Most ski resorts close in April so it can be a bit of a challenge to find a suitable place to ski if you want to carry on through to May. In this article I’ll take you through the top ski resorts for skiing in May in the USA, Canada and Europe.
Best Ski Resorts for May
- Arapahoe Basin, USA
- Hintertux, Austria
- Mammoth Mountain, USA
- Mt Bachelor, USA
- Blackcomb, Canada
- Engelberg, Switzerland
- Mölltal Glacier, Austria
- Timberline Lodge, USA
- Riksgränsen, Sweden
- Breckenridge, USA
- Palisades Tahoe, USA
- Sunshine Village, Canada
- Killington, USA
- Lake Louise, Canada
- Tignes, France
Best Ski Resorts for May in the USA
There are plenty of great ski resorts to visit in May in the USA:
- Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
- Mammoth Mountain, California
- Mt Bachelor, Oregon
- Timberline Lodge, Oregon
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Killington, Vermont
- Palisades Tahoe, California
| Ski Resort | Ski Season Close | Snowfall | Snow Depth | Skiable Acres |
| Arapahoe Basin | Early June | 34″ | 58″ | 1428 |
| Mammoth Mountain | Early June | 8″ | 60″ | 3500 |
| Mt Bachelor | Late May | 10″ | 70″ | 4323 |
| Timberline Lodge | Late May | 15″ | 97″ | 1685 |
| Breckenridge | Mid-Late May | 6″ | 19″ | 2908 |
| Killington | Mid May | 0″ | 20″ | 1977 |
| Palisades Tahoe | Mid May | 5″ | 38″ | 6000 |
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin is a fairly small ski resort by American standards but it does usually have good snow in May and has one of the latest season closing dates globally. It is best for advanced and expert skiers and not recommended for less experienced riders.
It is conveniently located in Colorado and nearest international airport is Denver (1 hour 45 min transfer).
- Skiable terrain: 1428 acres
- Trails: 147
- Beginner Terrain: 7%
- Intermediate Terrain: 20%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 73%
- Vertical Drop: 2530 ft
- Terrain Parks: 3
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 1st June |
| 2021/22 | 5th June |
| 2020/20 | 6th June |
| 2018/19 | 2nd June |
Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain is a good sized ski resort with plenty of intermediate terrain and also loads of terrain parks. It usually stays open throughout the entirety of May making it an excellent option for late-season skiing.
Mammoth Mountain is in California and the nearest regional airport is Eastern Sierra (1 hour transfer) and the nearest international airport is Los Angeles (5 hour transfer).
- Skiable terrain: 3500 acres
- Trails: 175
- Beginner Terrain: 20%
- Intermediate Terrain: 54%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 26%
- Vertical Drop: 3100 ft
- Terrain Parks: 10
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 29th May |
| 2021/22 | 5th June |
| 2020/20 | 31st May |
| 2018/19 | 7th July |
Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor in Oregon is a large ski resort with a focus on advanced and expert level terrain. It’s steep and will give visitors a good challenge, although it’s not great for intermediate and beginner level skiers and snowboarders.
Mt. Bachelor usually closes at the very end of May making it a solid choice for late-season skiing.
The nearest airport is Redmond Municipal which is a 45 minute drive away. International visitors will need to connect in Seattle so it’s not the easiest resort to access.
- Skiable terrain: 4323 acres
- Trails: 101
- Beginner Terrain: 15%
- Intermediate Terrain: 25%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 60%
- Vertical Drop: 3365 ft
- Terrain Parks: 1
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 28th May |
| 2021/22 | 29th May |
| 2020/20 | 30th May |
| 2018/19 | 26th May |
Timberline Lodge
Timberline Lodge is also located in Oregon but is much smaller compared to Mammoth Mountain. It has a modest 1685 acres of terrain and a good spread of slopes for all abilities. It’s not too steep so beginners and intermediates will prefer this resort.
Like Mammoth Mountain, it stays open for pretty much all of May and is usually very quiet at this time of year. It also gets a high amount of snowfall and good snow depth compared to the other resorts on this list.
The closest airport is Portland International which is a 1 hour 15 minute drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 1685 acres
- Trails: 40
- Beginner Terrain: 26%
- Intermediate Terrain: 48%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 26%
- Vertical Drop: 1000 ft
- Terrain Parks: 2
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 29th May |
| 2021/22 | 29th May |
| 2020/20 | 31st May |
| 2018/19 | 28th May |
Breckenridge
Breckenridge is one of Colorado’s major ski resorts and it boasts one of the longest seasons which typically ends in late May. It is best for intermediate and advanced skiers but beginners will still have a decent amount of trails to tackle.
The snow can be a bit thin on the group, especially at the base due to the lack of snow in May and April, so it’s best to head hear at the start of the month.
The closest major airport is Denver International which is a 2 hour drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 2908 acres
- Trails: 187
- Beginner Terrain: 18%
- Intermediate Terrain: 39%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 43%
- Vertical Drop: 3398 ft
- Terrain Parks: 4
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 30th May |
| 2021/22 | 15th May |
| 2020/20 | 23rd May |
| 2018/19 | 27th May |
Killington
Killington is located in Vermont and is a pretty small mountain which mostly caters for intermediate, advanced and expert skiers, as opposed to beginners. It usually stays open until mid-late May but sometimes closes a bit earlier so it’s only really a good one to go to at the start of the month.
Like Breckenridge, the snow base depth decreases rapidly over the month and can be very thin at the base so it’s best to stick to the start of the month.
The nearest airport is Rutland Southern Vermont regional airport which is a 30 minute drive away. International travellers will require a connecting flight.
- Skiable terrain: 1977 acres
- Trails: 213
- Beginner Terrain: 17%
- Intermediate Terrain: 40%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 43%
- Vertical Drop: 3050 ft
- Terrain Parks: 1
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 28th May |
| 2021/22 | 1st May |
| 2020/20 | 16th May |
| 2018/19 | 12th May |
Palisades Tahoe
Palisades Tahoe ski resort is in California and usually stays open throughout most of May, with occasional earlier closes. It’s a huge resort with 6000 acres of terrain and a good spread of trails for all abilities. It doesn’t have the best snow conditions in May compared to resorts like Arapahoe Basin and Timberline Lodge and usually closes in mid-May.
The closest airport is Reno Tahoe International Airport which is a 1 hour drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 6000 acres
- Trails: 245
- Beginner Terrain: 25%
- Intermediate Terrain: 45%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 30%
- Vertical Drop: 2850 ft
- Terrain Parks: 5
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 29th May |
| 2021/22 | 1st May |
| 2020/20 | 16th May |
| 2018/19 | 7th July |
Best Ski Resorts for May in Canada
Compared to the USA, Canada is much more limited in terms of late season skiing and there are really only four main resorts which stay open in May.
- Blackcomb
- Sunshine Village
- Lake Louise
Out of these three resorts, Whistler Blackcomb and Sunshine Village are by far the best options for May. I’ve included Lake Louise on the list as it’s a great resort but it usually closes fairly early on in the month.
| Ski Resort | Ski Season Close | Snowfall | Snow Depth | Skiable Acres |
| Blackcomb | Late May | 6″ | 40″ | 3414 |
| Sunshine Village | Late May | 25″ | 80″ | 3500 |
| Lake Louise | Early May | 5″ | 45″ | 4200 |
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb is a huge ski resort which consists of two massive mountains. However, it’s only really Blackcomb that stays open throughout most of May, as Whistler usually closes at the end of April. This mountain has a good spread of terrain for all abilities due to the large amount of skiable terrain and has a decent snow depth for this time of year.
Here are the stats for Blackcomb mountain:
- Skiable terrain: 3414 acres
- Trails: 100
- Beginner Terrain: 20%
- Intermediate Terrain: 50%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 30%
- Vertical Drop: 5080 ft
- Terrain Parks: 3
The closest airport is Vancouver International which is a 2.5 hour drive away.
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 22nd May |
| 2021/22 | 23rd May |
| 2018/19 | 27th May |
Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village usually closes a few days earlier than Blackcomb but it does still stay open for most of May. It also has better snow quality compared to Blackcomb at this time of year thanks to a greater amount of fresh snow and almost double the snow depth.
It has plenty of terrain for all abilities and is conveniently located around 20 minutes from Banff town where you can find more après ski activities and cheaper accommodation.
The closest airport is Calgary International which is a 1 hour 45 minute drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 3500 acres
- Trails: 120
- Beginner Terrain: 23%
- Intermediate Terrain: 46%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 31%
- Vertical Drop: 3161 ft
- Terrain Parks: 4
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 21st May |
| 2021/22 | 23rd May |
| 2020/20 | 24th May |
| 2018/19 | 20th May |
Lake Louise
Lake Louise usually closes in early May, but if you can catch it at the start of the month then it’s still a solid option. It actually has a greater snow depth compared to Blackcomb at this time of year and loads of skiable terrain for all abilities.
Lake Louise is also located in Banff (like Sunshine) but is further out of the town and it takes around 40 minutes to reach it by car.
The closest airport is Calgary International which is a 2 hour 15 minute drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 4200 acres
- Trails: 164
- Beginner Terrain: 25%
- Intermediate Terrain: 45%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 30%
- Vertical Drop: 3250 ft
- Terrain Parks: 4
| Ski Season | Closing Date |
| 2022/23 | 7th May |
| 2021/22 | 8th May |
| 2020/20 | 2nd May |
| 2018/19 | 5th May |
Check out this in-depth comparison between Lake Louise and Sunshine Village to decide which is the best resort for you.
Best Ski Resorts for May in Europe
- Hintertux, Austria
- Engelberg, Switzerland
- Mölltal Glacier, Austria
- Riksgränsen, Sweden
- Passo Tonale, Italy
- Tignes, France
Europe, like Canada is a bit more limited compared to the USA in terms of ski resorts which are open throughout the entirety of May. Here is a comparison table of some of the best options for late season skiing.
| Ski Resort | Ski Season Close | Slope Length |
| Hintertux, Austria | Open all year | 72 km |
| Engelberg, Switzerland | Late May | 82 km |
| Mölltal Glacier, Austria | Late May | 17.4 km |
| Riksgränsen, Sweden | Late May | 21 km |
| Passo Tonale, Italy | Mid May | 87 km |
| Tignes, France | Early May | 300 km |
Hintertux, Austria
Hintertux in Austria boasts all-year-round skiing so it’s the ideal option for May when most other resorts have started to really wind down. It has a good amount of terrain for a European resort, although it is quite heavily intermediate-level focused.
The closest major airport to Hintertux is Innsbruck Airport which is a 1.5 hour drive away.
- Slopes: 72 km
- Beginner Terrain: 23%
- Intermediate Terrain: 59%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 18%
- Vertical Drop: 1750 m
Engelberg, Switzerland
Engelberg has a good amount of terrain which is mainly geared towards intermediates, although there’s still some decent terrain for beginner and advanced skiers.
This ski area usually stays open throughout the majority of May. In the 2021/22 season it closed on the 22nd May and in the 2022/23 season it’s anticipated it’ll close on the 21st May.
The closest airport to Engelberg is Zurich which is a 1 hour 30 minute drive away.
- Slopes: 82 km
- Beginner Terrain: 26%
- Intermediate Terrain: 56%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 18%
- Vertical Drop: 2100 m
Mölltal Glacier, Austria
Mölltal Glacier is a tiny ski area but it does have one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. In the 2021/22 ski season Mölltal Glacier closed on the 29th May. It is a shallow mountain so it doesn’t provide much in the way of challenging terrain but it’s a good option for beginners and intermediates.
The nearest major airport is Salzburg which is a 2 hour drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 17.4 km
- Trails: 17
- Beginner Terrain: 30%
- Intermediate Terrain: 41%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 29%
- Vertical Drop: 1014 m
Riksgränsen, Sweden
Riksgränsen is another small ski area which has a heavy focus on beginner and intermediate terrain as it is a very flat area. It does however have good late-season skiing conditions and in 2023 it is estimated that it’ll stay open until the 28th May.
The nearest airport is Kiruna which is a 2 hour drive away. International visitors will require a connecting flight from Stockholm.
- Skiable terrain: 21 km
- Trails: 16
- Beginner Terrain: 48%
- Intermediate Terrain: 47%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 5%
- Vertical Drop: 387 m
Passo Tonale, Italy
Passo Tonale is a good place to visit if you want some more skiable terrain to get to grips with, particularly if you’re an intermediate-level skier or snowboarder. It doesn’t have the longest season on this list though and in 2023 it is estimated it’ll close on the 14th May, so it’s only really good for the very start of the month.
The closest major airport is Innsbruck which is a 3.5 hour drive away. Alternatively, international travellers may want to connect to Male or Edolo which are a 45 minute drive away from the resort.
- Skiable terrain: 87 km
- Trails: 41
- Beginner Terrain: 24%
- Intermediate Terrain: 61%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 15%
- Vertical Drop: 1740 m
Tignes, France
I wanted to include an option for late season skiing in France on this list and Tignes is the best choice, however it usually does close in early May. With that said, if you can get there in time then it does have the benefit of being a huge mountain with loads more terrain than the other options on this list.
In 2022/23 the estimated close date is the 7th May. In the 2021/22 season, Tignes closed on the 8th May.
The closest regional airport is Chambery which is a 2 hour drive away. Alternatively, the closest international airports are Lyon and Geneva which are a 2 hour 45 minute drive away.
- Skiable terrain: 300 km
- Trails: 156
- Beginner Terrain: 15%
- Intermediate Terrain: 57%
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain: 26%
- Vertical Drop: 17%
Check out this guide to the average ski season lengths and dates globally for more information.