Alpengasthof Almrose im Heutal
Gföll guesthouse about 700 m from the Heutal lifts, with the Winklmoosalm cross-country trail nearby
About this hotel
Almrose sits in the Heutal, the high valley that climbs from Unken in the Saalach valley towards the German border. The lifts are a short walk away rather than at the door: the Hammerlfeldlift rope tow and the Wildalmlift I start at 965 m, about 700 m from the guesthouse as the crow flies, and the Gimpinglift and Sattelkurvenlift continue higher, to around 1,520 m. Cross-country skiers have the 5 km Rundloipe Heutal, the 9 km trail to the Moarlack and the 15 km trail to the Winklmoosalm in Bavaria, all groomed for classic and skating. The house has family rooms with mountain views, a sun terrace and garden, a playground, and an Austrian restaurant with a bar. Parking is free, and Salzburg airport is about 39 km away.
- At Gföll in the Heutal, about 700 m from the Wildalmlift I
- Heutal ski area: T-bars and the Hammerlfeldlift rope tow, from 965 m to about 1,520 m
- Cross-country trails to the Winklmoosalm (15 km) and the Moarlack (9 km)
- Family rooms, playground, Austrian restaurant and bar
- Salzburg airport about 39 km away; free parking
Our take
Almrose stands at Gföll 91, in the Heutal high valley above Unken, roughly 700 m as the crow flies from the bottom of the Wildalmlift I and the Hammerlfeldlift rope tow. That is close, not ski-in: no piste runs back to the door, so walk or drive to the lifts with your skis. The draw is the terrain: drag lifts only, from 965 m to about 1,520 m, plus the Heutal-Winkelmoos cross-country trail over the German border to the Winklmoosalm. I would choose it for a langlauf week or for children learning on drag lifts. I would not choose it for strong skiers: Heutal is small, and a bigger area means driving to the Steinplatte at Waidring or to Lofer.
- Start cross-country on the 5 km Rundloipe Heutal, then take the 15 km Heutal-Winkelmoos trail to the Winklmoosalm in Bavaria; both are groomed for classic and skating.
- Move beginners in order: the 100 m Hammerlfeldlift rope tow, then the Wildalmlift I from the valley floor, and only then the Gimpinglift and Sattelkurvenlift, which start higher up the slope.
- Book lessons with Skischule Unken, the school that teaches on the Heutal slopes, so children do not need a daily drive down to the village.
- Keep a car: Salzburg airport is about 39 km away, and Unken village with its shops sits down the Heutal road in the Saalach valley.
- The lowest lift starts at 965 m, so in a thin December plan a day at the Steinplatte at Waidring rather than counting on the valley slopes.
Why we love it
- Heutal lifts about 700 m away, starting with a rope tow for beginners
- Cross-country trails to the Winklmoosalm and the Moarlack
- Family rooms, playground and Austrian restaurant on site
Why guests love itThe first lift of the Heutal is a 100 m rope tow, and every lift above it is a drag lift, with no chairlift to a summit: for young children, that is the setting I look for. From Almrose it is roughly 700 m to the bottom of the Wildalmlift I, so small skiers will walk or ride in the car to the start. Once they leave the rope tow, the Wildalmlift I is the first proper drag lift; the Gimpinglift and Sattelkurvenlift start higher up. The guesthouse adds family rooms, a playground and an Austrian restaurant, so nobody drives out at night. Drag lifts can upset small children until they master them, and teenagers will run out of terrain in a day or two. Guests give it 8.8 out of 10 across 58 reviews.