We have the opportunity to visit Switzerland in late May and am interested in doing some day hikes in the alps. But, I don't know the snow situation there. Are trails likely to be open at that time or still snowed in?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17435 posts
Do you know where you will be going? In the Berner Oberland, some of the lifts open the last weekend in May. On the other side of the Alps, in the Valais, I have noticed they don't open until later, but that may be a reflection of demand.
Regardless whether the lifts are open, May is "early season" and you could well find mud and patches of snow. The wildflowers won't be out at the higher elevations, and the mountain restaurants may not be open yet.
If you are OK with all of that, you could have a great time if the weather cooperates. Hotel prices will be "low season" rates and you won't find crowds.
Posted by
Northern California
118 posts
Hi Tom,
We did some hiking in the Berner Oberland at the very end of May last year. We had heard similar cautionary tales about snow, mud, etc., so we were prepared for all kinds of horrible weather...but it was BEAUTIFUL. Wildflowers in bloom and not a trace of snow until we got up to the highest elevations. You might run into trouble if you're thinking of backpacking for a few days, but I would think any day hike in that area would be fine.
Of course, the day we left Interlaken (June 1), the peaks of the Alps were snowed in, so I suppose it's possible to get bad weather at almost any time of year. But that was only one out of 5 days. The rest were "Sound of Music"-picture-perfect.
Enjoy Switzerland!
Emma
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN
3 posts
Hi Tom,
I was in Gimmelwald in mid-May 2007 and it rained (poured) and snowed 5 of the 7 days we were there. But, other than hiking in higher altitudes, that didn't stop us from hiking around that beautiful area. Go, but just be prepared for both perfect and not-so-perfect weather.
Tracy