By Johanna Lohwasser, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs

 

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — The Alps offer plenty of wonderful ski and snowboard regions and perfect slopes for everyone who loves the great outdoors and enjoys a good ride. Home to more than 120 ski areas, Bavaria offers something for everyone, and there is so much more to discover in Austria, Switzerland and the rest of Europe.

 

If you’re a beginner or have little kids, it can be frustrating to take a long journey down to the Alps, rent gear and buy expensive lift passes and only be able to ride a few of the slopes. Whether it’s you, a friend or your children, learning to ski or board is definitely a rewarding challenge. Skiing and snowboarding can be addictive too, because it’s easy to make new friends and skiing adventures can be some of the most memorable.

 

Did you know there are plenty of smaller ski areas and lifts in the region around Grafenwoehr?

 

Here is a guide to the best small slopes that suit beginner adults and children alike. They usually have hourly or half-day passes, are less crowded, a lot easier to reach and are cheaper than the mountains down south. And yes, more advanced skiers or snowboarders can also have a blast at these local slopes.

 

Please be aware, however, that most of the very small lifts do not have ski rental facilities. Call ahead and ask if they provide rentals. You may also want to consider renting ski and snowboard equipment, such as board, helmets, boots and more, at MWR’s Outdoor Recreation Center.

 

For more on snowboarding, skiing, and snow forecasts — including webcams of the ski areas in Germany, Austria and the whole Alp’s region — visit www.bergfex.com.

 

 

Local Ski Area	ZIP	Features	Max Height	Distance from Grafenwoehr
Unterweißenbach Vilseck	92249	1 Slope 1 Lift (T-Bar) Operates Irregularly	450 m	25 km
Tannenberg Immenreuth	95643	1 Slope 1 Lift (T-Bar)	550 m	25 km
Pfaben Steinwald	92681	1 Slope (800 m) 1 Lift (T-Bar) Some floodlit skiing (irregular) Large area of free cross-country trails	646 m	30 km
Mehlmeisel	95694	1 Slope (700 m) 2 Lifts (T-Bar) Daily floodlit skiing until 10 p.m. (Fridays 11 p.m.)	815 m	35 km
Ochsenkopf	95485	10 km of slopes 2 Lifts (Twin Seats) 10 Lifts (T-Bar) 80 km of free cross-country ski trails 2 Toboggan Runs Snowboard Park 2 Ski Schools Rental Facilities (Bike park in the summer)	1,024 m	40 km
Wurmstein	92696	2 Slopes (1300 m) 1 Lift (T-Bar) Some floodlit skiing (irregular)	766 m	40 km
Fahrenberg	92648	1 Slope (800 m) 1 Lift (T-Bar) Bunny Hill (150 m) with Baby Lift Some Floodlit Skiing Ski Hire Facilities Ski School	801 m	45 km
Skilift Arzberg	95659	1 Slope (500 m) 1 Lift (T-Bar) Operates Irregularly Some Floodlit Skiing (Irregular)	540 m	70 km
Mariánky – CZ	353 01 (Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic)	3 Slopes (1.6 km) 1 Gondola Lift, 2 Lifts (T-Bar) Large Area of Cross-Country Ski Trails Snowboard Park Kids´ Park Floodlit Skiing until 9 p.m.	758 m	90 km
St. Englmar	94379	12.5 km of Slopes 13 Ski Lifts 110 km of Cross-Country Ski Trails Floodlit: Mon-Sat from 7–10 p.m. 4 Toboggan Runs (one with lift) 2 Fun Parks Snow Kite Area 4 Ski & Snowboarding Schools Rental Facilities Sleigh & Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides	1,095 m	140 km
Grosser Arber	94252	3 Large Lifts (6-Seaters) 2 Lifts (T-Bar) 13 km of Slopes 90 km of Cross-Country Ski Trails Floodlit Skiing on 3 Slopes 2 Toboggan Runs with Lift Ski & Snowboarding Schools 2 Rental Facilities Kids’ Park: Bunny Hill & Baby Lift	1, 450 m	150 km

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