THE ONLY winter ski resort in the province of Almeria, Puerto de la Ragua, has finally reopened after five long years of closure, although visitors cannot jump onto the slopes quite yet. The ski resort, which closed due to an unsustainable decline in snowfall, is symbolically reopening to the public before undergoing works to officially go into full operation in 2027, and it is expected to become a tourism powerhouse when it does.
The reopening of the resort, which for now constitutes a visitor information point and available restrooms, is being done to recuperate some of the tourism lost in the area due to the closure. In recent snowy winters, the area saw up to 8,000 visitors a week. Additionally, visitors to the resort can still freely access the gorgeous surrounding natural environment and request basic information on routes, weather, and access points.
The information point will be open to passersby from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The information point will be part of an Active Tourism Resources Plan, promoted by the Almeria Provincial Council. It will allow visitors to learn about the available routes - both hiking and cross-country skiing - as well as the services available in the nearest municipalities. It will also help regulate parking at the mountain pass, where space is limited.
Nearby municipalities are even considering implementing shuttle bus services connecting the towns of Nevada and Ferreria, through the mountain pass, in order to reduce traffic and improve visitor access to the resort on peak days and especially during desirable winter weekends.
For now, sadly, there will be no cross-country skiing or sledding, and the slopes will remain unkempt. Associated services such as equipment rental, ski school, and other snow-related recreational activities will also be unavailable, although visitors can look forward to coming years where works will take place to make the ski resort one of the biggest winter attractions in the province.
The ski resort will be completely renovated, shaping the future of the resort and Almeria's winter tourism as a whole. The investment, which comes up to €2 million, will focus on the old hostel, which will be transformed into a more modern resort with a restaurant and a sports equipment storage and rental space.
Once the works are completed, the resort will be able to host up to 160 guests at a time. Management will be handled by the Puerto de la Ragua Recreational Resort Consortium.
Puerto de la Ragua, which experienced its heyday in the 1990s fueled by the 1995 Alpine Ski World Championships in Sierra Nevada, is located within the Sierra Nevada National Park, on the border between the provinces of Granada and Almeria.
The location is prime for its jaw-dropping nature; the area was even considered for unsuccessful Olympic bids and for the 2015 Winter Universiade. However, environmental protection measures and the impossibility of artificial snowmaking limited its consolidation as a permanent Nordic ski resort. As it stands, the resort's surroundings are still available for hikes, tours, and walks.
The full restoration of services, including accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental, and organized use of the area, is thought to begin in late 2026 and be consolidated in 2027.