Travel
strong snow storms and avalanches
made this stretch of the Alps
extremely dangerous, but travel to
the region became easier with the
opening of the Arlbergbahn railway
in the 1880s. And today, over eighty
state-of-the-art gondolas and lifts
disperse skiers and snowboarders
to the nearly two hundred miles of
varied mountain runs, as well as to
the one hundred miles of off-piste
possibilities. It’s Alpine innovation
at its finest.
For those who can’t be bothered
to ride a lift or simply want the
euphoria of experiencing virgin
snow, heli-skiing is a luxurious
possibility in the Arlberg, which isn’t
the case in all the Alpine countries.
Freestyle skiers and snowboarders
will enjoy the jumps, boxes and rails
found throughout the mountains.
Not simply for downhill skiers and
snowboarders, the Arlberg also has
15
forty miles of cross-country ski
runs, illuminated toboggan runs,
winter walking routes, ice skating,
ice climbing, paragliding and curling
opportunities.
Villages
St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech and
Zürs are four of the villages that
comprise the Arlberg region. And
despite their close proximity to one
another, each village has its own
charm. The largest (about 2,700
full-time residents) and most well
known is St. Anton, or Stanton,
as residents lovingly refer to it.
Cosmopolitan St. Anton offers
a variety of lodging options,
gastronomic restaurants, a modern
wellness center and one of the
best spots for après ski.
Tiny St. Christoph sits at nearly
6,000 feet and is surrounded by
snow-capped mountains. It’s home