More Ski Resorts Prepare to Open Some Terrain this Weekend
30th September 2026
Hintertux in Austria is set to open this Friday with Sass-Fee in Switzerland re-opening on Saturday. Two resorts in Finland also opening. They join three areas already open in the Alps, with snow making about to start in the USA. NEW
Mostly they are only small areas and there are limited slopes on offer, but ski resorts are beginning to open for the approaching 2026/27 season.
Hintertux used to be open 365 days a year, but this year it closed in July.
After being shut across the summer it is now re-opening from this Friday.
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Saas-Fee in Switzerland has announced that it will re-open on Saturday 3rd October.
“Due to the current glacier conditions, skiing operations can only resume on a limited basis for the time being,” said Saas-Fee as it announced the re-opening.
“From 3 October, the two upper ski lifts, Allalin 2 and Allalin 3, will be in operation.
“The two lower ski lifts cannot be opened at this stage.
“Snow and glacier conditions will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
“Further lifts will open as soon as conditions permit. We will provide information on any changes in due course.”
Saas-Fee shut its summer slopes on August 10th.
In Finland two resorts are preparing to open on Friday October 2nd.
Levi and Ruka will offer the earliest non-glacial skiing and snowboarding without relying on fresh snow.
They are using snow stored from last season.
Here’s Levi:
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Ruka preserves around 150,000 cubic meters of snow over the summer, enough to cover around 67 football pitches.
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Last weekend Pitztal in Austria opened a small amount of terrain on its glacier.
The Gletscherexpress opens at 7am taking skiers and snowboarders to the top of the glacier area.
1.6 miles of slopes are open on Piste 26 and Piste 29.
Pitztal, Austria. Image c/o Pitztal
The resort will open more terrain as the snow falls and plans to remain open until May 2nd.
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Kaunertal and Soelden were due to open last weekend but had to push back their opening as the conditions were not good enough.
“Our planned season start for a training operation from 26.09.2026 cannot take place due to the current weather conditions,” said Kaunertal.
“Instead of snow, there was rain recently, and the temperatures are still too high to start with snowfall.
“As soon as the snow and temperature conditions allow, we will start.”
Zermatt/Cervinia remains closed.
The area shut it summer slopes on 1st August.
The Italian ski area of Val Senales has some very limited skiing with just 1km of terrain open.
Passo Stelvio in Italy re-opened earlier in September after closing in mid-August due to the warm temperatures.
Its glacier ski area was a sorry sight.
Photo: pirovano.it, 15 August 2026
It has 3kms of slopes open.
In the USA the race to be first to open is set to begin.
The annual battle between Arapahoe Basin and Loveland saw Loveland testing its snow guns last Tuesday.
The Loveland Ski Area tested its snow guns on Tuesday in preparation for the 2026-2027 snowmaking season.
Keystone and Wolf Creek in Colorado are also aiming to be first to open in the USA.
In northern Arizona the resort of Arizona Snowbowl received 2 inches of snow overnight on Tuesday.
It was the resort’s first snowfall of the season.
It is scheduled to open on November 20th.
Image c/o Arizona Snowbowl.
Image c/o Arizona Snowbowl.
Image c/o Arizona Snowbowl.
Winter may still be some way off, but it is getting closer by the day and our posts on PlanetSKI are already turning to the season of 2026/27.
Ski resorts & companies are also releasing news for the coming winter:
- What’s new in Verbier for next winter?
- See what’s new at Alpine Fleet for next winter
- Interest in complimentary ski guiding from VIP SKI rises
- Inghams Ski expands ski programme for next winter
- VIP SKI aims to boost skier’s confidence
- Austria looks forward to next winter
- Iglu Ski unveils what’s new for next winter
- Luxury Chalet Company reveals what’s new for next winter
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