After the season has largely ended, the Hochkar ski resort will remain open until April 6th.
As of mid-March 2026, the Annaberg lifts, the Mönichkirchen adventure ski area, the Lackenhof Ötscher lifts, and the Semmering Hirschenkogel ski area have ceased operations. The Gemeindealpe Mitterbach and the Wexl Arena St. Corona am Wechsel had already closed for the season. Only the Hochkar mountain lifts remain open until Easter Monday, April 6, 2026 – a great opportunity for Easter skiing in Lower Austria. The Rax cable car operates daily for hikers until Easter Monday, and the Schneeberg chairlift runs on weekends and holidays.
So far this winter season, the ski resorts in Lower Austria have recorded more than 715,000 visits, representing an increase of around 22 percent compared to the average of the previous three winters. "These encouraging visitor statistics underscore the regional economic importance of the mountain railways. We can be proud of the businesses' achievements and congratulate their employees. They make it possible for guests – from families with young children to competitive skiers – to enjoy snow sports close to home. For many people, this is an integral part of their lifestyle, and it's something Lower Austria stands for," said Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who is responsible for tourism. Final total figures for all Lower Austrian ski resorts will be available after Easter.
Technical snowmaking is of great importance; evening operations are a big hit.
This winter season, with very little natural snow across Austria, has demonstrated how effectively artificial snowmaking enables ski resorts to operate and meet guest expectations. Projected figures for the end of the season show that the five resorts owned by the state – Annaberger Lifte, Erlebnisalm Mönichkirchen, Hochkar Bergbahnen, Ötscherlifte Lackenhof, and Wexl Arena St. Corona am Wechsel – have recorded approximately 495,000 visits. Compared to the previous three winters, 12 percent more operating days were offered this year; however, the increase in first-time visitors is significantly higher. The final figures for Wexl Arena St. Corona am Wechsel are already available: more than 62,000 visits represent a new record for the family-friendly ski area. "We are also eagerly awaiting the final figures for our cross-regional season pass, the 'Lower Austria Mountain Adventure Pass' – so far, usage is on track for a record," explains Markus Redl, Managing Director of the state-owned ecoplus Alpin GmbH.
Michael Reichl, Chairman of the Cable Car Association at the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of the Jauerling Ski Arena, says: „This year’s ski season is certainly one of the better ones, even in the long term. It is particularly noteworthy that we had no spell of warm weather from Christmas until the end of February and were able to offer consistently good slope conditions during this period. When it snowed in the lowlands, the ski resorts were also ready. Shorter visits during the floodlit evening skiing were very popular in this regard, offering a special experience and allowing us to utilize our infrastructure even more effectively.“