Leo Drouet testing the snow at Les Arcs, France. picture (c) Salomon
Where to Ski in April 2026
April is when most northern-hemisphere ski areas finish their seasons, most by mid-month, though several hundred make it into the latter half and a chunk continue into May. This year looks above average in the Alps after one of the season's snowiest weeks to end March, OK in Scandinavia, fairly normal in much of eastern Europe and Japan, and most of Canada, with a few centres still open in Scotland.
Europe
Austria
Austria was one of the last parts of Europe to see significant March snowfall after a northwesterly airflow brought Arctic air and a good slope refresh in the final week of the month. In fact, most parts of Austria had their snowiest week of the season in that final week of the month.
That said, more than half of Austria's ski centres, mainly the smaller, lower resorts, had ended their seasons before the end of March and many of the rest will close on the first few weekends of April. Most of the country's seven glacier ski areas will continue into May, as will a few snow-sure destinations without glaciers, such as Ischgl.
France
It looks like a great April in the French Alps, with average snow depths about 40% above the long-term norm and among the world's deepest. Although there were warm spring temperatures through the latter half of March, wintery fronts moved through every few days, slowing the thaw. In fact, the final week of March brought over 1 m/3 ft of new snow to high terrain.
Most of the country's famous ski areas report 85-95% of their terrain still open as April starts, with the 3 Valleys at 96%. Larger French areas will be open at least through the Easter holidays, with several - including Grands Montets above Argentière in the Chamonix Valley, Tignes, Les 2 Alpes and Val Thorens - open into May.
Italy
Italy has had a mixed season, with slightly sub-par snowfall overall (typical base depths are currently about 90% of the long-term average for early April), while some areas, particularly along the northwestern and northeastern borders, fared better. It has also been a special season with the Paralympics last month and the first Winter Olympics in Western Europe for 20 years, and the country introduced a law making helmet use on slopes mandatory for all.
April looks fairly usual: most centres will close by mid-month but some will carry on later and a few, including Cervinia and Cortina, continue into May.
Switzerland
Swiss centres are in good shape as April starts. The largest area, the 4 Valleys, reports more than 95% of its slopes open and snow depths are up to around 3 m/10 ft at Saas-Fee. The country enjoyed spring conditions in the latter half of March but with occasional temperature dips and snowfall that slowed the thaw. As with the rest of the Alps, most Swiss areas will close by mid-April but some with higher terrain, including Samnaun and Zermatt, will continue into May.
Pyrenees and Spain
Ski areas in the Pyrenees and the wider Iberian peninsula are reporting some of their best spring snow depths in years. April starts with snow lying up to 4 m/13 ft deep in the French Pyrenees and down at Europe's most southerly ski area, Sierra Nevada near the Mediterranean. It is not much less in Andorra and the Spanish Pyrenees.
Most ski areas in the region tend to close by mid-April but some have been known to keep skiing into early May when snow depths are as good as this year, though that remains to be seen. As it is, most areas start April with almost all of their terrain open, a rare thing in recent years.
Scandinavia
There are mixed reports from Scandinavia. March was pretty cold with regular snow showers, especially in Norway and up in Lapland, while the Alps turned springlike. Norwegian media have reported a thin snowpack all season and said some areas may close earlier than usual as a result. Most leading Scandi centres stay open through April or much of the month. Some, including Finland's Levi and Ruka and spring-skiing-only centre Sweden's Riksgransen, stay open well into May.
Eastern Europe
Most ski areas in eastern Europe close at the end of March or start of April as the season winds down, because mountains there are at lower altitudes than those further west. It has been a mixed winter with some good cold spells and snowfalls, but also some dry, mild spells. Conditions are about average for the time of year and there is a real spring/end-of-season feel to centres still open. Bulgaria's Bansko and Borovets intend to stay open through the Easter fortnight, with Bansko reporting base depths of around 2 m/7 ft on its higher terrain.
Scotland
Scotland has had one of its best seasons this century but only two centres have continued operating into April, Cairngorm and Glencoe. They've endured a windy March but been rewarded by regular snowfalls on their upper slopes, where most open terrain is. At Glencoe it is best suited to good intermediates and above. Unusually, Glenshee and The Lecht appear not to be using their all-weather snowmaking to open limited terrain for Easter and Nevis Range is not open either, although all three could reopen if April brings a dramatic return of winter.
North America
Canada
It looks pretty good across Canada. There was some springlike weather in late March, but temperatures remained predominantly below zero and there was significant snowfall too. Base depths are good in the west, led by Revelstoke with a 3 m/10 ft base on its upper slopes. The snow cover means most areas in Alberta and British Columbia remain 80-100% open. Most Canadian resorts will end their seasons by mid-April but some, like the three ski areas around Banff, Marmot Basin near Jasper and Whistler Blackcomb on the Pacific Coast, will continue through the month and sometimes into May.
The east coast had a lot of wintry weather in March and bases are about average; Sommet Saint-Sauveur in Quebec is usually the last area open into May.
USA
The western US has had its worst season in memory, with mild temperatures and limited snowfall in most areas. Although there had been hopes of a late-season switch to wintery weather, the latter half of March instead brought new record levels of heat in the Rockies and on the west coast, leading to ski areas closing up to a month early and those still open being forced to cut terrain. Big names including Deer Valley and Park City have already closed.
In short, this is not the year to plan an April ski trip in the West unless there is a miraculous late return to winter. There is some snow forecast for the start of April, but it looks too little too late.
By contrast, the East Coast has had one of its coldest, snowiest seasons in years and it was still dumping and below zero in the final week of March, so April looks pretty good there.
Asia
Japan
Japan has had a pretty good season, with bases peaking at 6.3 m/21 ft in February in Myoko. March was more mixed with some snowfall and some mild days. The deepest bases are now around 4 m/13 ft, with Niseko among those reporting a deep base.
Many of Japan's smaller areas end their seasons in late March or at the start of April, but several dozen of the country's biggest centres traditionally remain open right through April to the country's 'Golden Week' into May, and little has changed this year. Expect heavy spring snow on slopes and fast-melting snowpacks; rarely will there be the light, abundant powder the country is famous for from December to February. The Gassan summer ski area says it will start its 2026 season on April 10.