Last Updated on 3rd October 2024 by Steve
October is the real start of the early ski season in Europe. Most (but not all) of the glacier resorts will be up and running during the month, helped by snowmaking and colder night-time temperatures.
Austria
Hintertux Glacier
The Hintertux glacier ski area at the end of the Tux valley in the Tyrol offers year-round skiing. At the time of writing it has 12 lifts open, with some of them only until early afternoon.
Maximum snow depth on 03 October was 65cm.
Ski area website: www.hintertuxergletscher.at
Stubai Glacier
The ski area on the Stubai glacier has four runs open on 25cm of snow.
Ski area website: www.stubaier-gletscher.com
Sölden Glaciers
The Rettenbach glacier is open for skiing and is reporting a maximum snow depth on 03 October of 95cm with five lifts open. The World Cup ski races on the Rettenbach glacier are scheduled on 26 and 27 October.
Ski area website: www.soelden.com
Pitztal Glacier
The glacier ski area at the end of the Pitztal valley in the Tyrol currently has four lifts running and one long red run and one shorter blue run open. Maximum snow depth on 03 October was 50cm.
More information: www.pitztal.com
Kaunertal Glacier
The Kaunertal glacier has six runs open on 35cm of snow.
More information: www.kaunertaler-gletscher.at
Other Austrian Provinces
Skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above the town of Kaprun in Salzburg is scheduled to open on 05 October, with a current report of 15cm of snow.
More information: www.kitzsteinhorn.at
The Mölltal glacier in Carinthia is schedule to open on 12 October.
Italy
Passo Stelvio
The Passo Stelvio (or the Stilfserjoch as the German-speakers in the area call it), a small summer-only ski area on the border between Lombardy and the South Tyrol, is open until the beginning of November.
More information: www.passostelvio.eu
Val Senales
Skiing on the Schnalstal (or Val Senales, as Italian speakers call it) glacier is open and has three runs operating on 20cm of snow.
More information: www.schnalstal.com
Switzerland
Zermatt
The summer ski area on the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3450m in altitude above Zermatt is open with a maximum snow depth of 150cm. The short runs on the Plateau Rosa are open.
Ski area website: www.matterhornparadise.ch
Saas Fee
The ski area above Saas Fee has two runs open on 120cm of snow.
Ski area website: www.saas-fee.ch
Engelberg
The skiing on the Titlis glacier near Engelberg will open later in October as long as snow conditions permit.
Ski area website: www.titlis.ch
France
Tignes
The glacier ski area above the French ski resort of Tignes has shifted to offering summer activities such as walking and biking into October and plans to open the ski area towards the end of November.
Ski area website: en.tignes.net
