Zermatt and Saas-Fee shut summer glacier skiing before Swiss winter openings

Zermatt and Saas-Fee have temporarily closed their summer glacier ski areas after sustained heat left snow and ice conditions below the resorts’ safety standards. Neither resort had announced a date for public skiing to resume by 20 August.

The interruptions leave Engelberg’s Titlis glacier as Switzerland’s next planned opening on 10 October. Diavolezza is due to follow on 17 October, although early public access there will be limited to Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 15 November.

Zermatt suspended public skiing on the Theodul Glacier on 1 August, its second interruption to summer operations in four years. The closure also affected access sold through Cervinia because most of the cross-border summer terrain is on the Swiss side.

“The persistently high temperatures, the lack of a night-time cool-down, repeated thunderstorms and the changed snow and glacier conditions mean that it is currently no longer possible to provide safe, high-quality skiing for guests,” Zermatt Bergbahnen said.

Limited slopes remained available to some Swiss-Ski teams under an existing training agreement. Maintenance work continued, with the operator assessing conditions daily and saying general skiing would restart when the glacier allowed it.

Saas-Fee closed from 10 August, three weeks after beginning its summer season. The resort also cited persistent heat and changes to the snow and glacier, saying its prepared slopes and infrastructure could no longer meet the required standards. Teams with bookings were due to be contacted and refunded.

Hintertux and Tignes had already ended summer skiing early. Passo Stelvio, then the final outdoor area open to the public in Europe, closed on 15 August.

Switzerland’s next scheduled ski openings

Davos plans to open its 4km Flüelastrasse cross-country trail on 30 October using snowfarming, where winter snow is stored under insulating sawdust through summer. Downhill skiing at Parsenn Davos is scheduled for weekend operation from 13 to 15 November, followed by continuous opening from 20 November.

Andermatt’s Gemsstock area and Verbier are both targeting 14 November. Adelboden TschentenAlp, parts of Arosa–Lenzerheide, Glacier 3000 and Mürren Schilthorn are aiming for the first weekend of November, subject to snow conditions.

The closures follow a weak accumulation season for Swiss glaciers. ETH Zurich researchers calculated that their winter snow reserves were exhausted by 29 June, meaning subsequent meltwater came from glacier ice.