Großer Arber, Germany
Also within 20 km of Železná Ruda
- Ski&Bike Špičák Ski resort · 2.9 km from Železná Ruda
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About Großer Arber
Village 1,046 m. Facts: verified.
A ski resort with its village at 1,046 m and its top at 1,437 m. It has 11 km of runs and 10 lifts, as mapped on OpenStreetMap. The runs drop 388 m, from 1,437 m to 1,049 m. For beginners and families: 32% of the km of runs are green or blue. For experts: 3 km of black, expert and freeride runs. It is usually in season from December to April. The snow is usually deepest in January, about 0.2 m at the top (1,437 m). The town to stay in is Železná Ruda.
The Großer Arber or Great Arber, is the highest peak of the Bavarian/Bohemian Forest mountain range and in Lower Bavaria, with an elevation of 1,455.5 metres (4,775 ft). As a result, it is known in the Lower Bavarian county of Regen and the Upper Palatine county of Cham as the "King of the Bavarian Forest". Its summit region consists of paragneiss.
From the Wikipedia article Großer Arber, shortened. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.
The ski area
Runs from 1,049 m to 1,437 m: 388 m of vertical. 11 km of runs and 10 lifts, as mapped on OpenStreetMap for Großer Arber, Velký Javor.
| Easy (blue) | 3.5 km |
|---|---|
| Intermediate (red) | 3.7 km |
| Advanced (black) | 3.4 km |
| Not graded | 0.4 km |
| Gondolas and cable cars | 1 |
|---|---|
| Chairlifts | 2 |
| Drag lifts | 3 |
| Magic carpets | 4 |
Measured along each mapped run, so it can differ from the resort's own figure. Ski area data © OpenSkiMap.org and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
For families
32% of the km of runs are green or blue.
No public pool, ice rink, leisure centre, ski school or childcare is mapped within 5 km of the village. That may mean nobody has mapped them yet.
The Family filter counts these. Check opening times before you go.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 17 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Munich Airport (MUC), direct. About 19 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → MUC · Skyscanner from about £440 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 20 from the airport to Großer Arber.
Accommodation.
Stay in Železná RudaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Železná Ruda (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Železná Ruda 12 min by car · rooms from £50 a night · where Großer Arber stays
Places to stay in Železná Ruda · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire, lessons and lift passes.
Ski lessons in Železná Ruda · GetYourGuideAdSki and board hire · SkisetAdLift passes · Resort website
Where it is
Großer Arber on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Lifts closed for the season. They usually open about 25 November.
Forecast
The score, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Fresh72 h | Depthtop, mid, base | Coldestat top | Windat top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 6°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 2°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 1°C | wind, 3 knots |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 4°C | wind, 5 knots |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 1°C | wind, 9 knots |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 2°C | wind, 4 knots |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 0°C | wind, 5 knots |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | 0 mmid 0 mbase 0 m | 0°C | wind, 6 knots |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, poor | 0 cm | –mid –base – | – | – |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to.
Snow by month
| Month | Base1,046 m | Mid1,242 m | Top1,437 m | Coldestat the top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec | 0.1 m | 0.1 m | 0.1 m | -5°C |
| Jan | 0.2 m | 0.2 m | 0.2 m | -7°C |
| Feb | 0.2 m | 0.2 m | 0.2 m | -5°C |
| Mar | none | none | none | -3°C |
Typical snow on the ground in the village, halfway up and at the top: the middle value over 2016 to 2025, from ERA5-Land reanalysis at the grid cell nearest each height. Not a forecast, and not the groomed pistes: resorts make snow lower down.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to MUC, then 3h 20 by road. About 17h door to door
- Tue 20 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Wed 21 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Thu 22 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Fri 23 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Sat 24 OctLifts closed
Out of season.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to MUC, then 3h 20 by road. About 17h door to door
Rough cost
About £1,290–£2,265 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to MUC, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £440–£915 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Transfer | shared airport transfer, return | £70–£120 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £135–£220 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Lift pass | 5 days | £325–£435 |
| Ski hire | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £130–£220 |
| Total | £1,290–£2,265 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Airport to resortAd
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Lift passes · Resort websiteLinks marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.