Last Updated on 2nd October 2023 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 11 lifts open, with some of them only until early afternoon.
Maximum snow depth on 02 October was 10cm.
Ski area website: www.hintertuxergletscher.at
Stubai Glacier
Skiing on the Stubai glacier is closed for repairs and inspections of the lift facilities. The ski area says that the start of the ski season is ‘dependent on the snow conditions’.
Ski area website: www.stubaier-gletscher.com
Sölden Glaciers
Both of the glaciers above the Tyrolean ski resort of Sölden are currently closed and will announce opening dates as soon as snow conditions permit. The area is reporting a maximum snow depth on 02 October of 55cm. The World Cup ski races on the Rettenbach glacier are scheduled on 28 and 29 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 two lifts running and one long red run and one shorter blue run open. Maximum snow depth on 02 October was 10cm.
More information: www.pitztal.com
Kaunertal Glacier
The ski area on the Kaunertal Glacier in the Tyrol is currently closed and is awaiting snowfall before opening any ski runs.
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 in mid-October, given decent snow conditions.
More information: www.kitzsteinhorn.at
The Dachstein glacier in Upper Austria is renovating the top station of the glacier cable car this autumn and winter. Work will continue until May 2024 and, although the glacier plans to open to the public over the Christmas holiday period and in February, it is unclear whether this will include downhill skiing.
The Mölltal glacier in Carinthia is currently closed and will open when snow and weather conditions permit.
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 closed until mid-December because of work on the lift facilities.
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 100cm. Three short red runs and three blue runs are open.
Ski area website: www.matterhornparadise.ch
Saas Fee
The ski area above Saas Fee will be opening when snow conditions permit.
Ski area website: www.saas-fee.ch
Engelberg
The skiing on the Titlis glacier near Engelberg will open on 21 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
