Skiing in Summer: Five Alpine Glaciers Where the Snow Endures

While beaches fill with umbrellas and cities swelter under heat waves, residual winter lingers high in the Alps. This weekend, the iconic Saas-Fee glacier in Switzerland opens its summer slopes, joining those already active and bringing the total number of European resorts offering summer skiing to five.

The five open resorts:

• Hintertux, Austria
• Tignes, France (closes July 20)
• Passo Stelvio and Cervinia, Italy (shared with Zermatt)
• Zermatt, Switzerland (shared with Cervinia)

The Challenge of Snow in Times of Heat

This summer has been challenging for glaciers. June marked a historic record: the entire Alpine range remained above 0ºC, even at its peaks. On Mont Blanc, the Colle Major (4,750 m) registered a temperature of +3.7ºC on June 28, and in Switzerland, a high alert for natural phenomena due to melting was activated.

Yet, the resorts persevere. Teams work tirelessly to preserve the slopes, extend thermal blankets over the snow, and adapt schedules and routes so that summer skiing remains possible, even if it becomes slightly more difficult each year.

Ski While You Can

Conditions for gliding over a glacier in July are increasingly fragile, which is why those who experience it speak of an almost magical experience, tinged with adrenaline and nostalgia.

"Go to the glacier while you still can" is a refrain among veteran skiers and snow enthusiasts. And it's no exaggeration: each year, opening periods are shorter and glaciers more vulnerable.

Snow at Other Latitudes

While Europe experiences summer, winter advances in the Southern Hemisphere. Resorts in Australia, Argentina, and Chile are already in full season. And in Norway, the Galdhøpiggen and Stryn glaciers remain open, also defying Scandinavian heat.

The Alpine summer offers something unique: skiing while the valley blossoms, high-altitude training, or simply contemplating the ice from a different perspective, aware of its value and fragility.

The summer glacier season is open. Will you ascend?