Springtime in Sölden
Austria is a country in two parts when it comes to its many famous ski resorts. The majority have quite low-altitude ski areas compared to those of its neighbours and tend to end their seasons in early April, sometimes even before the Easter holidays. But Austria also has more glacier ski areas open late into spring, and in some cases into summer, than any other country on the planet!
Located in Tirol’s Ötztal Valley, Sölden is built around two high glacier ski areas that help maintain reliable conditions late into the season. The glaciers above the resort allow lifts to reach well beyond 3,000 metres, where the snowpack remains stable long after lower slopes across the Alps have begun to soften.
Its ski area crowned by twin glaciers, Sölden is Austria’s only ski resort which has opened up three mountains higher than 3,000m with state-of-the-art mountain gondola lifts.
The resort’s signature experience is known as the BIG3, a trio of peaks rising above 3,000 metres that define the upper mountain. Gaislachkogl reaches 3,058 metres, Tiefenbachkogl climbs to 3,250 metres and the summit of Schwarze Schneid rises to around 3,340 metres. From these high points the views stretch across the surrounding Ötztal Alps, with long descents dropping back towards the valley below.
For spring skiers the advantage is obvious. High altitude terrain and glacier coverage mean that conditions often remain excellent well into April. Early mornings typically bring firm, well-prepared pistes after the overnight freeze, while the stronger spring sun gradually softens the snow through the afternoon.
Sölden’s lift network also makes it easy to move quickly between sectors of the mountain. Modern gondolas and chairlifts provide fast access to the higher terrain, allowing skiers to make the most of the best conditions throughout the day.
Because of its altitude and glacier skiing, Sölden frequently appears in discussions about the best destinations for spring skiing in the Alps. It is also one of the resorts often highlighted when considering skiing in April, when many other Austrian resorts have already closed for the season.
For lift operations, snow reports and resort information visit the official Sölden website.