“Year-Round” Glacier Ski Area Closes For August
“Year-Round” Glacier Ski Area Closes For August
Published : 04-Aug-2025 08:16
The Hintertux Glacier, one of only two remaining year-round outdoor ski areas in the world, has suspended its ski operations through August.
Hintertux says it will reopen on an unspecified date in September, but has not given a reason for closure. Last week it was reporting more terrain open than the other three glacier ski areas currently offering summer skiing. It also reports snow depths of 25-65cm which exceeds those it has had in previous years when it has stayed open.
The centre is also believed to be unique in having snowmaking on its glacier and had reported, like other glaciers, some fresh snowfall in recent days (the picture top is from last Friday) after a hot period earlier in July.
It's therefore unclear if this is a planned switch from 365-day operations or a reaction to current conditions.
It's not the first time in the past five years that the centre has closed around this time of year due to the impact of climate change. The other year-round centre, Zermatt's Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, closed for around two months from July 29, 2022, after very warm weather melted glacial snow cover there. It's currently open along with neighbouring Saas Fee and Italy's Passo Stelvio however.
There's nowhere currently open in France and its unusual that there's nowhere in Austria, which usually has the most centres open in Spring and Autumn. Although season opening dates have slipped a week or two towards the very end of September or early August, about six Austrian glaciers are usually open for Autumn skiing, which is often more than is open in the rest of Europe combined in October and early November. The Kauntertal, Kitzsteinhorn, Molltal, Pitztal Solden and Stubai glaciers usually join Hintertux during that period.
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