Late-season skiing comes with days that are longer and warmer. Depending on the destination, the snowpack is even deeper thanks to plentiful snowstorms. When you aren’t ready for ski season to come to an end, look to destinations at higher elevations or those known to have superior snowpacks. Here are some snow-sure destinations to charter a flight to ski in the late winter and spring.
Late-Season Ski Destinations
Åre, Sweden
Sweden’s largest downhill resort, Åre features three separate ski areas and a season that ends in April. The resort is popular with families because of the number of off-slope activities, including snowmobiling, curling, skating, ice fishing, and reindeer and dog sled rides. Most of the runs at Åre are green and blue, making them great for beginning and intermediate skiers. However, there are a few challenging runs for advanced skiers, along with red and black lines of kickers, boxes, fat-pipes, and rails. Åre is also open at night.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
With an abundance of activities and terrain for expert skiers, Whistler Blackcomb is known as one of the biggest and best ski resorts in the world with 8,171 skiable acres. The resort’s PEAK 2 PEAK gondola—the largest unsupported cable car in the world at the time of publication—connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain, making it simple to navigate. At the resort, you’ll find more than 100 trails, with the longest running seven miles and descending more than 5,000 vertical feet. All this comes with exceptional high alpine bowl skiing and great views.
Chamonix, France
A “bucket list” destination and the oldest ski resort in France, Chamonix, or Cham’, is where mountains rule and the Mont Blanc glaciers rise 12,500 feet above the valley. The runs are best suited for advanced skiers, and high-glacier runs are often best in the late season. Chamonix has five main ski areas, including a free-ride playground you may access via the upper cable car in the Argentière/Les Grands Montets area. Taking the two-stage Aiguille du Midi cable car from town to the resort rewards you with magnificent views and a launch pad for Vallée Blanche. For more intermediate pistes, check out Sunny Brévent-Flégère and the gentler Le Tour/Vallorcine. If you’re a beginner, don’t let the grandeur of the French Alps intimidate you. The trails at Les Houches, Le Tour, and La Flegere are designed just for you.
Breckenridge, Colorado, USA
Best known for family vacations, ski-in-ski-out access, and terrain parks, Breckenridge has nearly 3,000 acres of terrain for all skill levels. The world-famous, first-rate terrain parks and half-pipes are the places to practice hit jumps and freestyle tricks. As a result, it’s common to see professionals training.
Cervinia, Italy
If you’re an intermediate-level skier, Cervinia won’t disappoint. Located on the Italian side of the Matterhorn, at the foot of Mount Cervino, the resort features 93 miles of ski terrain, incredible views and a season that runs through the beginning of May. The sunny destination is connected to Zermatt, making it simple to venture to the Swiss side of the mountain’s 224 miles of skiing. Perfectly groomed runs make Cervinia heaven to intermediate skiers. Advanced skiers will be thrilled exploring the legendary off-piste routes. Because the resort sits at 6,700 feet and rises to 12,800 feet, snow conditions remain good late into the season.
Other Great Late-Season Ski Destinations
- Squaw Valley, California, USA
- Mammoth Mountain, California, USA
- Big White, British Columbia, Canada
- Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
- Sunshine Village, Alberta, Canada
- Andermatt, Switzerland
- Zermatt, Switzerland
- Engelberg, Switzerland
- Saas-Fee, Switzerland
- Tignes, France
- Val Thorens, France
- Obergurgl, Austria
- Anton, Austria