Plenty of snow, lots of sunshine, good visibility, not too cold: skiing in spring is a real pleasure. But to make the most of these conditions, winter sports enthusiasts should follow a few tips, especially in March, April and May. SnowTrex shows which ski resorts still offer guaranteed snow in spring, how skiers and snowboarders can best avoid heavy slushy snow in the afternoon, and what is important for getting fit for the slopes.
| Ski Resort | Country | Highest Point | Slope Kilometers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zermatt | Switzerland | 3.899 m | 322 |
| Saas-Fee | Switzerland | 3.573 m | 100 |
| Les 2 Alpes | France | 3.523 m | 200 |
| Tignes-Val d'Isère | France | 3.456 m | 300 |
| Pitztaler Glacier & Rifflsee | Austria | 3.440 m | 40 |
| Sölden | Austria | 3.340 m | 143 |
| Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski | France | 3.330 m | 250 |
| Ski region Zillertal | Austria | 3.250 m | 465 |
| Val Thorens-Orelle | France | 3.230 m | 150 |
| Stubaier Glacier | Austria | 3.212 m | 65 |
| Schnalstaler Glacier | Italien | 3.212 m | 42 |
| Zell am See-Kaprum | Austria | 3.029 m | 138 |
| Engelberg-Titlis | Switzerland | 3.020 m | 80 |
| Silvretta Arena, Ischgl | Austria | 2.872 m | 239 |
| Arosa-Lenzerheide | Switzerland | 2.865 m | 225 |
| Arlberg | Austria | 2.811 m | 302 |
| La Fôret Blanche, Vars-Risoul | France | 2.750 m | 185 |
| Ankogel, Mallnitz | Austria | 2.636 m | 13 |
| Ski region Portes du Soleil | France | 2.254 m | 580 |
| Obertauern | Austria | 2.313 m | 100 |
Ski area Zermatt (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,562 – 3,899 m
Kilometers of slopes: 322
End of season: Beginning of May
The car-free village of Zermatt lies at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn. The associated Zermatt ski area is the highest in the Alps and the largest year-round ski area. Almost a third of all 4,000-metre peaks in the Alps are grouped around Zermatt.
Ski area Saas-Fee (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,800 – 3,573 m
Kilometers of slopes: 100
End of season: End of April
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The Saas Valley is home to three idyllic winter sports resorts and is known for its heavy snowfall, especially in spring. The best known is undoubtedly car-free Saas-Fee, whose glacier ski area is also the largest in the valley. Winter sports enthusiasts can reach the ski area via the ‘Metro Alpin’, the highest underground funicular railway in the world. Due to the high snow reliability, skiing at Easter in the Saas-Fee ski area is usually possible in optimal conditions.
A skiing trip to Saas-Fee is definitely recommended, especially for freestyle fans. The diverse freestyle offerings in the ski resort are therefore also very popular internationally. After all, adrenaline junkies can look forward to a huge selection of obstacles and kickers here, even in spring. From beginners to pros – in Saas-Fee, everyone will find what they are looking for. The Proline even features kickers with tables up to 25 metres long. As a result, only a few dare to rock these jumps. Nevertheless, watching the pros jump is still a cool experience that visitors to the ski resort are unlikely to forget anytime soon.
Ski area Les 2 Alpes (France)
Altitude: 1,280 – 3,523 m
Kilometers of slopes: 200
End of season: End of April
In the Les 2 Alpes ski area, you can still chase down the slopes in summer, as they are up to 3,566 m above sea level. Good conditions are therefore guaranteed until the end of the season. At 2,600 m above sea level lies the Freestyle Land – the huge, popular snow park of the ski area with half-pipe.
Ski area Tignes-Val d’Isère (France)
Altitude: 1,550 – 3,446 m
Kilometers of slopes: 300
End of season: Beginning of May
The French ski area of Tignes-Val d’Isère also includes the glacier slopes of “La Grand Motte”, which are open even in summer. The winter season in Tignes usually lasts until the beginning of May. The village also offers a wide range of off-piste sports.
Ski area Pitztal Gletscher & Rifflsee (Austria)
Altitude: 1,640 – 3,440 m
Kilometers of slopes: 40
End of season: Middle of May
The Pitztal Glacier is Tyrol’s highest glacier. There, the Wildspitzbahn, Austria’s highest cable car, takes winter sports enthusiasts to the highest point of the ski area. The two snow areas Pitztal Glacier & Rifflsee are considered one of the most snow-sure ski areas in Austria. The village of St. Leonhard, located in the ski area, offers many après-ski opportunities and cosy inns away from the slopes.
Ski area Sölden (Austria)
Altitude: 1.350 – 3.340 m
Kilometers of slopes: 143
End of season: Beginning of May
Sölden in the Ötztal valley is not only known for its après-ski locations, but also for its World Cup slopes. The Sölden ski area has a total of 143 kilometres of slopes. Right next door is the Obergurgl and Hochgurgl ski area. Here, there are another 107 kilometres of slopes to explore at altitudes ranging from 1,793 to 3,082 metres.
Ski area Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski (France)
Altitude: 1,125 – 3,330 m
Kilometers of slopes: 250
End of season: End of April
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250 kilometres of slopes are available at the most famous stage destination of the Tour de France. The Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski resort is located at an altitude of up to 3,330 metres and is part of the Grand Domaine Ski region. The black run ‘La Sarenne’ is one of the longest runs in Europe at 16 kilometres.
Ski region Zillertal (Austria)
Altitude: 630 – 3,250 m
Kilometers of slopes: 465
End of season: End of April/Beginning of May
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The resorts of the Zillertal – from Zell am Ziller via Mayrhofen and Hippach to Fügen – are also definitely worth a trip at the end of April. The Hintertux Glacier is Austria’s only year-round skiing area and offers 52 kilometres of slopes at an altitude of between 1,500 and 3,250 metres.
Ski area Val Thorens-Orelle (France)
Altitude: 1,800 – 3,230 m
Kilometers of slopes: 150
End of season: Beginning of May
The Val Thorens-Orelle ski area scores with several superlatives. Val Thorens is not only the highest ski resort in Europe, but is also located in the largest contiguous ski area in the world, the 3 Vallées (600 km of slopes). In the village, holidaymakers sometimes only need to take a few steps before they reach the slopes of the Val Thorens-Orelle ski area.
Ski area Stubai Glacier (Austria)
Altitude: 1,697 – 3,212 m
Kilometers of slopes: 65
End of season: Middle of May
At the foot of the Stubai Glacier and at the foot of the Schlick 2000 ski area lie the two towns of Neustift and Fulpmes. With the “Stubaier Super Skipass” lift pass, winter sports fans have 147 kilometres of pistes at their disposal. The skiing area at the Stubai Glacier is the largest glacier skiing area in Austria with 64 km of pistes (incl. 22 km of ski routes).
Ski area Schnalstal Glacier (Italy)
Altitude: 2,011 – 3,212 m
Kilometers of slopes: 42
End of season: Middle of April
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From the idyllic sports village of Kurzras, you head up to the ski area on the Schnalstal glacier. Away from the South Tyrolean conurbations, you still benefit from short waiting times. The kilometres of slopes are very evenly distributed over blue, red and black stretches.
Ski area Zell am See-Kaprun (Austria)
Altitude: 768 – 3,029 m
Kilometers of slopes: 138
End of season: Middle/End of April
The Zell am See-Kaprun ski area consists of three individual ski areas spread around the towns of Zell am See and Kaprun in the Salzburg region. Families with children particularly enjoy the ski areas on the Schmittenhöhe and Maiskogel mountains, even though the season here may end a little earlier depending on snow conditions. But that’s no problem at all, as there is still the glacier ski area on the Kitzsteinhorn. The slopes of the glacier area offer guaranteed snow even in the summer months. The ski area also boasts Austria’s largest superpipe.
Ski area Engelberg-Titlis (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,003 – 3,020 m
Kilometers of slopes: 80
End of season: Middle of May
In the heart of Central Switzerland lies the holiday and recreation resort of Engelberg. The associated Engelberg-Titlis glacier ski area offers ideal conditions into spring. The ski area trumps with the world’s first rotating cable car: the cabin of the “Titlis Rotair” rotates 360 degrees once during the ride.
Ski area Silvretta Arena, Ischgl (Austria)
Altitude: 1,360– 2,872 m
Kilometers of slopes: 239
End of season: Beginning of May
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The two “Top of the Mountain” concerts at the end of the season alone make the Silvretta Arena in Ischgl a hotspot for winter sports fans in April and May. Many international stars such as Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams and James Blunt have already performed at the popular music events. The Silvretta Arena connects the Austrian town of Ischgl with the (duty-free) Swiss town of Samnaun.
Ski area Arosa-Lenzerheide (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,229 – 2,865 m
Kilometers of slopes: 225
End of season: Middle of April
Winter sports enthusiasts can still enjoy the fantastically groomed slopes in the largest contiguous ski area in the canton of Graubünden in spring. After all, the late season in the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area doesn’t end until mid-April. Until then, many of the 225 kilometres of slopes are still open for relaxed carving and soaking up the sun. And when it comes to getting there, skiers and snowboarders can completely do without a car, as there is a direct train connection from Arosa to the ski area.
Ski area Arlberg (Austria)
Altitude: 1,300 – 2,811 m
Kilometers of slopes: 302
End of season: End of April
The ski area on the Arlberg near St. Anton has become an absolute hotspot, not least because of its connection to Warth-Schröcken. And not only that: St. Anton is also known as one of the absolute après ski hotspots of the Alps. The calm Strengen and Flirsch are quite the opposite – and yet only a few kilometres away.
Ski area La Fôret Blanche, Vars-Risoul (France)
Altitude: 1,650 – 2,750 m
Kilometers of slopes: 185
End of season: Middle of April
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With its huge range of freestyle activities, the La Fôret Blanche ski area is a true paradise for park fans. There are 8 snowparks in the ski area, including special parks for children and one with a Native American theme. The name “Forêt Blanche” already reveals that you are surrounded by beautiful snow-covered forests.
Ski area Ankogel, Mallnitz (Austria)
Altitude: 1,266 – 2,636 m
Kilometers of slopes: 13
End of season: End of March
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Mallnitz is also known as the “Pearl of the Hohe Tauern National Park”. The beautiful village lies at the foot of the Ankogel ski area, only 15 km from the Mölltaler Glacier ski area. 17 km of pistes at an altitude of 2,108 to 3,122 m await winter sports fans.
Ski region Portes du Soleil (France)
Altitude: 985 – 2,254 m
Kilometers of slopes: 580
End of season: Middle of April
Twelve French and Swiss ski resorts have joined forces in the Portes du Soleil ski region. Avoriaz alone has 72 kilometres of slopes (960 – 2,254 m) and one of the steepest moguls in the world. In Châtel, there are 83 kilometres of slopes (1,000 – 2,200 m).
Ski area Obertauern (Austria)
Altitude: 1,630 – 2,313 m
Kilometers of slopes: 100
End of season: Beginning of May
The ski area Obertauern is located 90 km south of Salzburg and can be reached from almost every point of the village in a few minutes. The “Gamsleiten 2” piste, one of the steepest moguls in the Alps, is legendary. During the Easter holidays, the ski area also attracts visitors with various events.
Tips for skiing in spring
Check slope conditions
Snow conditions are often extremely changeable in spring. The sunny slopes are still frozen solid in the morning, while the snow begins to melt there in the afternoon. This causes the snow cover to become very wet. At night, however, low temperatures cause the snow to freeze again. This cycle creates a compact, smooth slope and an increasingly firm snow cover, which becomes more challenging from midday onwards. The slushy snow, thawed by the sun and compacted by many winter sports enthusiasts, also makes the descents more difficult for many winter sports enthusiasts.
Fitness training
Physical fitness can be crucial on beautiful spring days. This is because changing slope conditions often place extreme demands on winter sports enthusiasts. On hard, smooth snow, it takes a lot of strength to make the right turns. In soft slushy snow, on the other hand, turning becomes increasingly difficult. To prepare for this strain, ski gymnastics as well as strength and endurance training are recommended. This prevents early signs of fatigue on the slopes. So if you start each day on the mountain well rested and warmed up, you will also prevent injuries.
Rewaxing and sharpening edges
The condition of your skis and snowboard is also very important when skiing in spring. Sharp edges are essential for the icy conditions in the morning, while a properly waxed base increases manoeuvrability in wet snow in the afternoon. Our SnowTrex recommendation: treat the edges daily with a whetstone or rubber and re-wax daily with liquid wax.
Start your skiing day early
The slushy slopes in the afternoon are not for everyone. Winter sports enthusiasts who want to avoid them are best advised to start their skiing day early. This allows them to take advantage of the perfectly groomed slopes and hard snow conditions. An overview of the open slopes and lifts can be found on the slope maps and panoramic maps at the valley stations, as well as on the ski resort’s website.
Don’t forget sun protection and hydration
Another point that winter sports enthusiasts should not ignore in spring, and therefore also around Easter, is sun protection. After all, the intensity of the sun’s rays at an altitude of 2,500 metres is 33 per cent higher than at an altitude of 300 metres. A waterproof sun cream with the highest possible sun protection factor is therefore an essential item to pack. If you sweat a lot, you should reapply the cream regularly. A lip balm containing plant-based waxes or oils provides additional protection for your lips against drying out and blistering. Protective sunglasses should therefore be as much a part of your essential equipment as a ski helmet.
Also highly recommended: drink plenty of fluids! At high altitudes and during exercise, the body needs more fluids. Teas or juice spritzers are particularly recommended. Alcohol has no place in the mountains – it should only be enjoyed during après-ski in the valley.
If you are looking for suitable offers for a skiing holiday over Easter, then SnowTrex is the right place for you.
FAQs about skiing in spring and at Easter
Which ski resorts in Austria are still open over Easter?
Over the Easter holidays, the ski resorts in Austria that are open are mainly those that boast a glacier or are located at high altitude. These include the glacier ski resorts in Pitztal, Sölden, Zillertal, Kitzsteinhorn, Mölltal and Stubai Glacier. The ski resorts in Arlberg and Ischgl also benefit from their high altitude, which is particularly important for snow reliability in spring. Here, the ski season usually ends between mid-April and early May.
Can winter sports enthusiasts still ski in spring and at Easter?
Due to their size and altitude, and the associated snow reliability, some ski resorts in the Alps can guarantee the operation of the lifts and the preparation of the slopes until March and April. Some ski resorts in Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France even end the ski season in May. These are usually glacier ski resorts.
Which ski resorts in France are still open over Easter?
Winter sports enthusiasts who want to continue skiing over Easter are particularly well catered for in France’s higher-altitude ski resorts. These include Les 2 Alpes, Tignes-Val d’Isère, Alpe d’Huez and Val Thorens, where the highest point of the ski area is over 3,000 metres. However, the ski resorts of La Fôret Blanche (2,750 m) and Portes du Soleil (2,254 m) are also open until mid-April.
Is skiing possible when the temperature outside is above freezing?
When the outside temperature in spring is above freezing, even in the high mountains, and the sun is shining on the slopes, it is still possible to ski there. However, winter sports enthusiasts on the slopes must adapt to the weather conditions. Temperature fluctuations cause the slopes to soften during the course of the day. As the snow becomes wetter, heavier and stickier, i.e. ‘slushier’, more strength is required to make turns.
Which ski resorts in Switzerland are still open over Easter?
In Switzerland, skiers and snowboarders can still enjoy fantastic slopes in spring and at Easter. The ski season in the resorts of Zermatt, Engelberg and Saas-Fee ends in mid-April at the earliest. Until then, all three resorts boast slopes that start at an altitude of at least 3,000 metres and in some cases even higher.
