The ski season is drawing to a close in Italy: following the lift closures on April 7 and the upcoming closures on April 14, most ski resorts will close their doors for the season, leaving behind a winter blessed with abundant snow and perfectly snow-covered slopes right from the start of the season.
While most ski resorts have closed or are about to close, other ski areas continue working to extend this great ski season, as optimal snow conditions and favorable temperatures prolong operations across many parts of both the Alps and the Apennines.
Snow enthusiasts will be able to keep skiing until the first days of May, when the winter season will finally wrap up and summer skiing will begin.
Livigno
“Little Tibet” will continue its ski season until May 1 without any interruption in lift operations. Snow conditions are optimal both in the Carosello ski area and in the nearby Mottolino ski area, where major snowboarding events will also be staged in the coming days.
Its high elevation guarantees ideal temperatures that make Livigno the perfect destination for spring skiing—a favorite choice for countless snow lovers who find full winter conditions, well-groomed slopes, and an extraordinary panorama from 3,000 meters of altitude in the Lombardy resort.
Cervinia
In Cervinia, skiing never stops—from the long winter across the vast ski area at the foot of the Matterhorn right through to summer, when skiers have fun on the snow even while cities swelter in scorching heat. The ski lifts will remain open until May 5, with skiing available up to Plateau Rosà, a glacier located on Swiss territory that can also be reached from the Italian side thanks to the Cervinia cable car.
Solda
While during winter this ski resort is sometimes overshadowed by its rivals in Alto Adige, in spring Solda all’Ortles gets its revenge.
Thanks to ski lifts reaching 3,000 m of altitude, you can ski in excellent snow conditions until early May. Its standout strengths are undoubtedly the quality of the snow cover and the extraordinary scenery that make skiing in this area a unique experience.
Val Senales
Alongside Solda, Val Senales is another benchmark ski destination in Alto Adige: its glacier has always been a meeting point for countless snowboarders who find abundant snow here right up until summer. New for 2013 is the lift company’s decision not to open for summer skiing, so the season will end on May 5 ahead of next winter.
Presena and Paradiso
The Presena glacier is getting ready to welcome skiers who during this winter were not always able to reach it easily due to heavy snowfalls that frequently forced the temporary closure of the chairlift and other lifts.
The glacier will remain open until May 9, after which the summer ski season will begin, allowing skiing into July as well. Thanks to favorable conditions, skiing will also be possible on the Paradiso slope until April 30. (download the €5 discount voucher for a daily ski pass)
Cortina
Cortina d’Ampezzo will be the last ski resort in the Dolomites to close this 2012/2013 ski season. Reaching nearly 3,000 meters of altitude, the Faloria Ski Area will allow skiing in the magnificent Dolomites until May 1 with perfect snow and slope conditions. No trucks needed to haul snow up to high altitude: this spring, snow is plentiful and the final runs of the season will take place on natural snow in Dolomiti Superski.
Campo Imperatore
In addition to the famous Alpine winter resorts, a historic Apennine ski destination has also gone the extra mile by extending its lift operations until May 1 (and, conditions permitting, until May 5): Campo Imperatore, the Gran Sasso ski area.
The ski slopes are reached via the cable car starting at 1,000 m, which carries skiers up to the ski area at 1,900 meters of altitude where snow lasts well into late spring. This winter’s snowfalls will allow the resort to continue its season non-stop until early May—great news for anyone looking for a spring ski destination in central Italy.
The ski areas listed above will close their season for good only with the arrival of May, offering daily skiing right through the end of April. However, there are also many ski areas that—given the abundant snow reserves—have decided to open on a special basis every weekend of the month (barring adverse weather).
Among them, it is worth mentioning Macugnaga, Aprica, Prato Nevoso, San Domenico, and Asiago Monte Verena, as well as Apennine resorts such as Monte Cimone, Corno alle Scale, and Abetone.
While last winter many skiers were forced to hang up their skis as early as mid-March, this year the season will continue smoothly right into the first days of May.
To report other resorts open until May, leave a comment below
No comments yet