
Fichtelberg stands as eastern Germany's highest and most significant ski resort, offering 15km of diverse slopes across the beautiful Ore Mountains. Rising to 1,215m, this historic destination combines excellent intermediate terrain with dedicated learning areas and challenging runs through forest sections. The resort maintains its traditional Saxon character while delivering modern skiing amenities and stunning views extending into neighboring Czech Republic.
Fichtelberg is Saxony's biggest ski area, on the highest summit in the Ore Mountains at 1,215 metres above Oberwiesenthal. It has 10 runs covering 15.5 kilometres and a vertical of 304 metres from a base of 911 metres. The grading is 44% beginner, 39% intermediate and 17% advanced, with no expert terrain. Uphill transport is a mix of Germany's oldest cable car, a quad chair and four T-bars. The slopes are open and fairly short, so this is skiing for quick laps and relaxed days rather than big mileage.
Beginners get long, forgiving slopes, intermediates have a few mid-pitch pistes to carve, and the advanced runs add some steepness without becoming extreme. A fun park with a halfpipe gives freestyle riders something to play on. Across the border, Klínovec in the Czech Republic is linked by a joint ski region, which adds variety if you want more terrain. Fichtelberg is a good choice for families, school groups and weekend visitors from eastern Germany, particularly on cold days when snowmaking covers the main slopes. Skiers wanting steep, challenging terrain should look to the Alps.
Fichtelberg typically operates from December through March, with the most reliable conditions in January and February. The resort benefits from substantial natural snowfall, averaging 4-5m annually, complemented by strategic snowmaking on key runs. The predominantly north-facing slopes maintain excellent snow quality throughout the season, often delivering good skiing conditions when lower regions struggle. The Ore Mountains microclimate frequently creates powder opportunities, particularly during cold easterly weather patterns.
Daily snow reports at Fichtelberg go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
Situated on the German-Czech border in Saxony, Fichtelberg sits approximately 150km from Dresden and 90km from Chemnitz. The resort adjoins the historic mining town of Oberwiesenthal, Germany's highest town at 914m. This unique location in the former East Germany provides visitors with insights into the region's rich cultural heritage alongside quality skiing experiences. The surrounding Ore Mountains offer excellent cross-country skiing across a vast network of trails, winter hiking paths, and traditional Christmas markets famous throughout Germany.
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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.

Sulden am Ortler has called off its 31 October opening. The South Tyrol ski area has pushed its 2026/27 start back to Saturday 7 November, citing current weather and snow conditions and saying it will use the extra week to get the slopes in the best possible shape. The season is still scheduled to run through 2 May 2027. Elsewhere in Europe, around a dozen areas are already open, led by Sölden’s 30 kilometres of groomed runs.

Two days at Sölden, two races decided by a hundredth somewhere on the podium, and one very quick Brazilian. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen led from the first run to win the men’s World Cup opener by 0.48 seconds, with Loïc Meillard second and Marco Odermatt third. River Radamus charged from 15th to fourth on a rutted course, and Britain’s Freddy Carrick-Smith banked his first World Cup points. Braathen still hasn’t lost a giant slalom since Olympic gold.

The Alps are about to swap mild, sunny October weather for something far more wintry. A cold front arrives Tuesday, and SnowStash forecasts have Monterosa Ski out in front with 64 cm over 14 days, ahead of Blatten Belalp (55 cm) and Verbier (43 cm). The snow line should fall below 2000 metres by Wednesday night, and glaciers across Switzerland, Italy and Austria are in line for the best of it. The wind will have a say too.

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.
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 26, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Fichtelberg typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from €29, with peak rates up to €39.
Full day lift ticket for adults
Full day lift ticket for children
More Fichtelberg intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.