Germany, Europe
Willingen
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
4 Jan 2026
Closes
16 Mar 2026
Days open
71
Annual snow
2m
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
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
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business
Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.
25 Aug 2026
Willingen Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 2 Sept 2026
838m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Partly Cloudy13°C / 19°C · W 27km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
0cm
Total lifts12
Live open status isn’t available right now.
4 Jan 2026 - 16 Mar 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 40 hours· Updated Sep 2, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
838 mUpdated Sep 2, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.0cm
Thu, Sept 3
Slight Rain Showers
Temp19° / 13°°C
Snow0.0cm(40%)
Wind27 km/h W
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Willingen snow report
Willingen snow conditions, updated regularly: current snowfall, snow depth, temperatures, and the outlook for this Germany resort.
Snow measurements
Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 578m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 260m higher at 838m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.
Weather conditions
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Willingen's base and summit.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Willingen come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 12 lifts, including a 8-person chairlift and a 6-person chairlift.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.