Yes, you can still ski this summer

Where can you still ski between mid-May and mid-November?

Now, we know that western Canadian ski resorts boast some long seasons, but in summer 2022 Mount Washington and Sunshine village in late June and early July, respectively. That is almost unheard of! (Historical note: the last time Mt. Washington opened up for Father's Day was 2011.)

Sadly, no such luck this year—but we can always hope for early November openings! (For the curious, check out 2023-24 opening dates here.)

But back to business: aside from the rare bonus weekend, or backcountry touring, you’ve got a few options for lift-accessed skiing in the west and beyond. Let’s break them down.

Skiing in the Northern Hemisphere

In the northern hemisphere, in North America and Europe, ski resorts typically run from mid-November to early May, with a few exceptions. Want to know which resorts have the longest seasons? You can find that here. But after May long weekend, only a few ski areas re-open for summer skiing.

Summer skiing in North America  

Hortsmann Glacier (Blackcomb Mountain), Whistler BC
Whistler’s glacier season is closed to the public, but advanced skiers and boarders can sign up for a camp to get in some summer training (experts only).

Timberline Lodge, Mt Hood OR
Timberline is North America's longest ski season, with a regular season from November to mid-May, and summer skiing typically until the start of September. That's 10 months of skiing a year!

The Palmer Express operates spring and summer only. This is the freestyle training grounds for many elite athletes in summer months.

Mammoth Mountain, California
With the massive record snowfalls in California, Mammoth Mountain is open for its annual "second season" for 2023, from July through August 6, 2023. 

Summer skiing in Europe 

If you’re heading to Europe for summer vacation, you may want to consider packing your ski gear. There are a number of resorts throughout the Alps, in Austria (Hintertux, Kitzsteinhorn, Stubai), France (Tignes, Les Deux Alpes), Italy (Cervinia) and Switzerland (Zermatt, Saas-Fee) that have glacier skiing in the summer.

Skiing in the Southern Hemisphere

Sure it’s scientifically obvious, but isn’t it still a little disorienting to imagine half the world is in winter while the northern hemisphere enjoys summer? (Want to talk ski obsession? I knew a ski patroller who used this to his benefit, flipping between New Zealand and Canada to live in a perpetual winter for several years).

Once you get over the present moment bias, though, it’s possible to imagine a summer holiday to a winter destination. If you’re jonesing hard for some real winter skiing between June and October, check out the ski season in South America, New Zealand or Australia.

Other summer ski and snowboard options

Like I mentioned off the top, you don’t need snow to ski or ride although it’s obviously the preferred option. There are indoor dry slopes in the US, UK and Dubai, and Candide Thovex has proven that you can ski outdoors almost anywhere there’s a bit of slope.

If you need some inspiration, here’s Candide, skiing pretty much every surface known to man.

For most of us mortals, though, a soft or slippery surface such as sand or scree helps. SnowSeekers writer Nancy Shields wrote about gravel skiing in a 2018 story on summer skiing, and I once took my skis along on a summer holiday to Saskatchewan to ski The Great Sand Hills. 

These are uncontrolled areas with hazards to consider, and not dedicated ski areas, so mostly they are found by word of mouth or via Warren Miller segments like this one:

While indoor skiing or sand skiing hit the main criteria, the experience is more of a novelty than a true snow skiing or snowboarding experience. My day at the Sand Hills was gritty and unexceptional skiing. Steeper, longer pitches would have made it better. 

But it was still skiing, and an experience I will always remember. And I have never complained about snow conditions since.

In the end, skiing is skiing. If you score some summer turns this season, share the word with us here at SnowSeekers on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter - we’ll be cheering you on!