
Fellhorn-Kanzelwand delivers Germany's most distinctive cross-border skiing experience, uniquely spanning both Germany and Austria across 36 kilometres of diverse terrain reaching 1,967 metres above sea level. This remarkable twin-mountain resort combines the German Fellhorn with the Austrian Kanzelwand, creating one of the largest ski areas in the Allgäu Alps with a substantial 1,047-metre vertical drop. The resort excels in providing varied terrain for all abilities, featuring predominantly intermediate runs alongside challenging mogul slopes, ski routes, and two spectacular valley descents stretching up to 5.7 kilometres. Enhanced by comprehensive artificial snowmaking across the entire ski area and positioned within the expansive Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal region, Fellhorn-Kanzelwand offers exceptional snow security and seamless connectivity to over 130 kilometres of interconnected Alpine skiing.
Fellhorn Kanzelwand Resort is a cross-border ski area linking Oberstdorf in Germany with the Kleinwalsertal in Austria, with 26 runs and 36 kilometres of piste. The vertical is 1,047 metres from a 920 metre base to a 1,967 metre summit. Grading is 39% beginner, 56% intermediate and 5% advanced, with no expert pistes, so confident intermediates are well served. Cable cars and gondolas lift skiers from both sides, supported by six-seat chairs and a handful of drag lifts, so the area is easy to reach in either country.
You can start from Oberstdorf on the Fellhornbahn or from Riezlern on the Kanzelwandbahn, and ski across the border between the two peaks. The terrain mixes broad carving pistes above the tree line with sheltered runs lower down, and there is a mogul piste and a snow park for variety. Freeride routes exist off the main slopes but need local knowledge and avalanche awareness. Fellhorn Kanzelwand suits intermediates and families who want a long day with changing scenery rather than steeps. Advanced skiers will find the pistes tame, and experts should look further afield.
Fellhorn-Kanzelwand operates a highly reliable winter season typically running from early December through late March, with exceptional snow security enhanced by one of the Alps' most advanced artificial snowmaking systems covering all 36 kilometres of pistes. The resort benefits from its varied elevation range between 920 and 1,967 metres, creating diverse microclimates that preserve excellent skiing conditions throughout the season. Peak snow conditions typically occur during February, when the resort averages 104 centimetres of snow depth at summit elevation, ranking amongst Germany's top three ski areas for snow reliability. The cross-border location provides strategic weather advantages, with north-facing slopes maintaining superior powder quality whilst the varied aspects ensure consistent skiing regardless of prevailing conditions. The resort's elevated position and comprehensive snowmaking infrastructure guarantee dependable skiing from the first winter storms through the final spring sessions.
Strategically positioned in the heart of the German-Austrian Alpine border region, Fellhorn-Kanzelwand spans from Oberstdorf's Faistenoy district in Bavaria to Riezlern in Austria's Kleinwalsertal valley, approximately 164 kilometres southeast of Munich. The resort enjoys exceptional accessibility with direct train connections from Munich to Oberstdorf taking 2 hours 27 minutes, followed by convenient bus transfers to both the German and Austrian base stations. The unique cross-border configuration allows access from either Faistenoy (0.3 kilometres from the lift) in Germany or Riezlern (0.4 kilometres from the gondola) in Austria, connected by efficient Walserbus services operating every 30 minutes. This distinctive international location positions visitors within the renowned Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal ski region, providing seamless access to seven interconnected mountains and over 130 kilometres of skiing terrain through unified lift pass systems, all whilst experiencing the cultural richness of both Bavarian and Austrian Alpine traditions.
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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.

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.
The lift network at Fellhorn-Kanzelwand showcases cutting-edge Alpine transport technology through 14 sophisticated installations efficiently serving both sides of the international border. From the German Faistenoy base, the modern 8-person Fellhornbahn II gondola system represents Germany's longest single-cable gondola lift at 2,813 metres, featuring LEITNER engineering with a transport capacity of 2,400 passengers per hour and advanced hydraulic tensioning systems. The parallel Fellhorn-Gipfelbahn cable car completes the ascent to the 1,975-metre summit station, whilst from the Austrian Riezlern base, the established 6-person Kanzelwandbahn gondola provides efficient access to the cross-border skiing terrain. The mountain infrastructure includes multiple high-speed 6-person chairlifts equipped with weather-protection covers and heated seating, plus the innovative Bierenwangbahn chairlift installed in 2017, ensuring comfortable uphill transport across all terrain sectors.
More Fellhorn Kanzelwand Resort intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.