Spring Skiing In Austria: A Magical Experience

May is generally considered the start of the summer skiing season in Austria, with most resorts closing from mid to late April. However, there are still some options for skiing in the country during this time. The Stubai, Hintertux, and Kitzsteinhorn glaciers are some of the best choices for skiing in Austria in May, with the latter offering skiing at altitudes of up to 3030m. The Kaunertal glacier in the Tirol region is another good option, with excellent snow conditions throughout May. For non-glacial skiing, the resort of Mayrhofen offers late-season skiing opportunities, with slopes rising to a snow-sure height of 2500m.

Spring skiing in Tirol

Long Days, Sunny Terraces, and Relaxed Vibes:

Open Resorts and Extended Seasons:

Most ski resorts in Tirol typically stay open until Easter. However, resorts located at higher altitudes often extend their season beyond. Tirol's five glaciers, soaring above 3,000 meters, offer excellent spring skiing opportunities. So you can keep your ski gear handy, as the winter fun doesn't end with the arrival of spring!

Top Spring Skiing Spots:

If you're eager to extend your ski season, Tirol has some fantastic options. The Kaunertal glacier, located in the Tirol region, offers excellent snow conditions throughout May. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier, above Kaprun, also provides extensive skiing options in May, with runs ranging from 2450 to 3030 meters. Another top choice is Hintertux, open for skiing 365 days a year, with varied terrain and reliable snow conditions.

Accommodation and Après-Ski:

To make the most of your spring skiing trip, consider ski-in/ski-out lodging options in Tirol. This way, you can easily access the slopes and maximize your time on the snow. Additionally, Tirol offers a range of spa hotels, hip design hotels, and sustainable accommodations to cater to your relaxation and comfort needs. The region is also renowned for its delicious food, so be sure to indulge in some hearty and healthy dishes during your stay.

In conclusion, spring skiing in Tirol is a unique experience that combines the thrill of skiing with the joy of emerging spring. With sunny days, soft snow, and a relaxed atmosphere, it's the perfect time to hit the slopes and enjoy the best of both seasons. So, pack your sunscreen, break out your skis, and get ready to create unforgettable memories on the slopes of Tirol!

Austria's glacier resorts

Austria is known for its low-altitude ski resorts, which often face problems during bad snow seasons. However, the country also has an extensive network of snowmaking facilities and boasts more glacier and high-altitude ski resorts than any other country.

Hintertux Glacier

The Hintertux Glacier is located in the Ziller valley and is accessible by heading to Mayrhofen and continuing as far as the road will take you. The ski area is extensive and is a popular day trip from Innsbruck and other centres in the Inn valley. Hintertux is open 365 days a year and is one of the most reliable late-season ski resorts in the Alps. The glacier is key to its reliability, but the shady lower runs also hold their snow well, and it is usually possible to ski back down to the base until late April.

Stubai Glacier

The Stubai Glacier is located in the Stubai valley and is relatively close to Innsbruck airport, with motorway connections up to the valley. The glacier is a surprisingly long drive from the valley entrance, but it offers extensive skiing for a glacier, and accommodation is available in the nearby village of Neustift or other small villages along the valley floor. The Stubai Glacier is open all year and is a great option for spring skiing.

Sölden Glacier

Sölden boasts not one but two operating glaciers, connected by ski lifts and a road tunnel, which are also connected to the main winter ski area above the village. While the skiing is probably more interesting in the winter ski area, the general altitude is high enough for snow cover to not be a problem most years. Sölden is best suited for intermediate skiers, but there are some challenges as well.

Kitzsteinhorn Glacier

The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier is situated above the town of Kaprun in the province of Salzburg. The ski area includes not only gentle blue runs but also offers a fair challenge for competent skiers. The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier is a typical early opener and late closer, often remaining open well into the spring or even early summer.

Pitztal Glacier

The Pitztal Glacier is located at the end of a long valley running south of the main Inn valley in Tyrol. It offers stunning panoramas of the nearby mountain ranges. The ski slopes are a typical mix of red and blue runs, with the possibility of skiing all the way down to the valley floor in good conditions. Most accommodation in the valley is split between several villages, but the Mandarfen area is most convenient for the glacier ski area.

Kaunertal Glacier, Mölltal Glacier, and Dachstein Glacier

These three glacier ski areas are also located in Austria but were not covered in as much detail in the sources. The Kaunertal Glacier is in Tyrol, the Mölltal Glacier is in Carinthia, and the Dachstein Glacier is in Styria.

Late-season snow conditions

However, there are a few ski resorts in Austria that offer good late-season snow conditions. Here are some options:

• Obergurgl: Open until the first weekend in May, Obergurgl offers reliably good snow cover right through to early May. While snowfall may not be the highest in the Alps, and the resort does not have a glacier, Obergurgl is exceptionally high by Austrian standards, with plenty of shady north-facing slopes that reach over 3000m. This means that snow quality and preservation remain excellent deep into spring, making it an excellent choice for beginners and intermediates.
• Hintertux: Open 365 days a year, Hintertux is one of the most reliable late-season ski resorts in the Alps. The extent of the slopes may be relatively limited, but the glacier is one of the best around, and the shady lower runs also hold their snow well. It is usually possible to ski back to the base until late April, and it is a good choice for intermediates.
• Kitzsteinhorn glacier (Kaprun): The Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun in the Austrian Salzburgland is one of the more extensive options for skiing in the Alps in May. Around ten runs are typically open between 2450m and 3030m, offering a good variety of terrain on the upper part of the glacier.
• Kaunertal glacier: The Kaunertal glacier in Austria's Tirol region usually offers excellent snow conditions throughout May. As it has no resort base, it tends to be favoured by race training camps or day-trippers. The glacier typically has around seven runs open, at altitudes of up to 3100m.
• Ischgl: While Ischgl's long home runs may be past their best by spring, the resort offers more skiing above 2000m than any other in Austria, so decent cover is virtually assured until early May. Ischgl, therefore, offers some of the most reliable entirely non-glacial snow conditions in the Alps and is well suited to mileage-hungry intermediates.

Skiing in May: resorts and conditions

Most ski resorts close for the season in mid-to-late April, with the Alps entering its "summer skiing" season from mid-May onwards. However, there are a few resorts that remain open beyond this period, offering skiing on glaciers and, for the first week or so of May, some non-glacial terrain.

Resort Options

Hintertux, Austria

Hintertux is arguably the best of the European glaciers, with steeper and more varied terrain than most. It is open 365 days a year, with skiing usually taking place between 2660m and 3250m.

Stubai Glacier, Austria

The Stubai glacier is one of the most extensive and varied glaciers in the Alps, with runs of nearly 900m vertical (between 2300-3170m) possible.

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt is one of only two resorts in the Alps that is open for skiing all year round. While two of its main areas (Gornergrat and Sunnegga/Rothorn) close for the season in late April, skiing continues on the Klein Matterhorn throughout the year, usually between 2940m and 3820m.

Kitzsteinhorn Glacier (Kaprun), Austria

The Kitzsteinhorn glacier is one of the more extensive options for skiing in the Alps in May, with around ten runs open between 2450m and 3030m.

Kaunertal Glacier, Austria

The Kaunertal glacier in Austria's Tirol region usually offers excellent snow conditions throughout May, with race training camps or day-trippers taking advantage of its runs at altitudes of up to 3100m.

Val Thorens, France

Val Thorens is the highest resort in the Trois Vallées area, with lifts operating into early May. While other resorts in the area close in April, Val Thorens keeps going into May, with snow often reaching down to village level.

Obergurgl, Austria

Obergurgl is open until the first weekend in May and is an excellent late-season choice, offering reliable snow cover until then. While snowfall may not be the highest in the Alps, the resort has plenty of shady north-facing slopes that reach over 3000m, ensuring excellent snow preservation.

Ischgl, Austria

Ischgl offers more skiing above 2000m than any other resort in Austria, with decent cover until early May.

Sölden, Austria

While Sölden's lower runs may deteriorate by spring, conditions are often excellent at higher altitudes. The resort has extensive high-altitude terrain and two glaciers, making it one of the most reliable late-season resorts in the Alps.

Conditions

When choosing a resort for late-season skiing, it is important to consider the strength of the sun and how it will impact snow conditions. Resorts with plenty of north-facing terrain above 2500m will generally offer the best snow quality late in the season.

In May, skiing in the Alps will mostly be confined to glaciers, but there are a few resorts that offer non-glacial terrain for the first week or so of the month.

Austria's top ski resorts

Austria is a top skiing destination, with 435 ski resorts to choose from. While most of these close by mid-April, there are a few that offer skiing into May. Here are some of Austria's top ski resorts:

Obergurgl

Obergurgl is one of the best late-season ski resorts in the Alps, offering reliable snow cover until early May. While snowfall here may not be the highest in the Alps, the resort is exceptionally high by Austrian standards, with its village sitting at 1,930m and its lifts going up to 3,000m. It also has plenty of shady north-facing slopes that reach over 3,000m, ensuring excellent snow quality and preservation deep into spring.

Hintertux

Hintertux is open for skiing 365 days a year. The extent of its slopes may be relatively limited, but its glacier is one of the best around, and the shady lower runs also hold their snow well. It is usually possible to ski back to the base until late April.

Ischgl

Ischgl is known for having one of the livelier après-ski scenes in Europe. But it's also a great choice for a full-on ski holiday, with high, snow-sure slopes and an excellent lift system. The lift-linked Silvretta Arena ski area is large, and you can also access three neighbouring resorts—Galtür, Kappl and See—with the same lift pass.

Lech

Lech is tucked away in Austria's Arlberg region and was once overshadowed by the massive resort of St. Anton nearby. However, with the opening of the Flexbahn Gondola in the 2016-17 season, Lech now offers access to the vast Ski Arlberg area, which rivals anything in Austrian skiing. With 88 lifts and cable cars and 300km of pistes, Ski Arlberg is now one of the largest ski areas in the world. The local ski area around Lech is ideal for intermediates, with plenty of red and blue runs to choose from.

Saalbach-Hinterglemm

With 270km of pistes, Saalbach-Hinterglemm is one of the largest ski resorts in Austria, offering a diverse range of options for all skill levels. Advanced skiers can find challenging terrain on the north-facing side of the ski area, while intermediates have plenty of blues and reds to choose between.

Frequently asked questions