Obertauern is located in the Salzburger Land in Austria. | Image: Obertauern FB

The Austrian resort Obertauern has announced that it will ban uphilling for the 2025-26 season. After several years of conflict with people traversing up the groomed slopes and resulting accidents with downhill skiers, the resort made the decision to issue a blanket ban on uphilling within its resort boundaries, after trialling different solutions in the past without the desired effect.

In addition, Obertauern’s car parks will only be available to those with a valid lift pass and overnight camping in the car parks will be banned.

The resort shared the enforcement of this new rule on its website:

“For reasons of safety for all piste users, ski touring on the slopes in Obertauern is not permitted. This ban is for the protection of both skiers and ski tourers and ensures that skiing operations run smoothly.

Please also note that the car parks in Obertauern are reserved exclusively for our ski guests. We ask for your understanding and co-operation to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

For alternative routes and information on safe ski tours in the region, please contact the local tourist offices. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.”

Uphilling—the practice of skiing or snowboarding uphill on groomed slopes—has grown in popularity among backcountry and fitness-focused skiers. However, in resort environments like Obertauern, it can create dangerous situations when uphill travelers intersect with faster-moving downhill traffic. Resort management cited safety concerns as the primary motivation for the new regulation, emphasizing that the ban is intended to reduce collisions and ensure that the slopes remain safe for all guests.

Changes are coming to Obertauern, where parking will be limited to those with ski passes and uphilling will be banned. | Image: Facebook

The changes have drawn mixed reactions from the skiing community. While some applaud the resort for prioritizing safety and reducing the risk of accidents, others, particularly backcountry enthusiasts and uphill skiers, view the decision as restrictive. Many had hoped for designated uphill tracks or time slots rather than an outright ban, arguing that controlled uphill access could coexist safely with downhill operations. Local guiding companies report on not having experienced any issues or accidents. “We cannot understand these arguments for a ban, as we are not aware of any accidents of ski tourers and skiers in Obertauern and the operation has been running like clockwork in recent decades. With the parking ban for ski tourers, however, the non-piste tours in Obertauern are also virtually canceled,” Bergsteigen.com shared on its website.

Obertauern’s announcement reflects a broader trend across Alpine ski resorts, which are increasingly balancing the rising popularity of alternative skiing styles with traditional resort operations. A similar ban exists at Semmering, Salzburg, and Bad Kleinkirchheim.

Guests planning to visit Obertauern in 2025–26 are advised to review the resort’s updated rules and ensure compliance with the new parking and slope access policies. Uphill skiers will need to seek alternative backcountry routes outside the resort boundaries, and all visitors should plan ahead to avoid disruptions to their trip.

Obertauern is known as the snow-hole, trapping powder each season. | Image: Obertauern FB