
Wurmberg stands as northern Germany's largest ski resort, offering 15km of varied terrain across the beautiful Harz Mountains. Rising to 971m, this impressive destination combines excellent intermediate slopes with dedicated learning areas and challenging forest runs. Despite its relatively modest altitude, Wurmberg delivers reliable skiing throughout winter thanks to substantial snowmaking investments, providing genuine mountain experiences just hours from major northern cities.
Wurmberg, above Braunlage in the Harz, is often described as the biggest ski area in northern Germany, with 16 runs over 12.2 kilometres from 565 to 970 metres. The vertical of 405 metres is respectable for the region. The Sanity grading is 82% beginner, 11% intermediate and 7% advanced, so the mountain is mostly easy ground with a short steeper streak. A gondola from Braunlage, a six-seat chair, a quad and three T-bars link the slopes, and extensive snowmaking helps keep the pistes open when natural cover is thin.
The Hexenritt is the piste people talk about, an old, steep descent that is the toughest on the mountain and well beyond most of the other terrain here. Everything else is gentle and wide, so learners and children can ski without much traffic pressure. Those with some experience will enjoy a handful of quicker reds, but the top-to-bottom sensation is short. Wurmberg suits beginners, families and day-trippers from Lower Saxony and beyond, and it is a good first ski area before moving on to bigger mountains in Austria or Switzerland.
Wurmberg typically operates from December through March, with the most reliable conditions in January and February. The resort has invested heavily in snowmaking technology, with extensive coverage ensuring consistent skiing regardless of natural snowfall patterns. The Harz Mountains microclimate often delivers surprising powder days, particularly during cold easterly weather patterns. The comprehensive grooming fleet maintains excellent piste conditions throughout the winter, even during challenging weather periods.
Located in Lower Saxony approximately 120km from Hannover and 170km from Leipzig, Wurmberg offers exceptional accessibility for northern Germany's population centers. The resort sits adjacent to the historic town of Braunlage, providing extensive accommodation and dining options. This central location within the Harz Mountains makes it an ideal destination for weekend trips and longer winter holidays. The surrounding Harz National Park offers additional winter activities including extensive cross-country skiing, winter hiking, and historic mining towns showcasing authentic northern German traditions.
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Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.

Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.

Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.

Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.

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.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

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.
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