Sheregesh is one of the few resorts in Russia where you can ski from November through May. Six months of snow, legendary powder, and a season-closing festival where people ride in swimsuits at +15°C — it all draws riders from across the country.
The resort sits in Gornaya Shoria in the southern part of Kemerovo Oblast, where the Sayan Mountains, Altai, and Kuznetsk Alatau converge. Mount Zelyonaya rises to 1,270 meters, with an elevation drop of roughly 600 meters.
The snow here is special: dry, loose, with no icy crust. Locals call it "pukhlyak" — and freeriders consider it some of the best powder in Russia.
When the Season Opens and Closes
The official opening of the 2025/2026 season was November 22, coinciding with the SheregeshFest festival. By that date, snow cover typically reaches 40–60 cm and the main runs are ready to go.
Closing comes in late April, though there's no fixed date — it all depends on how much snow remains. In good years, the lifts keep running through the May holidays; there have been seasons when riding continued all the way to May 9.
The benchmark is the annual Grelka Fest in mid-April, considered the unofficial end of the season.
November Through December: Season Launch
Mid-November to mid-December is when snowfall is nearly continuous and the base builds rapidly. This is the best window for freeriding: fresh powder, untouched slopes, trees buried in snow up to their crowns.
Temperatures range from –5 to –20°C, and daylight is short — roughly 7 hours. Riding starts at dawn and wraps up by three or four in the afternoon. Tourist numbers are still low, lift lines are almost nonexistent, and accommodation prices sit below holiday levels.
The downside: not all runs and lifts are operational in the first weeks. Sector E typically opens later than the rest.
New Year's Holidays: Packed but Festive
From December 25 through January 8, Sheregesh hits peak capacity. Lift lines stretch to 20–30 minutes, accommodation prices jump 1.5 to 2 times, and booking needs to happen months in advance.
Weather during this period is consistently cold — –15 to –25°C, sometimes lower. There's plenty of snow, but the sheer volume of people grinds the runs down to ice by lunchtime. Freeriders head into the trees, where untouched powder still survives.
Is it worth going for New Year's? If the festive atmosphere matters to you — yes. If you want relaxed riding — better to shift your trip to January or February.
January and February: The Sweet Spot
Many experienced riders consider January and February the best months. The holiday rush has subsided, snow depth is at its maximum, and the runs are in prime condition. Temperatures hold between –10 and –20°C — consistently cold but without extreme plunges.
Snow cover at this point reaches 2–3 meters, and the famous "pillows" in the forest — mounds of snow piled on stumps and bushes that freeriders launch off — are in perfect shape. Visibility is good, with more sunny days than November or December.
Prices return to normal levels, and there are barely any lines. For those looking to combine quality riding with comfort, this is the optimal window.
March and April: Velvet Season
In March and the first half of April, temperatures climb to –5 to +10°C, the sun is bright, and the days are long. Snow is still on the ground but softening at the surface — the top layer turns mushy by noon, then crusts over by morning.
The riding changes character: hard-packed snow early on, soft slush by midday, refrozen slopes by evening. Experienced riders head out at dawn, while the snow still holds.
The marquee event is Grelka Fest in mid-April: a mass descent in swimsuits, carnival costumes, wedding dresses, and pajamas.
The 2021 edition set the record — 1,772 participants in swimsuits at once. The festival spans two weekends and several days, with contests, music, and the atmosphere of a mountaintop beach party.
After Grelka Fest, some lifts shut down, but the Freestyle and Ryzhaya sectors usually keep running through late April, sometimes into early May.
Getting to Sheregesh
Sheregesh doesn't have its own airport yet — construction is expected to wrap up by 2029. The nearest airport is Novokuznetsk (Spichenkovo), 180 km from the resort. Direct flights operate from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg — roughly a 4.5-hour flight.
From Novokuznetsk to Sheregesh takes 2.5–3 hours by transfer or scheduled bus. During the season, a tourist train called the Sheregesh Express runs from Prokopyevsk through Novokuznetsk to Chugunash station, where a shuttle bus covers the last stretch to the resort.
Choosing Your Window
Want freeriding through untouched powder — go in November or December. Want reliable snow and peaceful slopes — aim for January or February. Want sunshine, warmth, and a festival vibe — book March or April.
As for the New Year's holidays — consider them only if you're prepared for crowds and inflated prices. The riding isn't any better than in January, and the stress level is considerably higher.
