Cool off and satiate your need to schuss at these top Alpine resorts for summer glacier skiing:
Soelden’s Rettenbach Glacier is open for summer skiing. | Photo: +ûtztal Tourismus
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Engelberg, Switzerland
Season: Oct. – May
Enjoy spring and fall turns on the Titlis glacier at Engelberg, which is convenient to Zurich and Lucerne. As you travel upwards to this year-round playground, you’ll enjoy 360-degree views of the central Alps on the Titlis Rotair, the world’s first rotating gondola. Once at the top of Klein Titlis, you can access the Glacier Snow Park via the Ice Flyer chairlift.
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Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Season: Mid-July to late-October
The Saas-Fee glacier offers skiers and riders 20 kilometers of runs at altitudes of 3,500 meters. Every ability level has some ideal glacier runs, including off-piste routes.
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Soelden, Austria
Season: Typically mid-June to early-October, snow dependent
Offering two glaciers in one destination, the Rettenbach Glacier and Tiefenbach Glacier, Soelden provides a world class glacier-skiing experience. Skiers and riders access the 34 kilometers of terrain via nine lifts and gondolas with an impressive uphill capacity of 18,000 person per hour.
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Stubai, Austria
Season: September to mid-June
Situated 50 minutes from the stunning Tyrol city of Innsbruck, the Stubai offers summer skiing and riding on “the biggest glacier resort in Austria.” Stubai’s 63 kilometers of slopes provide intermediates with a bevy of options, plus there’s a couple advanced and beginner runs.
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Tignes, France
Season: Late-June to early-August
Hop on a funicular from the Tignes Val Claret base area to access 20 kilometers of lift-served glacier skiing on the Grande Motte. After a couple runs on the wide-open cruisers, try your hand in the terrain park or opt for other activities like volley ball, tennis, golf or mountain biking.
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Zermatt, Switzerland
Season: Late-April to late-November
Enjoy summer turns and stunning views at the Theodul Glacier skiing in Zermatt. Skiers and riders have 36 square kilometers of wide, open runs best suited for intermediates and beginners. Freestylers can enjoy a high-Alpine jib session at the largest snowpark in Europe, which just happens to be located on the glacier!