
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm): 63km slopes on Europe's largest alpine meadow. UNESCO Dolomites, car-free plateau, 21 lifts. Family skiing paradise.
Spanning 56 square kilometres at elevations between 1,680 and 2,350 metres, Alpe di Siusi claims the distinction as Europe's largest high-altitude alpine meadow, offering 63 kilometres of immaculately groomed runs across a stunning plateau in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. The ski area's extraordinary natural beauty within the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites landscape features iconic peaks including Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, and the distinctive Sciliar massif creating dramatic backdrops for every descent.
Wide, gently rolling slopes with predominantly intermediate terrain make this an exceptional destination for families and developing skiers, whilst connections via the Alpina Express gondola link seamlessly to Val Gardena's extensive network, creating a combined 181 kilometres of skiing. The plateau benefits from comprehensive snowmaking covering 98% of marked runs, complementing the area's 300 days of annual sunshine that define this unique South Tyrolean skiing destination.
Alpe di Siusi, or Seiser Alm, is a broad, rolling Dolomite plateau where the skiing is about space and sunshine rather than steeps. Sanity records 74 runs over 63 kilometres, a 993-metre vertical drop and a summit of 2,220 metres. The grading is very much mid-level: 24% beginner, 71% intermediate and just 5% advanced, with no expert terrain. Runs are wide and flowing, so improving skiers can open up their turns without the pressure of narrow chutes. Most of the lifts are six-seat and quad chairs, and the open slopes sit beneath the Sciliar and Sassolungo massifs.
Expect easy-going laps across the plateau, with the Florian chair from Saltria opening up the Zallinger side and the Piz and Spitzbühl areas offering slightly longer red runs with views across to the Sciliar. A link through Ortisei joins the Val Gardena network, which adds steeper pistes for anyone wanting more bite. There are no recognised freeride zones, and the few advanced runs are short. This is the one to choose for families, beginners moving up to blues and reds, and relaxed intermediates who value scenery and long, gentle descents over a challenge.
The 2025/26 season operates from 6 December 2025 through 6 April 2026, with peak snow conditions typically occurring from January through early March across the predominantly south-facing plateau. Comprehensive snowmaking covering 98% of marked terrain ensures consistent conditions throughout winter despite the sunny aspect that characterises this high-altitude meadow.
Operations typically concentrate on central routes in early December before expanding across the entire 63-kilometre network by late December. Spring delivers exceptional skiing from mid-March through early April with firm morning snow softening perfectly by mid-morning, complemented by increasing sunshine hours and spectacular Dolomite panoramas. The season concludes with traditional South Tyrolean cultural celebrations showcasing the region's distinctive blend of Italian and Austrian heritage.
Situated 20 kilometres northeast of Bolzano in South Tyrol, Alpe di Siusi maintains extraordinary tranquillity through strict traffic limitations restricting private vehicles between 9am and 5pm, creating an almost entirely car-free alpine environment. The plateau sits dramatically surrounded by UNESCO World Heritage Dolomite peaks within the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, accessible via cable car connections from Ortisei in Val Gardena and Siusi allo Sciliar.
Villages including Castelrotto, Siusi allo Sciliar, and Fiè allo Sciliar provide authentic South Tyrolean accommodation with distinctive architecture reflecting the region's trilingual culture where Italian, German, and Ladin coexist. Bolzano Airport lies 35 kilometres distant, whilst Innsbruck, Venice, and Verona airports all sit within three hours' drive, ensuring straightforward international access to this peaceful alpine sanctuary.
Hotels and lodges near Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), powered by Stay22.

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.
The lift infrastructure comprises 21 strategically positioned installations including one gondola, six six-person chairlifts, six quad chairs, four double chairs, and three surface lifts efficiently serving the expansive plateau terrain. The Alpina Express gondola provides the crucial connection from Ortisei in Val Gardena, whilst the Seiser Alm cable car from Siusi allo Sciliar offers direct access from the valley.
Modern detachable chairlifts feature protective weather bubbles and heated seats, significantly enhancing comfort during colder periods whilst maintaining the area's distinctive "sci ai piedi" philosophy—skiing without removing equipment between lifts. The network handles 20,000 skiers hourly with minimal queuing, whilst strategic lift placement minimises walking distances and preserves the plateau's natural tranquillity through thoughtful environmental integration.
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