The Overview
Willingen stands as one of central Germany's most impressive ski destinations, offering 16km of varied terrain across the beautiful Sauerland highlands. This popular resort delivers exceptional facilities including night skiing, extensive snowmaking, and diverse runs suitable for all ability levels. Despite its relatively modest altitude, Willingen consistently provides reliable skiing conditions throughout winter, with excellent grooming maintaining quality pistes even during busy periods.
260m
Vertical
19
Runs
16 km
Piste
2m
Annual snow
The Terrain
19 runs across 16 km of piste
Willingen spreads 19 runs across 16 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 56%, with 8 beginner runs to find your feet.
Terrain split
19
runs
19 runs across 4 grades
Beginner8 runs · 44%
Intermediate11 runs · 56%
Advanced0 runs · 0%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Willingen
The ski season at Willingen typically extends from December through March, with the most consistent conditions in January and February. The resort has invested heavily in snowmaking technology, with extensive coverage ensuring reliable skiing regardless of natural snowfall patterns. The Sauerland microclimate often delivers surprising powder days, while the comprehensive grooming fleet maintains excellent piste conditions throughout the winter. Night skiing under floodlights extends the skiing day well into the evening on select runs.
Season 2025 - 2026
4 Jan 2026
Opens
16 Mar 2026
Closes
71
Days open
2 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Willingen, and where to stay
Located in Hesse approximately 150km northeast of Cologne and 170km from Frankfurt, Willingen offers exceptional accessibility from Germany's western population centers. The resort surrounds the vibrant town of Willingen, providing extensive accommodation, dining, and après-ski options. This central location makes it an ideal weekend destination, with excellent train connections from major cities. The surrounding region offers additional winter activities including cross-country skiing, winter hiking, and Germany's largest ski jumping facility regularly hosting World Cup events.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Willingen, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Willingen Webcams
5 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Willingen's live webcams
Check live conditions across Willingen with 5 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Willingen/Talstation Ettelsberg-Seilbahn596m
- Willingen/Kurhotel Hochsauerland 2010594m
- Willingen/Skywalk730m
- Ettelsberg841m
- Willinger Brauhaus585m
Willingen snow cams FAQ
How often do Willingen snow cams update?
All Willingen snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Willingen.
Which Willingen webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Ettelsberg webcam at 841m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Willingen webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Willingen lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Willingen snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Willingen snow cams?
Check Willingen webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Willingen lift tickets?
Use our Willingen webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Willingen webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Willingen snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Willingen intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.