Early-Season Glaciers Open: Snow Returns to the Alps and Scandinavia

• Glacier areas ramp up for 2025–26 season openings.
• Val Senales to open; Pitztal and Sölden due soon.
• Fresh high-altitude snow boosts early-season hopes.
• Galdhøpiggen Glacier reopens—lift-accessed skiing returns to Scandinavia.

Alps

Excitement is building as glacier areas in the Alps prepare to open for the 2025–26 season. Among them, Italy’s Val Senales/Schnalstal will open this weekend, all being well, with Austria’s highest slopes at Pitztal, as well as the Sölden ski area, expected to open at the end of next week. Val Senales reports that early snowfall has created ideal training conditions at 3,212 m, with smooth trails served by the Grawand chairlift. A dedicated free-skiing zone will also be available for recreational skiers.

The technical Leo Gurschler slope is expected to open in early October, drawing elite athletes preparing for the Sölden World Cup opener later in the month. The currently closed Hintertux Glacier is also due to reopen at some point this month, although no date has yet been given.

There’s been more snowfall on glaciers and other high slopes, too—the third in as many weeks—continuing to heighten anticipation for the season ahead. The weekend brought light precipitation above 2,500 m in the Alps, with freezing levels dropping from 3,100 m to 2,600 m. Temperatures ranged from 4°C to 0°C, with limited snowfall on the highest peaks. The start of the new week has seen clearer skies, cooler air, and improved visibility, with freezing levels down to 2,500 m.

Three glacier areas remain open for skiing in Italy and Switzerland. Saas-Fee (140/140 cm / 55/55") currently reports 47% of lifts and 13% of pistes operational. Snow coverage is solid across the glacier, offering reliable early-season conditions, with firm morning snow softening by midday. Neighbouring Zermatt (120/120 cm / 47/47") has 21% of its lifts open and a similar 14 km (9 miles) of piste available. Finally, Italy’s Passo Stelvio (5/70 cm / 2/28") reports 4 of 6 lifts spinning and 5 of 9 km of pistes open. Snow conditions have been reported as powder at times over the past week, thanks to the fresh snowfalls. Terrain is best suited to early-morning, early-season training and technical skiing, with the Livrio–Payer snowcat service running.

Forecast
Unsettled conditions are forecast across the high Alps. Temperatures will cool, with showers and occasional high-altitude snow flurries—especially above 3,000 m. Cloud cover and variable winds will dominate, limiting visibility and ski access intermittently.

Scandinavia

Norway’s highest slopes on the Galdhøpiggen Glacier are set to reopen this weekend, bringing lift-accessed skiing back to Scandinavia after a summer heat closure of about six weeks. Classic early-autumn conditions have prevailed over the past week, with daytime temperatures hovering around 4–6°C while overnight lows dipped to –3°C, helping preserve the snowpack and freshen the surface. Light snowfall over the weekend added a dusting of fresh cover too, with skies remaining mostly cloudy with occasional sun breaks.

Preparations are also under way in Finland, where the preserved snow mounds at Levi and Ruka ski areas are being readied. Both are due to open for their seven-month 2025–26 seasons in just over a fortnight, during the first few days of October.

Forecast
The Galdhøpiggen Glacier will see chilly, unsettled conditions with sleet and snow showers, especially Thursday and Friday, with summit temperatures hovering around –3°C. Winds will ease slightly but remain brisk. Visibility may improve briefly on Saturday under patchy cloud, though snow accumulations will be light.