It might be officially spring but the ski season is far from over for many ski resorts around the world. skyscanner.net brings us a look at 10 great ski resorts for late season skiing.
10 Best Ski Resorts For Late Season Skiing
“Think the ski season is almost over? Think again. Plenty of ski resorts keep their lifts running well into spring, so don’t pack those skis and snowboards away yet – use Skyscanner’s guide to spring skiing to extend your ski season!” – skyscanner.net
1. Val Thorens, France
As Europe’s highest ski resort, most of the skiing here is over 2000m, which means the snow keeps cooler for longer and the lifts keep running until early May. Part of the huge Three Valleys ski area, Val Thorens is an excellent bet for good snow conditions even late in the season.
2. Riksgransen, Sweden
Lying 200km above the arctic circle on the border with Norway, Riksgransen is one of the world’s most northerly ski resorts and offers the opportunity to ski in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The best conditions are found later in the season and the lifts here don’t stop running until the end of June!
3. Åre, Sweden
Sweden’s number one resort which also claims to be northern Europe’s largest and most advanced, Åre boasts a season that starts in November and lasts until May. With 100 pistes to enjoy plus night skiing too, Åre is a popular choice for late season skiing.
4. Tignes, France
A ski resort with a glacier, winter sports enthusiasts can continue skiing until early May in the main resort. Summer skiing on the glacier then starts in June, which offers an impressive 20kms of runs and a vertical drop of over 750m.
5. Zermatt, Switzerland
This famous Swiss ski resort has lifts that take you up to 3899m, and offers skiing till early May, before the summer skiing begins on the glacier, meaning that Zermatt is one of the few, truly year-round ski destinations in the world.
6. Saas Fee, Switzerland
With a ski area that sits between 1800m and 3500m and has access to a glacier, Sass Fee offers late-season skiers plenty of snow, whilst at the same time has chocolate-box charm not always found in other high-altitude resorts.
7. Livigno, Italy
One of the higher resorts in Europe with pistes to 3000m and a good snow record, Livigno is also known for its sunny location. It offers one of Europe’s largest terrain parks and the skiing lasts until late April/early May on a good year. Livigno’s tax-free tax status is also a considerable draw, meaning that food and drink are excellent value here.
8. Gassan, Japan
Located in Yamagata on Japan’s main island, Honshu, Gassan gets so much snow (up to 8m!) during the winter, that it doesn’t even open until April because the resort is inaccessible until then! The lifts then continue to run until late July where skiers and snowboarders can enjoy almost 1000m of vertical terrain.
9. Whistler-Blackcomb, Canada
The presence of a glacier on Blackcomb Mountain means that skiers here can keep going till June. The excellent slope grooming and snow-making facilities also help to ensure a lengthy season in what has repeatedly been voted the best ski resort in the world.
10. Mammoth, California
With a season that typically lasts into June but also boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, skiers and snowboarders can get the best of both worlds at one of the USA’s premier mountain resorts.