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Cairngorm Mountain Resort Guide
Closed for the season
Season ended April 5, 2026
Best months to book: February, January, March · 30-yr snow record
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Closed for the season — closed April 5
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
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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
Skiable area
1477 ac
Longest run
3.3 km / 2.1 mi
Runs by difficulty(35 total)
Beginner
26
75% of terrain
Intermediate
7
19% of terrain
Advanced
2
6% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Surface lift10
- Funicular1
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
No ski pass found
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
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 Sun, Sep 20, 12:02 PM UTC
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Season Total
This Season to Date
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vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 180cm full-season avg
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vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 203cm full-season avg
180cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~199.8 cm. That's 11% above the 5-year average (180 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: near the 30-year average (203 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 1,477 acres (598 hectares) of skiable terrain, 35 marked runs and 13 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain is on the No ski pass found. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- 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.
