Already thinking about chasing winter south? Good call. But if jet-setting to Chile or New Zealand isn’t in the cards, there are still a few spots up here that are clinging to snow, long past their expiry date.
It’s not full-on storm skiing. It’s slushy, sunny, sunscreen-in-your-eyes type turns. But for the dedicated few who refuse to let go, the Northern Hemisphere has some late-season gems still spinning lifts — from glaciers in the Alps to a no-frills summer-only ski hill in Montana.
Here’s where to keep the streak alive without leaving the hemisphere.
🇺🇸 Beartooth Basin, Montana/Wyoming
Open: May 26 – July 6
The only lift-served ski area in North America that’s open only in summer. It’s raw, steep, and running off a scenic highway pass. No lodge, no hot tubs — just a couple of old T-bars and a whole lot of grit. Park kids, freeride freaks, and crusty locals all post up here chasing slush laps under the high mountain sun.
Think spring at your local hill — if it was 10,000 feet up and lawless in the best way.
🇨🇭 Zermatt, Switzerland
Open: Year-round
This is your glacier lap dream. Zermatt’s Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest ski area in Europe and somehow still manages to serve up decent turns even in July. It’s mostly race camps and tourists in rental boots, but the terrain’s mellow, the scenery’s insane, and yeah — you’re skiing in summer.
Bonus: Cross the ridge into Italy and ski Cervinia in the same day.
🇫🇷 Les 2 Alpes, France
Expected: Mid-June to late July
Every summer, Les 2 Alpes becomes a park rat’s paradise. The glacier terrain park here is stacked — rails, jumps, and side hits for days — with slushy laps that make you feel like a hero (until you’re fully tomahawking in a tank top). Dates shift depending on snow, but if it opens, it’s worth it.
Après: More baguette and rosé than tailgate and Kokanee
🇦🇹 Hintertux, Austria
Open: Year-round
Austria’s only 365-day ski area. Hintertux is a go-to for racers and summer diehards looking to keep the legs moving. No frills, just glacier laps and efficient lift systems. You’ll see more gate training than slushy side hits, but if you want reliable summer turns, this is one of the surest bets.
Also on the Radar:
Depending on conditions, a few more spots might offer limited summer access:
- Kitzsteinhorn, Austria – Spring to early summer
- Saas-Fee, Switzerland – Opens in July, mainly for teams
- Tignes, France – Sometimes opens in June, check updates
Interested in going south? Ever been to Chile or Argentina? Check out Part 1 of the global ski safari to get dialed on the Southern Hemi
