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    Switzerland, Europe

    Glacier 3000

    31km pistes, 1,666m vertical, 6.5m annual snow. Magic Pass included. Black Wall 46° pitch. November-April glacier skiing.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    8 Nov 2025
    Closes
    29 Apr 2026
    Days open
    172
    Annual snow
    7m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Glacier 3000 operates between 1,350 and 3,016 metres across 31 kilometres of pistes split into 13 marked runs. The vertical drop measures 1,666 metres, delivering one of Switzerland's most substantial descents from glacier to valley. Terrain distribution allocates 27 per cent to beginners, 38 per cent to intermediates, 25 per cent to advanced skiers and 10 per cent to experts, whilst 6.5 metres of annual snowfall anchors conditions from November through late April. The resort spans three Swiss cantons - Vaud, Bern and Valais - and holds inclusion in the Magic Pass network at CHF 419 for the 2025-26 season.

    Signature descents include the Red Run at eight kilometres and 1,700 metres vertical, the seven-kilometre Combe d'Audon black and the Black Wall, opened in winter 2022-23 with a 46-degree pitch making it Switzerland's steepest groomed piste. Access to Black Wall requires passage through a 265-metre tunnel, the longest ski tunnel in Switzerland. Three T-bars on the Tsanfleuron Glacier serve gentle blue terrain at 3,000 metres, whilst the four-seat Ice Express chairlift links Scex Rouge to the glacier plateau. Off-piste routes descending north through forests to Col du Pillon attract advanced freeriders, though downloading via cable car remains mandatory for novices.

    The Scex Rouge summit station, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta and rebuilt following a 2022 fire, houses Restaurant Botta on the fourth floor with panoramic glazing facing 24 peaks exceeding 4,000 metres including Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Eiger. The 107-metre Peak Walk by Tissot suspension bridge connects two summits at 3,000 metres and ranks as the only peak-to-peak bridge globally. Refuge l'Espace sits at Quille du Diable on the glacier, accessible via a marked walking trail. High-elevation exposure creates weather sensitivity, with winds exceeding 80 kilometres per hour forcing lift closures.

    Magic Pass validity runs 1 November to 30 April, with summer access optional at additional cost. Adult day tickets price at CHF 79, whilst Swiss Travel Pass holders receive 50 per cent discount. The resort links with Villars-Gryon-Diablerets and Leysin under regional pass arrangements. Limited on-piste variety suits the terrain best to strong intermediates and experts comfortable with long, steep descents or extensive off-piste exploration rather than piste-focused intermediates seeking varied groomed cruising.

    1666m
    Vertical
    13
    Runs
    31 km
    Piste
    7m
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    13 runs across 31 km of piste

    Glacier 3000 spreads 13 runs across 31 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 38%, with 4 beginner runs to find your feet and 4 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    13
    runs
    13 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner4 runs · 27%
    Intermediate5 runs · 38%
    Advanced3 runs · 25%
    Expert1 run · 10%
    Time it right

    When to visit Glacier 3000

    The 2025-26 season operates 8 November 2025 through 30 April 2026, delivering nearly six months of skiing. Glacier elevation enables early opening, often by late October in high-snow years, and extends operations into May when conditions permit. Col du Pillon base at 1,546 metres and Scex Rouge summit at 2,971 metres bracket 1,425 vertical metres of lift-served terrain, with skiing possible down to 1,300 metres via the Black Wall. Cable cars run daily 9:00am to 4:50pm with 20-minute intervals, whilst ski lifts operate 9:15am to 4:00pm.

    Annual snowfall averages 6.5 metres, concentrated between December and March. Summit snow depth averages 2.34 metres mid-season with January typically delivering peak accumulation at three metres, whilst base elevations hold minimal natural cover. The resort operates without significant snowmaking infrastructure, relying on natural precipitation and glacier permanence. North-facing aspects on Black Wall and Combe d'Audon retain snow quality into spring. Glacier 3000 ranks among Switzerland's 15 best ski areas for snow reliability according to historical data.

    December through February offers optimal powder skiing during storm cycles, though high-altitude exposure creates harsh conditions in poor weather. March and April deliver spring corn snow with longer days and stable weather patterns, attracting fewer crowds than midwinter. Early season November skiing and late-season April dates suit those avoiding peak periods, when only upper glacier terrain operates. The snowpark typically functions November through March at 3,000 metres elevation.

    The Glacier Run takes place each August, the 18th edition scheduled for 8 August 2026. Summer cable car operations continue for hikers and sightseers, with the Alpine Coaster running June through September. Winter walking paths total 2.4 kilometres, with snowshoe trails extending three kilometres from Scex Rouge. No night skiing operates. The resort closes 19 October to 6 November 2026 for technical maintenance.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    8 Nov 2025
    Opens
    29 Apr 2026
    Closes
    172
    Days open
    7 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Glacier 3000, and where to stay

    Glacier 3000 sits in the Alpes Vaudoises within Canton Vaud, straddling borders with Bern and Valais cantons in western Switzerland. The Tsanfleuron Glacier occupies the upper ski area whilst Col du Pillon pass at 1,546 metres marks the valley station position. The Diablerets massif rises to the east, with the Scex Rouge summit reaching 2,971 metres. Lake Geneva lies 50 kilometres west, whilst the Sarine Valley extends north into Bernese Oberland. The resort operates year-round at 3,000 metres elevation with permanent snow cover.

    Les Diablerets village sits eight minutes by road from Col du Pillon, positioned 1,200 metres above sea level in the Ormont valley. Gstaad resort lies 20 minutes north via Col du Pillon pass, serving as the primary access point from Bernese Oberland. Les Diablerets offers traditional alpine village character with thermal baths, whilst Gstaad delivers upmarket hotels and shopping. Both towns provide accommodation bases, with Les Diablerets favoured for Magic Pass holders accessing Villars-Gryon-Diablerets and Leysin. Route du Pillon 253 marks the official cable car station address.

    Col du Pillon pass road remains open year-round, linking Aigle and Lake Geneva via Les Diablerets from the south with Gstaad and the Saanenland to the north. The 13-kilometre climb from Les Diablerets averages 11 per cent maximum gradient. From Aigle, total drive time reaches 30 minutes; Gstaad requires 20 minutes. Montreux on Lake Geneva sits 45 kilometres south, approximately one hour by car. PostBus line 180 operates hourly between Les Diablerets and Gstaad via Col du Pillon, with free travel for Magic Pass and Glacier 3000 ticket holders between November and April.

    Geneva Airport lies 140 kilometres southwest, requiring two hours by car via A9 motorway to Aigle then Route 11 through Les Diablerets. Zurich Airport sits 200 kilometres northeast, approximately 2.5 hours via A12 through Bern. Bern and Sion regional airports serve smaller aircraft. Rail connections run Geneva-Lausanne-Montreux-Aigle with narrow-gauge transfer to Les Diablerets, whilst Zurich-Bern-Spiez-Zweisimmen reaches Gstaad via GoldenPass Line. The Glacier 3000 Express bus coordinates with GoldenPass Express train arrivals in Gstaad. Total journey from Geneva by rail and bus approximates three hours.

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    Current conditions

    Snow Report
    Updated 23 Aug 2026
    3016m
    summit
    +0cm
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Mainly Clear9°C / 15°C · S 22km/h
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0cm
    48 hours
    1cm
    7 days
    17cm
    Base depth
    0cm
    Season total
    17cm
    Total lifts11

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    8 Nov 2025 - 29 Apr 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 42 hours· Updated Aug 23, 2026 at 6:02 PM
    MonNow1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pTue12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p
    Conditions
    Temp°C · feels
    106
    105
    105
    106
    96
    96
    96
    96
    106
    118
    1210
    1312
    1413
    1413
    1413
    1513
    1513
    1513
    1412
    1211
    118
    117
    106
    107
    106
    106
    97
    97
    97
    96
    86
    86
    86
    96
    97
    107
    108
    119
    1210
    1211
    129
    109
    Snowfallcm
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
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    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
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    0
    Precip chance%
    0%
    0%
    0%
    0%
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    0%
    0%
    0%
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    0%
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    0%
    5%
    40%
    88%
    90%
    80%
    38%
    13%
    28%
    25%
    30%
    30%
    30%
    48%
    55%
    43%
    35%
    15%
    10%
    0%
    8%
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    5%
    8%
    5%
    8%
    11%
    15%
    Precipmm000000000000000000000.51.10.20.10000.88.20.10000000000.10.61.0
    Wind / gustkm/h
    14G44
    14G43
    13G43
    12G39
    11G34
    9G30
    9G28
    10G25
    9G25
    6G22
    3G21
    1G21
    3G18
    4G22
    6G27
    8G28
    7G30
    3G30
    4G24
    5G33
    14G33
    18G34
    22G45
    16G41
    20G48
    16G45
    12G32
    4G29
    6G23
    6G29
    8G34
    8G32
    7G30
    8G34
    10G35
    12G33
    12G40
    12G49
    11G59
    11G67
    11G66
    8G69

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    3,016 mUpdated Aug 23, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0cm

    Days 8–14

    0.0cm

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Mon, Aug 24

    Thunderstorm
    Temp15° / 9°°C
    Snow0.0cm(90%)
    Wind22 km/h S

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Glacier 3000 snow report

    Track current conditions at Glacier 3000 in Switzerland. This report covers snowfall totals, base and summit depth, and the forecast across 13 runs.

    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 1350m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 1666m higher at 3016m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.

    Weather conditions

    Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Glacier 3000 are holding up or starting to soften.

    Data sources

    Snowfall and depth figures for Glacier 3000 come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 11 lifts, including 3 aerial trams and 3 quad chairlifts.

    When to check

    The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Glacier 3000's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.