
Mölltaler Glacier is Carinthia's only glacier ski area and the highest ski resort in the province, spanning 2,108m to 3,122m across 36km of groomed pistes and 6.7km of marked ski routes in the Hohe Tauern mountain range. The terrain sits entirely above the treeline, with views across more than 30 three-thousand-metre peaks including the Großglockner — Austria's highest mountain. The resort's Carinthian location on the southern side of the Alps delivers an above-average number of sunshine hours per season, combined with snow reliability that attracts the Austrian and German national ski teams as official training users.
The 7km Eissee FIS run — the highest-elevation FIS descent in Carinthia — drops from the gondola's upper station through challenging terrain back toward the valley, while the Schareck summit at 3,122m provides wide glacier pistes and a snowpark with wave tracks, kickers and a boardercross course. The lift pass also covers the Ankogel ski area, extending the combined skiable terrain for those prepared to travel between the two mountains.
Mölltaler Glacier is a small, high ski area with a big vertical: 16 runs and 36 kilometres of piste fall 1,014 metres from the 3,122-metre Schareck summit to the base at 2,108 metres. The terrain is more demanding than its size suggests, with 56% intermediate, 26% advanced and 18% beginner pistes, and everything sits above the treeline. The Gletscher Express brings skiers to the upper zone around the Eissee, from where wide, high-altitude pistes spread out towards Schareck and suit carving at speed.
The 7-kilometre Eissee FIS run is the highest descent of its kind in Carinthia and gives strong skiers a long, challenging piste back towards the valley. For freeriders, two freeride zones sit below the summit, and the best lift-accessed off-piste terrain is directly beneath Schareck. A snowpark with wave tracks, kickers and a boardercross course adds variety. With only eight lifts and few runs, it works best as a short stay for confident skiers or as a day trip paired with the Ankogel area.
Mölltaler Glacier runs from mid-October through to the end of May, with the 2025–26 season open from 10 October 2025 to 31 May 2026. Annual snowfall averages 5.5 metres across the ski area, and the glacier's position above 2,100m ensures consistent coverage well into spring. The resort's south-facing Carinthian aspect delivers above-average sunshine hours relative to the Austrian average, making it particularly appealing for spring skiing in April and May when crowds thin considerably.
The extended season draws national race teams from Austria and Germany throughout autumn and winter, taking advantage of the perfectly groomed slopes and the Carinthia's highest FIS piste. The Glacier Snowpark typically opens from March, with spring conditions sustaining the kickers and boardercross course through to the season close.
Mölltaler Glacier is accessed from the village of Flattach in the Mölltal valley in Upper Carinthia, with the Mölltal Glacier Express funicular departing from the Innerfragant valley station. The resort sits within the Hohe Tauern National Park — Austria's largest national park — surrounded by the Sonnblick massif and within sight of the Großglockner. The nearest regional town is Obervellach, approximately 10km to the east along the Mölltal valley.
Salzburg Airport is the most practical international gateway, roughly 100km to the north via the A10 Tauern Autobahn. Spittal an der Drau, accessible by rail, is the closest major train station, with onward connections to Flattach by bus. For those holding the SkiHit regional pass, Mölltaler Glacier connects into a network spanning 168km of piste across seven ski areas in the East Tyrol region, with the Ankogel also included on the standard glacier lift pass.
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Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.

Brian Head is targeting 6 November, though last year it aimed for 7 November and did not open until the 25th. Park City, Alta and Solitude are pencilled in for 20 November, Snowbird and Snowbasin for 27 November, and Deer Valley for 5 December. Eagle Point will stay closed after the Cottonwood Fire. A super El Niño is forecast, but the big snow is not expected until January.

Hintertux became Austria's second glacier to open for 2026-27 on Friday 2 October, after the Pitztal Glacier. Twelve kilometres of piste are running around the Olperer and Gefrorene Wand, served by one gondola and two drag lifts, with the Betterpark also open. Lifts officially run 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, but skiing stops at 2 pm for now.
Seven lifts serve Mölltaler Glacier's terrain between 2,108m and 3,122m, anchored by one of the Alps' most distinctive access systems. The Mölltal Glacier Express — the longest underground funicular in the Alps — carries skiers from the Innerfragant valley station to the mid-mountain hub in eight minutes through the tunnel beneath the glacier. From there, the Eisseebahn gondola ascends to 2,800m where the Eissee Panorama Restaurant and the main skiing zones begin. The Gletscherjet six-person chairlift reaches the Schareck summit at 3,122m, the highest point in the ski area.
The upper mountain is further served by two quad chairlifts, two double chairlifts and two T-bars opening up the Alteck sector and beginner terrain around the mid-station. The Alteck chairlift accesses the resort's most demanding off-piste lines below the Schareck's east face, while the T-bars at the mid-station provide the learning area for beginners and children.
More Mölltaler Glacier intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.