Final Ski Resorts in Alps Set to Close but Handful Remain Open
21st April 2025
Last modified on April 24th, 2025
More close this weekend but, some go into May. There’s a few areas open North America – some into July! UPDATED
There are still a few big name resorts open this week, but they’re closing this coming w/end:
- France: Les Arcs, La Plagne, Chamonix & La Clusaz.
- Austria: Obergurgl.
- Switzerland: Verbier & Saas-Fee.
- Italy: Madonna & Cortina.
Les Arcs, France. Image c/o Richard Sinclair.
Others go until the first weekend of May, and some glacier resorts even longer.
France:
- Tignes (4th May),
- Val d’Isere (4th May),
- Les2Alpes (4th May, but then re-opens
- Val Thorens (4th May).
Austria:
- Ischgl (4th May),
- Pitztal (4th May),
- Stubai (11th May),
- Kitzsteinhorn (18th May)
- Kuenertall (18th May)
Switzerland:
- Engelberg (4th May)
Italy:
- Val Senales (4th May)
- Cervinia (4th May).
Hintertux in Austria and Zermatt in Switzerland aim to stay open across the summer, but much will depend on conditions.
PlanetSKI was in Hintertux in the summer a few years back:
Hintertux in the summer. Image © PlanetSKI
Hintertux in the summer. Image © PlanetSKI
*The dates are correct at time of posting, but do check with the resorts as the timings may change depending on the weather.
“Snow coverage is now very impressive at altitude in the western Alps for mid-to-late April,” said Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.
“Just because there is a lot of new snow, this doesn’t mean that it is of good ‘quality’ or that there is a lot of powder around (other than at very high altitude).”
It follows the huge snowstorm of last week that saw the biggest snowfall of the season and record-breaking amounts of April snowfall.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o Elise Farquet.
“This storm delivered very ‘heavy’ and ‘wet’ snow from the outset, and the strength of the sun means that the benefits of any fresh snow can be very short-lived at this time of year,” added Fraser.
“Spring conditions therefore remain the order of the day across the Alps, and the off-piste remains highly dangerous due to the risk of avalanche.
“Snow depths are, unsurprisingly, healthy again at altitude in the western Alps, but universally below par in the eastern Alps.
“Setting aside the temporary benefits of new snow in some western ski resorts, spring snow conditions should be expected… with only high north-facing slopes remaining firm all day long.”
La Plagne, France. Image c/o Lynsey Devon.
Three French ski areas have announced their opening plans in May, June and July after the winter season ends on May 4th.
Les 2 Alpes has the longest season in France and aims to stay open for just over seven months.
After its ‘official’ winter season ends on May 5th it continues until the 28th May and aims to have 1,000 vertical metres of skiing between 2600m and 3,600m.
Then for the final six weeks of its season from May 29th to July 6th that terrain will reduce to a 400m vertical at the very top of the slopes on its glacier between 3,600 to 3,200m.
The resort’s summer snowpark is set to be open from May 5th to July 6th.
Summer skiing in Les2Alpes. Image © PlanetSKI
Val d’Isère plans to open for summer skiing on its Pisaillas glacier for four weeks from Saturday June 7th to Sunday July 6th if conditions allow.
Skiing is possible on three runs located between 3,300m and 2,725m altitudes with another four runs reserved for race team training.
Neighbouring Tignes hopes to be the last to shut with four weeks of operations planned from 21st June to 20th July.
The Grande Motte glacier has slopes at an altitude of nearly 3,000 m.
Up to 20 km of glacier runs are available between 3,456 m and 2,724 m.
There is also cross-country skiing on the glacier.
If you are going out to the Alps for some final few turns of the winter then it looks like it could be one of the best ends to a winter ski season in recent years.
Over in the USA things are drawing to a close too, as many resorts shut at the end of the Easter weekend.
One was Park City in Utah:
Another its neighbour, Deer Valley:
Some resorts in the USA are open into June.
Mammoth Mountain in California usually offers skiing and snowboarding into July, and sometimes into August.
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI visited a couple of years ago after resorts in the Alps had closed.
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
The California resort of Palisades Tahoe is due to close on May 26th this year:
Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI
Resorts in Colorado are also open well into May, with one hoping for a June closing:
- Arapahoe Basin – June 8th
- Breckenridge – May 11th
- Copper Mountain – May 11th
- Loveland – May 11th
Breckenridge. Image © PlanetSKI
And in Utah it isn’t quite over yet:
- Brian Head – May 4th
- Brighton – May 18th
- Snowbird – May 26th
- Solitude – May 11th
Snowbird, USA. Image © PlanetSKI
Jay Peak in Vermont is scheduled to close on May 4th, with Mt Bachelor in Oregon set to close on May 26th.
Further north in Canada some resorts in Alberta are open into May:
- Lake Louise – May 4th
- Marmot Basin – May 4th
- Sunshine Village – May 19th
PlanetSKI reporter Alex Cove is currently in Alberta and will be reporting from Sunshine Village shortly.
He did three seasons as a ski instructor in the resort and knows a bit about the place.
UK instructor Alex Cove in Sunshine Village, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI.
Sunshine Village, Banff. Image © PlanetSKI.
In British Columbia, Canada, the Blackcomb glacier at Whistler is aiming to be open until May 21st if conditions allow.
Here at PlanetSKI we’ll keep you posted as the season winds down in Europe and North America.
Then we’ll be turning our attentions to the Southern Hemisphere…
Cerro Catedral, Argentina. Image © PlanetSKI
South Island, New Zealand. Image © PlanetSKI
Thredbo, Australia. Image © PlanetSKI
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