The Swiss ski season never really ends, or at least never used to, with Zermatt, home to Europe’s highest slopes, the last glacier ski area still aiming to open for snowsports every day of the year. It’s neighbour Saas-Fee does close for a few months in spring but re-opens in July, so its 26-27 season has already begun.
Sadly though, climate change has, for the second time in four years, forced Zermatt to temporarily close its summer ski area, with Saas-Fee doing likewise. Hopefully they’ll be able to re-open soon.
In the meantime, the target season opening dates for other Swiss areas are fast approaching. Some are confirmed, others make a decision based on current snow conditions at the time, by early November though Switzerland is often the first country to reach double-figures for areas open.
Swiss resorts are easier than most to reach to ski in the autumn, thanks to plenty of year-round flights to airports like Geneva and Zurich, with easy rail and bus connections from there to resorts.
The earliest planned opening date after Saas-Fee and Zermatt in Engelberg, which is hoping to open its Titlis glacier on October 10th. A week later the Diavolezza Glacier near St. Moritz is due to start its 26-27 season, although for the first four weeks, until November 15th, it will open only to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (closed other days for training).
At Davos, thanks to its snowfarming practice, the four-kilometre Flüelastrasse cross-country ski trail is to open on Friday 30 October. As a pioneer of the technique (since 2008), Davos collects snow during the preceding season, stores it under a layer of insulating – and sustainable – sawdust which preserves 70-80 per cent of its volume for use in the forthcoming season
In November Adelboden’s TschentenAlp area, parts of Arosa–Lenzerheide, Glacier 3000 and Murren Schilthorn are all aiming to open around the first weekend, some thanks to snowfarming
Friday 13th is opening day for downhill skiing at Davos Klosters. The Parsenn lifts will be in operation that weekend, then daily from 20 November. Other areas will open as snow conditions dictate. The resort stays open after Easter until 11 April 2027. Next day, Saturday 14th, Andermatt’s Gemsstock area should be opening and Verbier is also lining up its 26-27 season start date.