Ski resorts with the best snow in April

With Easter 2025 falling much later—on April 20th instead of March 31st in 2024—you might be wondering: where are the best places to ski in April? This shift in the school holiday calendar has a direct impact on ski trip planning for British families, who make up a significant proportion of late-season visitors. With warmer temperatures in lower-altitude resorts, ensuring good snow conditions in mid-to-late April becomes a priority.

To help skiers make an informed choice, using data from Skiresort.info and On The Snow,  we’ve analysed 30 of the most popular ski resorts across Europe frequented by UK tourists for the last decade.

We’ve assessed which destinations offer reliable conditions in April for either an Easter ski trip or an April getaway, focusing on factors such as season length, altitude, skiable area, and late-season snowfall.

Here’s what we found.

Top 10 ski resorts open in late April and May

For those seeking an Easter ski holiday or an end-of-season trip, these resorts remain open into late April and early May, ensuring some of the best skiing available at this time of year:

Skiresort.info data Jan 2025, On the Snow data, Jan 2025

Hintertux Glacier in Austria leads the list as a year-round resort, ensuring reliable snow regardless of the season. Meanwhile, Pitztaler Glacier and Cervinia both stay open until early May, making them excellent choices for late-season skiing.

Resorts like Tignes and Val d’Isere, Val Thorens, Chamonix and Les 2 Alpes remain open until early May, offering some of the most reliable conditions for an April or Easter ski trip. These destinations combine high-altitude slopes with excellent snow depth, making them ideal for late-season skiers.

Austria’s Pitztaler Glacier boasts one of the longest ski seasons in Europe, running from late September to early May. Its glacier terrain ensures consistent snow coverage, making it a top pick for skiers looking to maximize their time on the slopes.

While Meribel and Alpe d’Huez close in late April, they offer extensive skiable areas (600 km and 251 km, respectively), making them great options for earlier in the month.

Best snow conditions in April

Skiing in April presents a seasonal challenge as warmer temperatures and melting snow impact conditions at lower altitudes. However, with careful planning, skiers can enjoy exceptional late-season experiences at resorts offering large skiable areas, consistent snow depth, and significant April snowfall.

The following analysis highlights the largest skiable areas, base snow depths, and snowfall trends, along with glacier and high-altitude options for guaranteed snow.

Largest skiable area (km) in April

For those who enjoy exploring expansive terrain, the largest skiable areas in April provide ample opportunities for adventure.

Skiresort.info data Jan 2025, On the Snow data, Jan 2025

First, we have 3 Valleys resorts of Val Thorens and Meribel. As the largest connected ski area in Europe (600km) it’s no surprise to see these are at the top.

Tignes / Val d’Isere, with 265 km of skiable terrain, offers a strong second-tier option with excellent snow retention due to its glacier and high-altitude slopes.

Resorts like St Anton (233 km) and Avoriaz (230 km) also maintain substantial skiable areas well into April, ensuring reliable conditions across a range of terrains.

Smaller but dependable destinations include Les 2 Alpes (160 km, with glacier skiing) and Solden (103 km), both of which combine manageable terrain with excellent snow quality.

Resorts with the best base snow depth (cm) in April

Snow depth is a critical factor in maintaining piste quality during the warmer months. Resorts with deep snow bases provide longer-lasting, well-covered slopes even as temperatures rise.

Snow depth is a critical factor in maintaining piste quality during the warmer months. Resorts with deep snow bases provide longer-lasting, well-covered slopes even as temperatures rise.

Skiresort.info data Jan 2025, On the Snow data, Jan 2025

Pitztaler Glacier tops the list with an impressive 155 cm snow base, followed by Val Thorens (148 cm) and Tignes / Val d’Isere (144 cm), both of which offer reliable snow cover late into spring. Avoriaz (128 cm) and La Rosiere (115 cm) provide solid alternatives for those looking for consistent conditions at slightly lower altitudes.

Even resorts with moderate snow bases, such as Solden (74 cm) and Arabba (69 cm), maintain good piste coverage thanks to their high-altitude settings.

April Snowfall Trends

April snowfall plays a vital role in keeping slopes fresh and replenished as the season nears its end. Resorts with higher snowfall averages offer better skiing conditions and opportunities for fresh powder late in the season.

Top 10 resorts with best average snowfall in April

Skiresort.info data Jan 2025, On the Snow data, Jan 2025

Solden (87 cm) and Pitztaler Glacier (77 cm) lead the pack for April snowfall, making them top choices for fresh powder late in the season. Tignes / Val d’Isere (75 cm) and Chamonix (72 cm) also deliver excellent snowfall levels, ensuring quality skiing even during warmer weather.

Glacier Skiing

Glacier resorts are renowned for their reliable snow conditions, as they are less impacted by springtime melting. Tignes / Val d’Isere, Cervinia, Saas Fee, and Pitztaler Glacier are top picks for skiers seeking consistent snow late into April.

Smaller resorts like Solden also offer glacier skiing, ensuring good coverage even with a slightly lower snow base. For those seeking guaranteed snow and flexibility, Hintertux Glacier, which is open year-round, is an excellent option for April and beyond.

High Altitude Resorts

High-altitude skiing offers the advantage of colder temperatures and more consistent snow coverage in spring. Resorts at the top, with the greatest altitude, like Zermatt (3,899 m), Cervinia (3,480 m), and Val Thorens (3,200 m) are among the best options for late-season reliability.

Hidden gems like Andermatt (2,963 m, with 40 cm of April snow) and Arabba (3,334 m, with a stable snow base of 69 cm) offer excellent conditions in more compact ski areas.

Affordability

When planning a ski trip, affordability is a key consideration for many skiers. Beyond flights and accommodation, the cost of ski passes can significantly influence your overall budget.

Using the price of 6-day ski pass, our research indicates the best options for budget-conscious skiers that still want to maximise on their skiing experience.

Cheapest ski pass with a high % of runs open in April

For those planning an April ski trip, these resorts offer affordable ski passes while maintaining a high percentage of open runs during the late season:

Skiresort.info data Jan 2025, On the Snow data, Jan 2025

For the best balance of price and skiable area in April, Mayrhofen (€295) offers unbeatable value with 90% of its runs still accessible late in the season.

Alpe d’Huez (€320) and Les 2 Alpes (€311) provide affordable glacier skiing options, maintaining over 70% of their slopes open in spring. For those seeking a mix of snow reliability and extensive terrain, Ischgl (€344.5) and Solden (€326) are strong contenders.

La Rosiere (€289) is the cheapest option among the resorts analysed, offering excellent value alongside reliable late-season snow conditions. Bormio (€310) also stands out as a cost-effective choice with excellent terrain.

For skiers looking for affordable glacier skiing, Les 2 Alpes (€311) and Solden (€326) provide both value and snow reliability, ensuring great conditions well into spring.

Ski resorts with a lack of snow cover in April

While April skiing has its advantages, lower-altitude resorts can struggle with snow coverage as the season progresses. For example, Morzine typically has 38% of its skiable area open in April and warmer temperatures can limit the quality of snow.

Similarly, Kitzbuhel, another lower-altitude resort, can experience challenges maintaining its snow cover late in the season, maintaining an average 39% of runs open during this month.

Ski resorts closing early

It’s very unlikely that a ski resort will have no snow at all, especially in April. Most resorts invest heavily in snow-making technology and piste maintenance, ensuring they can keep runs open even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Insurance for a lack of snow

For added peace of mind, some specialist winter sports insurance policies cover a lack of snow. This cover includes compensation if you are not able to ski because there is limited snow. Companies like SportsCover Direct offer specialist ski insurance with provisions for snow shortages.

If all the slopes at your pre-booked resort are closed due to unforeseen conditions, and it’s not possible to transfer to another nearby resort, you may be able to make a claim. This can help cover the cost of unused ski passes, equipment hire, and lessons—so you’re not left out of pocket.

“Ski trips are often a big investment for our customers, but unpredictable weather can sometimes get in the way. That’s why our policy includes cover for a lack of snow, giving skiers and snowboarders that extra protection and to minimise the worry snow conditions can bring.”

Julian Hucks (Managing Director)

It’s important to be aware, however, that here are caveats – all ski lifts in your resort must be closed due to snow shortages, and there must be no other ski resort within a reasonable distance still open.

Hopefully you’ll never need to use this cover, but if the worst happens, you know you can find support, so you can focus on enjoying your trip.

About SportsCover Direct a Specialist Ski Insurance provider

SportsCover Direct have over 30 years of experience as a leading provider of sports travel insurance in the UK, offering specialist cover for active travellers.

Winter Sports Insurance offers specialist cover for skiers and snowboarders travelling abroad. It includes medical and repatriation costs, cancelled and curtailed trips, and more. If you have an existing policy with another provider that doesn’t cover your chosen sport, you can opt for our sports travel insurance bolt-on policy.

Backed by AXA XL, these policies ensure reliability and security wherever your adventures take you.

Find out more about specialist sports travel insurance online!

This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation.