After a five-winter break, the "Höllwies" ski area on the Söllereck is celebrating its comeback: Oberstdorfer Bergbahn AG is bringing the historic drag lift back into operation for the 2025/26 season. For guests, locals, and ski clubs, this means not only more fun, but also a significant upgrade in quality and a significant increase in slope area for this exciting family mountain in Oberstdorf.
Instead of new construction, the Oberstdorf · Kleinwalsertal mountain lifts are consistently focusing on upcycling at Höllwies: The approved original route of the Höllwies ski lift from the 1970s will be retained, and the supports and foundations will be reused. Only the boarding area will be moved uphill to approximately 1,100 meters above sea level – thus preserving the unique character of the popular Höllwies. A new, energy-saving drive system will significantly reduce electricity consumption.
With the reopening of slopes 5 and 6, the Söllereck area gains over 2 km of slopes. This represents an increase of almost 25% in slope area compared to previous winters. Locals and connoisseurs will remember: Since its opening in the early 1960s, the Höllwies has been synonymous with wonderfully hilly slopes and unique views of Oberstdorf and the Allgäu mountains. Access to the Höllwies area will now be via the Söllereckbahn cable car or the family run at the Söllereck.
As part of the reactivation, slope 6 and the lift route will also be artificially snowed. For this purpose, the existing Söllereck snowmaking system in the Höllwies area will be extended. Modern, energy-saving machines will help Mother Nature to produce additional snow using 100% certified green electricity from alpine hydropower. The water required for this is taken from the existing Söllereck reservoir. In the spring, meltwater and surface water collect in this year-round reservoir and are then released back onto the mountain during the snowfall season—naturally without any additives. This completes the mountain's water cycle.
Skiing with the Oberstdorf · Kleinwalsertal Bergbahnen isn't just about sustainable and snow-sure winter sports thanks to modern snowmaking systems. The widespread use of HVO biofuel for snow groomers in 2022 marked an important milestone toward climate neutrality. As part of the "MyMountainNature" sustainability strategy, the OK Bergbahnen are now taking the next logical step. Alongside Heuberg and Nebelhorn, the traditional Höllwies is becoming a pioneer in mountain electric mobility: Starting next winter, the world's first fully electric snow groomer, the "Snow Cat," from the South Tyrolean company XELOM, will ensure perfectly groomed slopes. The snow groomer's 300 kWh battery delivers up to five hours of operation and 27,600 Nm of torque – completely emission-free and virtually silent. The grooming fleet is supported by a GPS snow depth measuring system that efficiently distributes the precious resource of snow across the mountain.
The reactivation of the Höllwies lift will benefit the entire Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal region as the leading winter sports destination in the region: guests and locals will regain a popular and snow-sure ski area with the legendary Höllwies lift. Clubs and schools will once again have access to an ideal training area. And hosts and businesses can look forward to a strong and stable winter season.
The return of the Höllwies lift is therefore not a nostalgic gesture, but a contemporary project for the future: utilizing existing facilities wisely, employing state-of-the-art technology, conserving resources – and thus securing winter sports at the Söllereck for future generations.
We look forward to welcoming you back to "our" Höllwies lift from December 2025!
