Tignes, France, opening in 3 weeks time... has snow!
Where to Ski in November 2025
Austria and Switzerland are leading Europe's early ski season, each with seven glacier resorts already open and fresh October snowfall boosting conditions. France has yet to begin operations.
Scandinavia has a handful of early openers, mostly using stored snow, with major resorts across Finland, Norway, and Sweden scheduled to start from late November as temperatures drop further.
In North America, Canada and the U.S. are preparing for imminent openings, with several Rocky Mountain resorts targeting early November and strong pre-season snowfall reported in key regions.
In Asia, Japan is set to open its big resorts in late November, though early-season slopes at Mount Fuji and Shiga Kogen are expected to operate soon thanks to all-weather snowmaking.
Europe
Austria
Austria had more ski areas open in October than any other country, thanks to its seven active glacier destinations. Switzerland is now neck-and-neck with seven open as well. Both countries experienced snowfall in October, with significant accumulations in the final week.
Austrian areas are hosting early-season terrain parks, new season gear testing, and other events throughout the month.
Kitzbühel is expected to open a few kilometres of terrain on the 7th using farmed snow from last season. Axamer Lizum, Obergurgl, and Obertauern should be the first non-glacier resorts to open around the 20th, with mass resort openings beginning on the final weekend of November.
France
France currently has no ski centres open. Unless there is more significant snowfall, the French 2025-26 season is expected to start on the 22nd, with Tignes and Val Thorens opening then.
The following weekend should see several more ski regions join them, including the Milky Way (Via Lattea) around Montgenevre, the first lifts in the Chamonix Valley, Alpe d'Huez, and Les 2 Alpes, which will begin the country's longest season through to next July.
The final week of October saw substantial snow accumulations above 2,000 m/6,562 ft, raising anticipation for the season.
Italy
Italy starts November with glacier skiing still available at the summer ski area Passo Stelvio, but this is likely to end in a week or two.
Glacier skiing is also available at Val Senales, which began its season in September, and Cervinia, which reopened for the final week of October.
The snowsure Sulden opened on November 1st, and the Presena Glacier above Passo Tonale is expected to join in the coming weeks.
The Dolomiti Superski area plans to start opening from the final weekend on November 29, 2025, weather permitting, with openings in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Kronplatz, 3 Zinnen, Val di Fiemme–Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza–Passo Rolle, Alpe Lusia–San Pellegrino, and Civetta all planned. Separately, Madonna di Campiglio should also open around then.
Switzerland
Switzerland begins November with seven glacier and snow-farmed areas already open.
Saas Fee and Zermatt have been operating since the summer, joined last month by the Titlis glacier at Engelberg and the Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz. There is also a terrain park and ski run open on the Schilthorn above Murren. Limited terrain near Adelboden and cross-country terrain at Davos are already open.
A few dozen more Swiss ski areas will open through November, with Glacier 3000 near Gstaad, Andermatt, and Arosa expected to do so by the 15th if conditions allow.
With glaciers receiving up to 50 cm/19.7 inches of snowfall in the final week of October, Verbier announced it would open nearly a month earlier than planned, on November 1st.
Scandinavia
A handful of ski areas are already open in Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and many more are likely to open this month. However, there is not much urgency as it is getting very cold and dark later in the month.
Levi and Ruka have been open for a month in Finland, initially using farmed snow from last season but now with natural snowfall and fresh snowmaking. Sweden's Kabdalis opened using the same technique, while the highest slopes at the Galdhopiggen summer ski area in Norway are open but set to close for 2025 by mid-month.
Most of the region's major resorts will open on the final two weekends of November (22nd or 29th), including Voss, Geilo, Åre, Hafjell, Kvitfjell, and Trysil.
North America
Canada
Canada's 2025-26 season is expected to start imminently, with resorts around the famous ski town of Banff—Lake Louise and Sunshine—all targeting dates about a week into the month. Fellow Albertan resorts Mount Norquay, Nakiska, and Marmot Basin near Jasper hope to open around the same time.
North America's largest resort, Whistler Blackcomb, is aiming for the 21st, and on the East Coast, Sommet Saint-Sauveur should also be open by mid-month.
Conditions have been promising through October, with regular snowfalls around Banff and Jasper, and some big accumulations of up to 30 cm/11.8 inches in 24 hours reported on the slopes of British Columbia.
USA
Last month, the western United States experienced cold enough temperatures for snowmaking and some natural snowfall to start the season. Keystone was the first to open, with two miles of terrain available from 3 pm on the final Saturday of last month. Winter Park became the third to open on Halloween, its earliest-ever season start.
Now in November, many resorts are aiming to open on specified dates, with Copper Mountain giving the earliest on the 6th. Major resorts like Breckenridge and Mammoth are due to follow within the week, and most big US destination resorts will try to open at least some terrain ahead of the key Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the end of the month. The Pacific Northwest has reported the most pre-season snowfall, with up to two feet of fresh snow in the last week of October.
Asia
Japan
Japan's major ski resorts typically open in the final few days of November, snow permitting. However, a few areas, such as the small Yeti centre on the lower slopes by Mount Fuji and a part of the Shiga Kogen ski area, use all-weather snowmaking machines to create gentle slopes through November, and both are expected to open imminently.