![\"summer](\"https:\/\/www.skimag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/GettyImages-1365429697-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere\u2019s always snow somewhere, and in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the glaciers of the Alps are where it\u2019s at.<\/p>\n
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CERVINIA, ITALY – JULY 6: Alberto Laurora in blue skis down a slope while convened by SciMagazine at the summit of the Glacier of Cervinia to test equipment on July 6, 2021 in Cervina, Italy. The summer ski season is at Plateau Ros\u00e0 glacier at an altitude of 3500 meters, where is possible to ski, on Swiss territory, even during July and August. (Photo by Alessandro Rota\/Getty Images) (Photo: Alessandro Rota\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Updated May 14, 2024 09:15AM<\/p>\n
When you need your skiing fix in the summer, the high-alpine glaciers of the Alps are always an option. We\u2019re not suggesting planning a summer ski vacation to the Europe (although, stranger things have been done\u2026), but if you\u2019re going to be there anyway, you might as well squeeze in a ski day or two, even if just for the novelty of it.<\/p>\n
Also Read: Science Confirms What Skiers Already Knew: Time in the Mountains Shapes Who We Are<\/a><\/p>\n There are a handful of ski resorts that open back up for summer glacier skiing\u2014and one that\u2019s a summer-only ski resort (the one in the photo, below)\u2014that offer creamy corn summer turns. Here\u2019s where to find off-season skiing in the Alps.<\/p>\n Hintertux<\/p>\n Summer season: open all year<\/p>\n There\u2019s skiing year-round on the Hintertux Glacier<\/a>, which offers a steeper pitch than other comparable glaciers in the region. Located at over 10,600 feet, Hintertux stays cool enough to hold snow even in the dog days of summer. Depending on conditions, summer skiers can expect there to be up to 10 lifts open serving 20 kilometers of runs, enough to satiate your appetite for summer turns.<\/p>\n Kaprun Glacier<\/p>\n Extended spring season: now through June 2 Glacier skiing on Kitzsteinhorn<\/a> will stay open for late-spring skiing through the beginning of June thanks to its high elevation. Part of the Kaprun Glacier, Kitz is one of several ski areas on the glacier. Summer skiing will open off of the Maiskogelbahn on May 18 and off the 3K K-onnection on June 22. It\u2019s pretty typical glacial terrain\u2014open bowls with not much pitch, but the endless views make up for the lack of steep terrain.<\/p>\n France<\/p>\n Les 2 Alpes<\/p>\n Summer season: April 28 -July 7<\/p>\n Les 2 Alpes<\/a> offers the closest thing to a full-scale summer ski operation that you\u2019ll find in the Alps. While it\u2019s primarily intended for racers and ski camps, there is a portion of the glacier that\u2019s open to the public. The summer operation features over 200 skiable acres served by two lifts and a funicular.<\/p>\n Tignes<\/p>\n Summer season: June 22 to July 21<\/p>\n Tignes<\/a> boasts high elevation and comparatively good snow on the Grand Motte glacier. There\u2019s only about 18 kilometers of terrain open, so think of it as a great way to pass a couple hours, especially considering that access via the high-speed underground funicular makes this the easiest skiing to get to from the base.<\/p>\n Italy<\/p>\n Cervinia\/Zermatt<\/p>\n Summer season: April 27-Oct. 31<\/p>\n Sharing its summer-skiing slopes with Switzerland\u2019s Zermatt<\/a>, this is the highest-elevation skiing in the region and is also the most snow-sure. The summer summit is at almost 12,800 feet, and skiers can expect about 21 kilometers of pistes with amazing high-alpine views and a tamped-down, but still epically fun, apr\u00e8s scene.<\/p>\n Passo Stelvio<\/p>\n Summer season: June 1-Nov. 3<\/p>\n This underrated little summer-only ski area near Bormio has the longest summer season\u2014but it\u2019s also its only season. Passo Stelvio<\/a> isn\u2019t open in the winter. The mostly gentle slopes are wide-open and accessed by cable cars from Stelvio Pass.<\/p>\n Switzerland<\/p>\n Zermatt<\/p>\n (see Cervinia, above)<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Long Read: A 6,000 Vertical Foot Race Through the Alps With No Rules\u2014What Could Go Wrong?<\/a><\/p>\n Saas Fee<\/p>\n Summer season: July 8-Oct. 31<\/p>\n![\"Passo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-1324491180-scaled.jpg\"\/)
Italy\u2019s Passo Stelvio is on track for a June 1 opening. Photo: Getty Images
\n7 Resorts in the Alps to Glacier Ski in the Summer
\nAustria<\/p>\n![\"Hintertux\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-1174856245.jpg\"\/)
The conditions won\u2019t resemble mid-winter, but the views more than make up for it. (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nSummer skiing: opens May 26<\/p>\n![\"Les](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-1.58.54-PM.png\"\/)
(Photo: Courtesy of Les 2 Alpes)<\/p>\n![\"Tignes](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-533667481-scaled.jpg\"\/)
View from the Grande Motte glacier at Tignes, lake, mountains and Mont Blanc. French Alps. (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Passo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-485246613-scaled.jpg\"\/)
Passo Stelvio is only open in the summer because the windy, narrow road that leads to it is too dangerous to drive any other time of year.\u00a0(Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n