Swiss ski resorts open early for 2025 season after heavy snowfall

After the first major snowfall of the winter hit Switzerland last Thursday, November 20, ski enthusiasts will be happy to hear that some ski resorts have already opened their doors to start the ski season.

These Swiss ski resorts are already open

The weather in most Swiss cities has been quite grey, wet and cold so far this week, but up in the Swiss mountains it’s starting to look like a winter wonderland. 

Several areas of higher altitude, in particular Valais, Graubünden, the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland, received up to 50 centimetres of snow by Wednesday, 25 November. As a result, some ski resorts have been able to open early.

According to 20 Minuten and Watson, resorts that are now at least partially open for skiing and other winter sports include:

• Adelboden-Lenk (at weekends)
• Corvatsch
• Davos Klosters
• Engelberg-Titlis
• Engadin
• Gemsstock–Andermatt
• Saas-Fee
• Schilthorn–Mürren/Lauterbrunnen ski area in the Jungfrau region
• Schilthorn–Piz Gloria
• Silvretta Montafon (open on the weekends)
• Zermatt

The next ski resorts to open are: Flumserberg (November 26), Hoch-Ybrig (November 28) and Arosa–Lenzerheide, Corviglia and Crans-Montana (November 29).

Laax/Flims/Falera, Sattel–Hochstuckli and Sörenberg will open at weekends from November 29 and daily starting later in December, depending on the weather.

Increase risk of avalanches in Swiss mountains

With heavy snowfall, the risk of avalanches in the mountains also increases. The federal government has issued a level 4 “high danger” warning along the north Alps ridge from Les Diablerets to Titlis. 

“Northerly winds have led to the accumulation of wind-drifted snow, which, together with the new snow, was covering a thin layer of old snow. This means that even a single snow sports enthusiast could easily trigger an avalanche,” reports Watson.