As the winter ski season winds down and resorts and runs begin to close, it’s the perfect time to start searching for the best of the late-season skiing and snowboarding deals. Why? Spring and summer skiing has much to offer: cheaper costs, less crowding, and warm sunny days on the slopes. During that lull between the end of the ski season in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the Southern Hemisphere, there are still some excellent destinations for die-hards who just can’t face the fact that winter is coming to a close.
The key to late-season skiing is to head for higher altitudes and/or further north. Higher altitudes and northern latitudes have more snow later into the year, which can extend the season into May, June, and beyond. Two international resorts even remain open for 365 days a year!
One of these two resorts is Hintertux’s Tyrolean Zillertal Valley. A location that offers the largest skiable area for your April to November ski fix. The resort’s free-ride runs offer a variety of ski experiences, with beginners and experienced skiiers alike nicely accommodated at both Betterpark Hinterux and Familypark Hintertux.
Hintertux also offers plenty of great restaurants, and every weekend you can party with the locals during numerous festivals and celebrations.
European skiing adventures continue in Tignes, France, where summer skiing starts on the glacier in June. The villages of Tignes may not contain beautiful architecture because of their purpose-built nature, but they do nestle against amazing lift-access slopes. You can choose from Val Claret, Tignes-Le-Lac, and Le Lavachet at around 2,100 meters, while Tignes-Les-Boisses is at 1800 meters, and Tignes-Les-Brevières is further down at 1,550 meters. Tignes-Le-Lac contains the most convenient assortment of accommodations, restaurants, and shops.
Home of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is famous for its year-round skiing. Late-season skiing ends in early May, but summer skiing picks up afterward quickly. Enjoy 360km of pistes, and skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels will find exactly what they are looking for: ski instruction, ski tours, free-riding, and heli-tours, along with the standard selection of slopes. Zermatt is also finely attuned to its international clientele, with many fine offerings in accommodations, dining, and shopping available. Take a day trip to nearby Italy for more skiing, sightseeing, and shopping.
Whistler Resort consistently wows the critics, earning numerous top rankings year after year. Located in British Columbia, Whistler is easily accessible from either Vancouver International Airport or Seattle, Washington. The high altitude mixed with the northern latitude gives this area one of the longest-lasting ski seasons in North America.
The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola ferries visitors between the two mountain peaks that make up the resort, and skiers enjoy over 8,000 acres of terrain – from beginner slopes, to the most advanced, to everything in between. Whistler Village caters to seasoned global travelers with gourmet restaurants, hotels, and other accommodations to suit all budgets, along with thriving nightlife.
Sun and snow: you’ll find the perfect combination of both on Mammoth Mountain, along with the laid back party atmosphere indigenous to California. Because ski season runs into June, Mammoth will be open when most other U.S. resorts have long since closed for the summer.
With over 3,500 acres of skiable terrain as well as 8 unbound terrain parks lauded by skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, there is something for everyone. Nightlife in the town of Mammoth Lakes does not disappoint, either.