
Arber stands as the Bavarian Forest's premier ski destination, offering 14.5km of diverse slopes across a spectacular natural setting. Rising to 1,456m at the highest point in the Bavarian Forest, this impressive resort combines excellent terrain for all abilities with reliable snow conditions throughout winter. The uncrowded pistes and authentic eastern Bavarian character make Arber particularly appealing for those seeking quality skiing away from the busier Alpine regions.
Arber is the main ski mountain of the Bavarian Forest, rising to 1,456 metres above Bayerisch Eisenstein and giving 406 metres of vertical from a 1,050 metre base. Its 13 runs total 11.5 kilometres, graded 39% beginner, 35% intermediate and 26% advanced, with no expert pistes. A gondola and two six-seat chairs handle the main uphill traffic, backed by T-bars and surface lifts. It is one of the larger and better equipped options in eastern Germany, though still firmly a mid-sized hill rather than an alpine resort.
The Sonnenhang is the red piste most intermediates head for, while the Damenstrecke offers a smoother blue descent. A World Cup course of about one kilometre, used for race events over many years, gives stronger skiers something steeper to test. The Familienstrecke is flat and gentle, and the ArBär Kinderland area has carpets and a practice zone for small children. Several runs are floodlit for evening skiing. Arber works well for families, beginners and intermediates after a full day close to the Czech border. Those chasing steeps or big mileage will outgrow it quickly.
Arber typically operates from December through March, with the most reliable conditions in January and February. The resort benefits from its elevated position in one of Bavaria's snowiest regions, receiving substantial natural snowfall supplemented by extensive snowmaking coverage. The predominantly north-facing slopes maintain excellent snow quality throughout the season, often delivering good skiing conditions when lower regions struggle. The Bavarian Forest microclimate frequently creates powder opportunities, particularly during cold continental weather patterns.
Located in eastern Bavaria approximately 200km from Munich and 60km from the Czech border, Arber offers a distinctive mountain experience away from the crowded Alpine resorts. The resort sits within the beautiful Bavarian Forest National Park, surrounded by pristine woodland and crystal-clear mountain lakes. This unique location provides visitors with opportunities to combine skiing with exploration of one of Germany's most impressive wilderness areas. The nearby towns of Bodenmais and Bayerisch Eisenstein offer charming accommodation options and excellent dining serving authentic eastern Bavarian specialties.
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A large avalanche struck near Laguna del Inca adjacent to Ski Portillo on Saturday afternoon, killing four people and injuring four others. The group were day visitors mountaineering in the backcountry after reportedly being warned about elevated avalanche risk by resort staff.

Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.

Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.

Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.

Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.
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Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 1050m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 406m higher at 1456m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Arber are holding up or starting to soften.
We pull Arber's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 10 lifts, including 2 6-person chairlifts and a gondola.
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.