In winter the vacation region presents itself as a rustic snow paradise

with manageable ski areas, wonderful winter hikes through the deeply snow-covered landscape and an excellent cross-country ski trail system.

Freeride downhill and cozy ski areas
Small but fine skiing areas extend along Hörnle, Kolben, Laber and on the Steckenberg. A total of 24 varied kilometers of slopes await the whole family here. While beginners and pleasure skiers make their tracks through the snow on the mostly blue slopes, daredevils experience pitch-black adventures on the Laber north slope.

One of Germany's steepest freeride slopes with a gradient of up to 43 percent beckons here. Sometimes humpy, sometimes icy and sometimes covered with the finest powder - the 2.5-kilometer-long run even challenges experts. For those who are far from ready to take to the Laber under their boards, Bad Kohlgrub has two practice lifts that are perfect for the first turns, as well as Kolben and Streckenberg, two absolutely family-friendly ski operations.

Ski tourers will find a very special Dorado on the Kolben, because here the first completely snow-covered ski touring trail in Europe invites you to ascend. The route from the valley station to the Kolbenhütte is not only carefully prepared, but is also considered exemplary in terms of safety: an 18-meter tunnel tube guarantees that ski tourers can cross the slope without danger.

Cross-country skiing royal
Around 300 kilometers of cross-country trails wind their way through the Ammergau Alps. The ADAC Ski Atlas has even awarded the snow-sure tracks four stars. One of the most beautiful is the 50-kilometer-long König-Ludwig-Loipe, which can easily be shortened at various entry points. It passes Ettal with its famous monastery basilica and continues through the Graswangtal valley, which owes its reputation as the most beautiful high valley in Bavaria to its wild and romantic mountains. The trail belongs to the easy category, only the crowning lap of honor through Ludwig's dream castle has to be fought for with a slight climb. Every year, the König-Ludwig-Lauf is held here, Germany's largest cross-country skiing event for the general public with around 3000 participants. By the way, the König-Ludwig-Lauf is part of the FIS Marathon Cup, the Worldloppet and the DSV cross-country skiing series.

Another highlight for cross-country skiers is the trail around the Soier See lake. By the way: Almost the entire Ammergau Alps are crisscrossed with tracks, so you can theoretically explore the entire region on boards.