
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.
Daily snow reports at Arber go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
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.
Hotels and lodges near Arber, powered by Stay22.

Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.

The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.

A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.

Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.

Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.

Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.

Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.

Winter has officially started in North America, and it is one blue run long. On Wednesday 28 October, Arapahoe Basin fired up the Black Mountain Express at around 10:30 am after a surprise announcement just hours earlier, becoming the first major North American resort open for 2026/27. Cold nights, a dusting of natural snow and a lot of snowmaking made it happen in the resort’s 80th winter. More terrain is promised as the snow guns keep running.
More Arber intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.