western Slovakia, tucked into the forested Beskid ranges near the tri-border corner with Poland and Czechia. Its runs fan out across two linked sectors of gentle-to-moderate, tree-lined pistes that make it a natural choice for families and intermediates, backed by dependable snowmaking. There is little pretension here: this is honest, affordable central-European skiing with cosy village lodging and an unhurried pace. Its border-country position also makes it an easy add-on for visitors coming from southern Poland.
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)
- —
Live data © Open-Meteo.com
Mid-altitude Beskid snow through the core winter, reliably reinforced by snowmaking on the main runs.
Average monthly snowfall
Snowfall climatology unavailable.
Terrain & aspect
- Novice
- Easy
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Slopes mostly face N — 90% on snow-holding, poleward-facing slopes.
Aspect derived from run bearings · OpenSkiStats / © OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Skiing & terrain
Gentle lower slopes and learner lifts suit novices well.
Linked red and blue runs across the two sectors give cruisers room to roam.
A couple of steeper pitches provide modest challenge.
Expert and off-piste options are limited.
Two linked ski sectors
The resort's paired areas above Oščadnica give a satisfying spread of runs for a mountain of its size.
Tri-border setting
Perched near the meeting point of Slovakia, Poland and Czechia, it makes an easy cross-border ski stop.
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 Veľká Rača
Base yourself in Oščadnica or the nearby spa town of Rajecké Teplice for value and comfort.
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
Kraków (KRK) and Katowice in southern Poland are the most convenient international gateways, roughly two hours away; Bratislava and Vienna are further options.
An easy road approach through the Kysuce valley from the Žilina area.
Best time: January and February offer the most reliable cold and cover.
Nearby resorts
Other resorts within reach.
Faces north © Michal Jakubský / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) Vrátna
- Vertical
- 917 m
- Pistes (mapped)
- 9
- Lifts
- 13
Getting to Veľká Rača
Book an airport transfer up to the resort, or pick up a car at Kraków (KRK) — 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.