Has the thought of taking a ski holiday in the summer ever crossed your mind? Now that it’s so late in the season and closing festivals are being advertised across the Alps, you probably think there are only a few more weeks of skiing left. But surprisingly, there is more than one ski area that stays open well into June and sometimes even all year long! If you’ve never experienced the thrill of glacier skiing under the summer sun, this is definitely the year to give it a try. Here are 8 resorts that will cure those summer blues… Don’t give up on the ski season just yet!
Year-round skiing with 60km of pistes and breathtaking views of the Dolomites – when it comes to summer ski destinations, it’s hard to beat the Hintertux Glacier. From April 15-May 1 check out the Flower Pow(d)er weeks, a jampacked programme with everything from freeride workshops to early bird skiing, and of course the obligatory après. The Betterpark Hintertux snow park lies at an altitude of 3200m above sea level and is open for freestyle skiing and snowboarding until June 5.
Betterpark (c) Hintertux
This gem at Zell am See in Salzburg, open until July 23, boasts wide slopes and cultivated sun decks at an altitude of up to 3000m. Kitzsteinhorn celebrates the end of the freestyle season on April 29 with a banked slalom event open to snowboarders of all ages, as well as a party afterwards. Eagle Line, an introduction to jumps and obstacles for beginner skiers and snowboarders. More adventurous wintersporters can try their hand at the Black Mamba, a kilometre-long black piste with a gradient of up to 63%.
Basking in the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn, the lifts at Zermatt reach up to 3883m. Thanks to its snowmaking technology, the ski area guarantees snow year-round on up to three-quarters of its total 360km of pistes As of the time of writing Zermatt’s snow base is almost 2 metres.
Snowmaking at Zermatt (c) Zermatt
Saas-Fee closes the season with an Après-Ski Parade on April 22… only to reopen just a few months later! Starting July 15, the Free Republic of Holidays Saas-Fee will commence summer skiing operations, with 20km of pistes and a freestyle park.
Super easy to reach from Zurich airport, Engelberg is the largest ski area in Central Switzerland with 82km of skiing and excellent freeriding. The ski area includes a revolving cable car, as well as a 12km piste from peak to valley with a change in altitude of 2000m. Just when you thought winter was over, you’ll be happy to discover the Snow Fun Park at Titlis Glacier, open all summer long for snowtubing.
Great views (c) Engelberg
Italy’s Stelvio Pass is open from May to November – yes, you read that right. This glacier nestled between the peaks of the Ortler Alps offers 20km of slopes, with everything from blue and red runs to off-piste options. It is also a popular spot for national teams, thanks to its summer training facilities. The Stelvio Pass closes in the winter but you can find lots of terrain at nearby Bormio.
The ski season on the Stubai Glacier extends into June this year. The Stubai Glacier is very child-friendly, with a BIG Family Camp that boasts a BIG Family Fun Slope with timed races, as well as the possibility to ride a piste basher. April 29 will see the last girls’ Spring Session in the snow park, and until May 7, you can take a guided tour of an ice cave on Eisgrat at the Stubai Glacier and snap a picture of yourself on the ice throne.
Situated in an exceptionally unique setting and the winner of the EDEN Award for accessibility, the Kaunertal Glacier has 30km of pistes. The glacier is snow-secure from October until May – celebrate the arrival of sunny days with Spring Classics at the snow park, featuring powder, a wicked park setup and good vibes all around. The Spring Classics run until June 5.
(c) Daniel Zangerl, Kaunertal Glacier
Summer skiing has all the advantages of spring skiing, with even warmer temperatures and sunnier days. With these high-altitude or glacier ski resorts, good snow cover is practically guaranteed - but don't hesitate to check the snow reports before heading up the slopes. Happy skiing!
Has the thought of taking a ski holiday in the summer ever crossed your mind? Now that it’s so late in the season and closing festivals are being advertised across the Alps, you probably think there are only a few more weeks of skiing left. But surprisingly, there is more than one ski area that stays open well into June and sometimes even all year long! If you’ve never experienced the thrill of glacier skiing under the summer sun, this is definitely the year to give it a try. Here are 8 resorts that will cure those summer blues… Don’t give up on the ski season just yet!
Year-round skiing with 60km of pistes and breathtaking views of the Dolomites – when it comes to summer ski destinations, it’s hard to beat the Hintertux Glacier. From April 15-May 1 check out the Flower Pow(d)er weeks, a jampacked programme with everything from freeride workshops to early bird skiing, and of course the obligatory après. The Betterpark Hintertux snow park lies at an altitude of 3200m above sea level and is open for freestyle skiing and snowboarding until June 5.
Betterpark (c) Hintertux
This gem at Zell am See in Salzburg, open until July 23, boasts wide slopes and cultivated sun decks at an altitude of up to 3000m. Kitzsteinhorn celebrates the end of the freestyle season on April 29 with a banked slalom event open to snowboarders of all ages, as well as a party afterwards. Eagle Line, an introduction to jumps and obstacles for beginner skiers and snowboarders. More adventurous wintersporters can try their hand at the Black Mamba, a kilometre-long black piste with a gradient of up to 63%.
Basking in the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn, the lifts at Zermatt reach up to 3883m. Thanks to its snowmaking technology, the ski area guarantees snow year-round on up to three-quarters of its total 360km of pistes As of the time of writing Zermatt’s snow base is almost 2 metres.
Snowmaking at Zermatt (c) Zermatt
Saas-Fee closes the season with an Après-Ski Parade on April 22… only to reopen just a few months later! Starting July 15, the Free Republic of Holidays Saas-Fee will commence summer skiing operations, with 20km of pistes and a freestyle park.
Super easy to reach from Zurich airport, Engelberg is the largest ski area in Central Switzerland with 82km of skiing and excellent freeriding. The ski area includes a revolving cable car, as well as a 12km piste from peak to valley with a change in altitude of 2000m. Just when you thought winter was over, you’ll be happy to discover the Snow Fun Park at Titlis Glacier, open all summer long for snowtubing.
Great views (c) Engelberg
Italy’s Stelvio Pass is open from May to November – yes, you read that right. This glacier nestled between the peaks of the Ortler Alps offers 20km of slopes, with everything from blue and red runs to off-piste options. It is also a popular spot for national teams, thanks to its summer training facilities. The Stelvio Pass closes in the winter but you can find lots of terrain at nearby Bormio.
The ski season on the Stubai Glacier extends into June this year. The Stubai Glacier is very child-friendly, with a BIG Family Camp that boasts a BIG Family Fun Slope with timed races, as well as the possibility to ride a piste basher. April 29 will see the last girls’ Spring Session in the snow park, and until May 7, you can take a guided tour of an ice cave on Eisgrat at the Stubai Glacier and snap a picture of yourself on the ice throne.
Situated in an exceptionally unique setting and the winner of the EDEN Award for accessibility, the Kaunertal Glacier has 30km of pistes. The glacier is snow-secure from October until May – celebrate the arrival of sunny days with Spring Classics at the snow park, featuring powder, a wicked park setup and good vibes all around. The Spring Classics run until June 5.
(c) Daniel Zangerl, Kaunertal Glacier
Summer skiing has all the advantages of spring skiing, with even warmer temperatures and sunnier days. With these high-altitude or glacier ski resorts, good snow cover is practically guaranteed - but don't hesitate to check the snow reports before heading up the slopes. Happy skiing!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
