On the Gerlitzen Alpe, in Carinthia, the most anticipated upgrade of the 2026/27 season has already made its debut even before the arrival of winter snow. On Friday, October 23, 2026, the new Kanzelbahn II entered service—a ten-person gondola lift that replaced the old Gipfelbahn quad chairlift, completing the enclosed ascent from Annenheim all the way to the 1,911-meter summit. The ribbon-cutting took place during the final days of the autumn hiking season, with daily scenic operations scheduled through Sunday, November 1: a first preview for hikers and visitors ahead of the official start of the ski season on Friday, December 4, 2026, set to run until April 4, 2027.
For Italian skiers heading into Carinthia and riding up from the side overlooking Lake Ossiach, the new installation transforms the second half of the climb. After taking the first gondola from 550 meters in Annenheim up to the Kanzelhöhe mid-station, passengers no longer transfer onto an open-air chairlift, continuing instead inside the enclosed cabins of the Kanzelbahn II all the way to the summit plateau. The entire climb from the lake to the top, covering more than 1,300 meters of vertical rise, takes roughly 18 minutes in total, letting skiers leave their cars on the valley floor and step out directly at the highest point of the ski area.
From the Kanzelhöhe to the summit in six minutes
Looking closely at the new upper section, the Kanzelbahn II links the Kanzelhöhe at 1,443 meters with the 1,911-meter summit in roughly 6.2 minutes, operating 82 cabins with an uphill capacity of 4,000 passengers per hour. The construction timeline was remarkably tight: the old Gipfelbahn made its final run on April 6, and just two hundred days later, the operating permit issued on October 21 allowed the doors to open to the first passengers on October 23.
When the ski slopes open in December, the advantage of having a gondola on the upper section will also be felt throughout the ski day. Being able to step out of your skis and ride up seated indoors between runs is a welcome comfort on cold or windy days—especially for families with children—while also making it easy for non-skiers to reach the summit for lunch at the mountain huts or a winter walk where skiers converge.
Radiating outward from the broad, rounded summit of the Gerlitzen is the resort’s entire trail network, which in winter counts 21 lifts and 34 runs. The largest share of trail mileage is made up of wide, scenic red slopes—ideal for intermediate and advanced skiers who enjoy medium gradients and switching aspects from run to run—complemented by learning areas and blue trails for beginners as well as several more demanding black variants. With its autumn preview wrapping up on November 1, the new Kanzelbahn II will welcome skiers back starting December 4 for its first full winter above Lake Ossiach.
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