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Cairngorm Mountain Resort Guide
Projected to open Dec 18
Projected to open December 18, 2026
Best months to book: February, January, March · 30-yr snow record
Scroll for happiness
Projected to open Dec 18 — closed April 5
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
Oct 25
5d agoPast 24 Hours
0cm
Past 48 Hours
0cm
Past 10 Days
15cm
7-Day Forecast
0cm
Snow Depth
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Resort Guide
Cairngorm Mountain is located in the Scottish Highlands near Aviemore and offers skiing and snowboarding across a range of terrain suitable for all abilities. The resort features 30km of ski runs, a funicular railway for mountain access, equipment hire, and a mountain café with panoramic views. Cairngorm Mountain is known for its unique Highland setting, reliable snow conditions, and year-round mountain activities, making it a central hub for winter sports in Scotland.
Gallery
Click to expand • 3 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Cairngorm Mountain
Lifts
13
Longest run
3.3 km / 2.1 mi
Lift fleet
- Surface lift10
- Funicular1
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Top Après Ski
The Ptarmigan Restaurant & Bar – Located at the top station of Cairngorm Mountain, this venue is renowned for its panoramic views, relaxed après-ski atmosphere, and selection of local whiskies and craft beers, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.
Season vs Historic
Updated Fri, Oct 30, 10:03 PM UTC
13cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
+20%
vs 5-Year Avg
11cm avg by now
+120%
vs 30-Year Avg
6cm avg by now
11cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
This season is at 13.2 cm to date. The last completed season totaled ~13.2 cm. That's 20% above the 5-year average (11 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 120% above the 30-year average (6 cm).
Cairngorm Mountain Season Snowfall
Loading the ledger…
Cairngorm Mountain Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 224cm with an average of 102 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 12% above this average (252cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 22cm | 12 days | 2cm | 10cm | 8cm |
| December | 40cm | 17 days | 6cm | 18cm | 10cm |
| January | 49cm | 20 days | 11cm | 24cm | 9cm |
| February | 44cm | 18 days | 15cm | 28cm | 9cm |
| March | 35cm | 17 days | 10cm | 22cm | 8cm |
| April | 22cm | 10 days | 3cm | 13cm | 7cm |
| May | 7cm | 5 days | 0cm | 4cm | 3cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
Best Months to Visit
February
Peak Season
January
Peak Season
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Cairngorm Mountain
- Where is Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain is a ski resort in the United Kingdom.
- How high is Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain runs from a base elevation of 640 m (2,100 ft) to a summit of 1,245 m (4,085 ft), giving a vertical drop of 605 m (1,985 ft).
- How big is Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain has 35 marked runs and 13 lifts.
- When is ski season at Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain typically operates from December to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Cairngorm Mountain get in a typical season?
- Cairngorm Mountain averages 22 inches / 56 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
