Lots of snow, sunshine, good visibility, not too cold: skiing in spring or at Easter is usually a real pleasure. Although you should be on the slopes quite early, especially in March and April so that you don’t have to ski in all the slush in the afternoon, the mountain panorama in the sunshine is also kind to late risers. For all winter sports fans who are interested in such a ski holiday in March, April or during the Easter holidays, SnowTrex has put together a number of snow-sure ski areas in the Alps that are also open in spring.
Ski area Zermatt (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,562 – 3,899 m
Km of piste: 360
End of season: End of April/Beginning of May
At the foot of the mighty Matterhorn lies the car-free village of Zermatt. The Zermatt ski area is the highest in the Alps and the largest all-year ski area. Almost a third of all 4,000 m peaks are grouped around Zermatt.
Ski area Saas-Fee (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,800 – 3,573 m
Km of piste: 100
End of season: Middle/End of April
The Saas Valley is home to 3 idyllic winter sports resorts and is known for its enormous snowfalls, especially in spring. The best known is certainly the car-free resort Saas-Fee, whose glacier skiing area is also the largest in the valley. Winter sports fans can reach the ski area with the “Metro Alpin”, the world’s highest underground funicular railway.
Ski area Les 2 Alpes (France)
Altitude: 1,280 – 3,560 m
Km of piste: 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 – 3,450 m
Km of piste: 300
End of season: End of April/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 end of April/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
Km of piste: 41
End of season: Middle/End of April
The Pitztal Glacier is Tyrol’s highest glacier and its highlight, the Wildspitzbahn, the highest cable car in Austria, takes winter sports fans to the highest point of the ski area. The village of St. Leonhard, situated near the ski area, offers many après ski opportunities away from the pistes as well as cosy inns.
Ski area Sölden (Austria)
Altitude: 1.350 – 3.340 m
Km of piste: 144
End of season: End of April
Sölden im Ötztal is not only known for its après ski locations, but also for its World Cup piste. There are 144 kilometres of pistes in the Sölden ski area. Right next door is the ski area of Obergurgl and Hochgurgl, which offer a further 112 kilometres of pistes ranging from 1,793 m to 3,082 m altitude.
Ski area Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski (France)
Altitude: 1,125 – 3,330 m
Km of piste: 250
End of season: End of April
250 kilometres of pistes are available at the most famous stage destination of the Tour de France. They are up to 3,330 m above sea level and belong to the “Grand Domaine Ski” ski region. The black “La Sarenne” with its 16 km is one of the longest runs in Europe.
Ski region Zillertal (Austria)
Altitude: 630 – 3,250 m
Km of piste: 497
End of season: End of April/Beginning of May
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 59 kilometres of pistes at an altitude of between 1,500 and 3,250 metres.
Ski area Val Thorens-Orelle (France)
Altitude: 1,800 – 3,230 m
Km of piste: 150
End of season: End of April/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 pistes). In the village, holidaymakers can be found almost directly on the slopes of the Val Thorens-Orelle ski area.
Ski area Stubai Glacier (Austria)
Altitude: 1,750 – 3,212 m
Km of piste: 42
End of season: Middle of April
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
Km of piste: 27.2
End of season: End of April/Beginning of May
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 pistes are very evenly distributed over blue, red and black stretches.
Ski area Zell am See-Kaprun (Austria)
Altitude: 760 – 3,029 m
Km of piste: 128
End of season: Middle/End of April
The ski area Zell am See-Kaprun consists of three individual ski areas, which are distributed around the villages Zell am See and Kaprun in the Salzburger Land. In the ski area on the Schmittenhöhe and on the Maiskogel, families with children in particular feel at home, even though the season may end a little earlier here depending on snow conditions. But that’s no problem at all, as there is still the glacier ski area on the Kitzsteinhorn. The pistes of the glacier area offer snow security even in the summer months. In addition, the ski area has the largest superpipe in Austria.
Ski area Engelberg-Titlis (Switzerland)
Altitude: 1,000 – 3,020 m
Km of piste: 82
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: 1,377 – 2,872 m
Km of piste: 239
End of season: End of April/Beginning of May
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 Arlberg (Austria)
Altitude: 1,270 – 2,811 m
Km of piste: 306
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
Km of piste: 185
End of season: End of April
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: 1,267 – 2,637 m
Km of piste: 13
End of season: Middle of May
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 Mölltal glacier. 17 km of pistes at an altitude of 2,200 to 3,120 m await winter sports fans.
Ski region Portes du Soleil (France)
Altitude: 1,000 – 2,466 m
Km of piste: 580
End of season: End of April
Twelve French and Swiss ski resorts have joined forces in the Portes du Soleil ski region. Avoriaz alone has 72 kilometres of pistes (960 m – 2,460 m) and one of the steepest moguls in the world. In Châtel, there are 83 kilometres of slopes (1,000 m – 2,200 m).
Ski area Obertauern (Austria)
Altitude: 1,630 – 2,313 m
Km of piste: 100
End of season: End of April/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.
In conclusion: Happy Easter!
