Located halfway between Dortmund and Kassel the Sauerland is a skiing area in the heart of Germany. It is very popular with people from the industrial region between Cologne and Dusseldorf because of its proximity. In weekends it can get crowded, but during weekdays its mostly okay.

The main town in Winterberg which has the best skiing facilities, some 10 lifts, enough for a long weekend. The mountains here are not very high, about 800 meters so you are less certain of getting good snow than in the Alps.