
Hinterstaufen delivers an authentic Bavarian skiing experience in the Allgäu Alps, with 7km of carefully maintained slopes catering primarily to families and intermediate skiers. This compact resort maintains a traditional Alpine character away from mass tourism, offering uncrowded pistes and spectacular mountain panoramas. The manageable size makes it perfect for beginners and children, while still providing enough variety to keep improving skiers engaged throughout their visit.
Hinterstaufen, home of the Hündle area above Oberstaufen, covers 19 runs and 18 kilometres between 745 metres and 1,170 metres, a vertical of 425 metres. More than half the terrain is beginner-graded at 56%, with 41% intermediate and just 3% advanced, and no expert runs. This is a low-altitude, easygoing hill where learners are well looked after. Uphill transport is a gondola, a six-seater chair, a surface lift and five T-bars, which is plenty for the size of the area and keeps the lines moving without fuss.
Expect long, forgiving blues that wind down towards the valley, with a handful of reds for those who want a bit more pace. A dedicated children's area at the base and a beginner zone higher up make the Hündlebahn a sensible pick for ski school groups and first-timers. Better skiers can still enjoy a few quick laps, but the advanced share is tiny, so keen riders should treat this as a day-trip rather than a destination. Its modest elevation also means conditions depend heavily on recent weather and the snowmaking.
Hinterstaufen typically operates from mid-December through mid-March, with the best snow conditions usually found in January and February. The resort's snowmaking capabilities cover key runs, ensuring reliable skiing throughout the winter despite its relatively moderate altitude. The north-facing slopes hold snow exceptionally well, often maintaining good conditions when other nearby areas experience thawing. The relaxed atmosphere makes it particularly appealing during peak holiday periods when larger resorts face overcrowding.
Located near Oberstaufen in Bavaria's beautiful Allgäu region, Hinterstaufen sits approximately 180km from Munich and 50km from Lake Constance. The resort benefits from easy access via excellent road connections while maintaining its secluded mountain character. This location provides visitors with opportunities to combine skiing with exploration of the charming Allgäu countryside and traditional Bavarian villages. The nearby town of Oberstaufen offers additional attractions including thermal spas and traditional restaurants serving authentic regional cuisine.
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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.

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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.
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 23, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Hinterstaufen typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from €22, with peak rates up to €47.
Full day lift ticket for adults
Full day lift ticket for youth
Full day lift ticket for children
More Hinterstaufen intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.