
Hocheck offers an accessible skiing experience in Upper Bavaria, with 8km of well-maintained slopes catering primarily to families and intermediate skiers. This compact resort combines excellent learning terrain with several more challenging runs, all within easy reach of Munich. The uncrowded pistes and authentic Bavarian character make Hocheck particularly appealing for those seeking quality skiing without traveling to distant Alpine destinations, while the reliable snow conditions ensure consistent experiences throughout winter.
Hocheck spreads 8 runs across 8 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 3 beginner runs to find your feet and 1 advanced or expert run when you want to push.
Hocheck typically operates from December through March, with the most reliable conditions in January and February. The resort has invested in extensive snowmaking technology, with coverage ensuring consistent skiing regardless of natural snowfall patterns. The predominantly north-facing slopes maintain good snow quality throughout the season, preserving conditions after storms. The relaxed atmosphere makes it particularly appealing during weekends when larger resorts face overcrowding.
Located near Oberaudorf in Upper Bavaria, Hocheck sits approximately 80km from Munich and just 15km from the Austrian border. The resort enjoys a beautiful position with views extending into the Tyrolean Alps. This accessible location makes it extremely popular for day trips from Munich and the surrounding regions. The charming town of Oberaudorf provides excellent accommodation options and traditional dining serving authentic Bavarian specialties in a truly picturesque Inn Valley setting.
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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.

Brian Head is targeting 6 November, though last year it aimed for 7 November and did not open until the 25th. Park City, Alta and Solitude are pencilled in for 20 November, Snowbird and Snowbasin for 27 November, and Deer Valley for 5 December. Eagle Point will stay closed after the Cottonwood Fire. A super El Niño is forecast, but the big snow is not expected until January.

Hintertux became Austria's second glacier to open for 2026-27 on Friday 2 October, after the Pitztal Glacier. Twelve kilometres of piste are running around the Olperer and Gefrorene Wand, served by one gondola and two drag lifts, with the Betterpark also open. Lifts officially run 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, but skiing stops at 2 pm for now.

A historically poor western winter cut Vail Resorts' annual net income from $280 million to $147.5 million and skier visits by 13.4 per cent. Now 2026-27 pass units are down 12 per cent as of 18 September, worse than the 10 per cent flagged in spring. Vail blames the weather and thinks some buyers are simply waiting, and it forecasts a rebound if the snow behaves.

Arizona Snowbowl advertised eight $1 lift ticket days this winter. Go looking and only three are showing - 10 March, 1 April and 10 April - so the rest may already have gone. The consolation is a calendar full of $9 days, including all but one day in April. Opening day is 20 November, weather permitting, and opening weekend is $19.

For years, Whitewater's Short Side was where you ducked a rope and hoped for the best: unmapped, ungroomed and unpatrolled. This winter it's inbounds. Six new runs of glades and fall-line skiing add 190 acres (about 77 hectares), taking the resort past 1,400 acres in total. F2 Logging spent a month in the trees to make it happen, and opening day is pencilled in for 4 December. Bonanza now needs less snow to groom, too.

Mammoth got its first snow of 2026-27 on Monday 28 September - and promptly lost it by Tuesday morning. Barely an inch fell at McCoy Station, but with opening day pencilled in for Friday 13 November, it's the first sign the Sierra is waking up. Last year's date slipped from 14 November to 20 November, so nobody's booking flights on a dusting just yet. Here's where California's early openers stand.
The 2025 - 2026 season at Hocheck closed on Mar 6, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from €17, with peak rates up to €30.
Full day lift ticket for adults
Full day lift ticket for youth
Full day lift ticket for children
More Hocheck intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.