Skiing in August in The Dolomites
There is no lift served skiing in the Dolomites in August, because these limestone peaks have no summer glacier, so the honest answer is to come for hiking, via ferrata and the famous mountain summer, and look elsewhere if you specifically want to ski.
Reviewed for the 2026 season by the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team
Can you ski in the Dolomites in August?
No. The Dolomites have no summer skiing, because their dramatic limestone peaks carry no glacier high enough or cold enough to keep pistes open through the warm months. The Dolomiti Superski season runs roughly from late November or early December to mid April, and by August the snow has long gone from even the highest runs, leaving green alpine meadows and bare rock towers. Anyone searching for August turns in the Dolomites will find lifts running for sightseeing and walking, not for skiing.
This sets the Dolomites apart from the few Alpine areas that do offer summer glacier skiing. Resorts such as Cervinia in the Aosta Valley keep a high glacier open through the summer, and the Val Senales glacier in South Tyrol reopens for autumn skiing from mid September, but neither is in the Dolomites proper, and both involve travel to a different high glacier area. If skiing in August is the non negotiable goal, those glaciers, not the Dolomites, are where to look.
The good news is that August is one of the best months to be in these mountains for everything except skiing, so the trip is far from wasted; it is simply a summer mountain holiday rather than a ski one.
What is August actually good for in the Dolomites?
August is peak summer in the Dolomites and the high season for mountain holidays. The walking is world class, from gentle meadow strolls and lift assisted high trails to the famous via ferrata routes that thread the rock faces, and the network of mountain huts means you can walk hut to hut for days. The same cable cars and gondolas that serve skiers in winter run in summer to lift you quickly to the high trailheads, so even casual walkers can reach spectacular terrain without a dawn start.
The weather is warm and largely settled, though August afternoons can bring mountain thunderstorms, so an early start is wise. The valleys are lively with summer events, the alpine flowers are out, and the pink glow of the Dolomite peaks at sunset, known as the enrosadira, is at its most reliable under clear summer skies. Mountain biking, climbing, lake swimming and long lunches on hut terraces round out a summer that many regulars love every bit as much as the winter.
Where can you actually ski in August near the Dolomites?
If you must ski in August, you have to leave the Dolomites for a high summer glacier. The largest summer ski area in this part of the Alps is the Plateau Rosa glacier above Cervinia in the Aosta Valley, linked to Zermatt, which keeps pistes open through the summer above 3,000 meters and runs a dependable June to early September glacier season. It is a long transfer from the Dolomites, effectively a separate trip across northern Italy, but it is the realistic option for summer turns.
The Val Senales glacier in South Tyrol is geographically closer to the Dolomites but does not run in high summer; it reopens for autumn skiing from around mid September, so it does not help an August skier. The simple planning rule is this: come to the Dolomites in August for the summer mountains, and if you genuinely need to ski, budget for a separate journey to a summer glacier rather than expecting snow on the Dolomite pistes. For skiing in the Dolomites themselves, wait for the winter season to open from late November.
Who should visit the Dolomites in August, and who should skip it?
August suits hikers, climbers, via ferrata fans and families who want a warm, active mountain holiday amid some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. It rewards anyone who loves long days on the trails, hut to hut adventures and the buzz of a lively summer season, and it is ideal for travelers who want spectacular mountains without any need for snow underfoot. For a summer holiday, the Dolomites in August are hard to beat.
It is the wrong choice for anyone whose goal is skiing. Skiers should either redirect to a high summer glacier such as Cervinia, accepting it is a separate trip, or simply plan a winter visit, when the Dolomiti Superski network opens from late November and the heart of the season runs January to March. Come to the Dolomites in August for the summer; come back in winter for the ski.
August in The Dolomites: the case for and against
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Where to ski in the Dolomites in August
For August we would point you first at these, each with our full review:
- Cortina d'Ampezzo. A grand summer base with superb hiking, via ferrata and lift access to high trails, though no August skiing.
- Selva Val Gardena. Central for summer walking around the Sella massif and Alpe di Siusi meadows, with lifts running for hikers.
- Alta Badia. A relaxed summer base with gentle high trails and famous mountain restaurants open through the warm months.
- Kronplatz. A summit hub with summer lift access, mountain biking and museums, ideal for an active August day out.
Sources we checked
Common questions
Can you ski in the Dolomites in August?
No. The Dolomites have no summer glacier, so there is no lift served skiing in August. The ski season runs roughly late November to mid April. In August the lifts run for hikers and sightseers, and the mountains are bare of snow.
Where can you ski near the Dolomites in August?
You have to travel to a high summer glacier. The Plateau Rosa glacier above Cervinia in the Aosta Valley, linked to Zermatt, runs a June to early September glacier season above 3,000 meters. It is a long transfer from the Dolomites and is effectively a separate trip.
What is there to do in the Dolomites in August?
August is peak mountain summer: world class hiking, via ferrata, climbing, mountain biking and hut to hut walking, with winter lifts running to carry walkers to high trails. The weather is warm and largely settled, though afternoon thunderstorms are common.
When can you actually ski in the Dolomites?
The Dolomiti Superski season opens from late November or early December and runs to around mid April. The heart of the season is January to March, with March often rated the best month for sunny days and good snow.
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