What mountains can you climb in May?

Mount Etna (3,403 m), Teide (3,715 m), Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m), Finsteraarhorn (4,274 m) and Hvannadalshnúkur (2,110 m) are among the 40 peaks in their best season in May. In May the snow line climbs fast. Low and mid-height summits in the south are at their best; in the Alps many paths above 2,000 m are still snowbound and most huts open only in June.

What is an easy mountain to climb in May?

Pico Ruivo (1,862 m): the normal route, the PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo from Achada do Teixeira, graded T2, about 1h 30m up. It is in the Madeira Island, Portugal.

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Peak Lists

Best Peaks to Climb in May

In May the snow line climbs fast. Low and mid-height summits in the south are at their best; in the Alps many paths above 2,000 m are still snowbound and most huts open only in June.

These 40 peaks are rated in their best season in May, the classics first. Most are in the Scandinavian Mountains, Scottish Highlands and Alps. Each row shows the normal route, its grade, the usual best months and, where there is one, a note on conditions in May.

Peaks: 40
Highest: 4,274 m; Finsteraarhorn
Countries: 11

The List

Mount Etna, 3,403 m, Sicily · ItalySicily · ItalyMountain hike
3,403 m
South side from Rifugio Sapienza via the Montagnola and Torre del Filosofo · T3 · 4h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Good conditions; snow patches high up
Teide, 3,715 m, Macaronesia · SpainMacaronesia · SpainEasy walk
3,715 m
From Montaña Blanca via the Refugio de Altavista and La Rambleta · T2 · 5h 45m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Usually snow-free, mild; Teide bugloss in flower in late spring
Roque de los Muchachos, 2,426 m, Caldera de Taburiente · SpainCaldera de Taburiente · SpainHike
2,426 m
Ruta de la Crestería from Pico de la Nieve · T2 · 4h 30m up · best Apr–Jun · GPX
May: Good conditions; spring flowers
Finsteraarhorn, 4,274 m, Bernese Alps · SwitzerlandBernese Alps · SwitzerlandEasy alpine
4,274 m
SW flank and NW ridge via the Hugisattel · PD · 11h 15m up · 2 days · best Apr–May · GPX
May: Ski touring; hut staffed until end of May
Hvannadalshnúkur, 2,110 m, Highlands of Iceland · IcelandHighlands of Iceland · IcelandEasy alpine
2,110 m
Sandfell route · PD · 9h up · best Apr–Jun · GPX
May: Best conditions; long days
Mount Kyllini, 2,374 m, Peloponnese · GreecePeloponnese · GreeceHike
2,374 m
From the Ziria plateau via Refuge B · T2 · 3h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Flowers on the plateau; late snow possible in gullies
Pico Ruivo, 1,862 m, Madeira Island · PortugalMadeira Island · PortugalHike
1,862 m
PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo from Achada do Teixeira · T2 · 1h 30m up · best Apr–Oct · GPX
May: Settled weather
Punta La Marmora, 1,834 m, Gennargentu · ItalyGennargentu · ItalyHike
1,834 m
From S'Arena via Arcu Artilai and Arcu Gennargentu · T2 · 2h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Flowers; mild temperatures
Jiehkkevárri, 1,834 m, Scandinavian Mountains · NorwayScandinavian Mountains · NorwayEasy walk
1,834 m
From Holmbukt over Holmbukttinden · PD · 8h up · best Apr–May · GPX
May: Spring ski season with near-continuous daylight; watch wet-snow avalanches in the approach gully
Snæfellsjökull, 1,446 m, Highlands of Iceland · IcelandHighlands of Iceland · IcelandAlpine hike
1,446 m
From Jökulháls up the south-east side of the ice cap · F · 3h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Guided season starts; good snow bridges
Skårasalen, 1,543 m, Scandinavian Mountains · NorwayScandinavian Mountains · NorwayEasy walk
1,543 m
From Kvistadsætra via Blådalen and the north-west ridge · T3 · 4h 15m up · best Apr–May · GPX
May: Spring skiing from Kvistadsætra
Kvitegga, 1,700 m, Scandinavian Mountains · NorwayScandinavian Mountains · NorwayAlpine hike
1,700 m
Snødalen and Brattbakken · F · 5h 30m up · best Apr–May · GPX
May: Spring snow; good skiing into May
Mount Vesuvius, 1,281 m, Somma-Vesuvius complex · ItalySomma-Vesuvius complex · ItalyEasy walk
1,281 m
Trail 5 "Il Gran Cono" from Piazzale di Quota 1000 · T1 · 45m up · best Apr–May · GPX
May: Open 09:00–17:00 (last entry)
Kolåstinden, 1,432 m, Sunnmørsalpene · NorwaySunnmørsalpene · NorwayEasy alpine
1,432 m
From Standaleidet via Kvanndalen, Stretet and Kolåsbreen · PD- · 4h up · best Mar–May · GPX
May: Spring skiing; bergschrund may open late in the season; afternoon warming in Kvanndalen
Sveti Jure, 1,762 m, Biokovo · CroatiaBiokovo · CroatiaMountain hike
1,762 m
From Makar via Vošac · T3 · 7h 30m up · best May · GPX
May: Good temperatures, long days
Mont Ventoux, 1,910 m, Vaucluse Mountains · FranceVaucluse Mountains · FranceHike
1,910 m
North side from Mont Serein by the GR4 · T2 · 2h 15m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Usually snow-free; north-side road reopens mid-May
Turó de l'Home, 1,706 m, Montseny Massif · SpainMontseny Massif · SpainHike
1,706 m
PR-C 208 from Santa Fe del Montseny · T2 · 2h 30m up · best Apr–Jun · GPX
Eyjafjallajökull, 1,651 m, Highlands of Iceland · IcelandHighlands of Iceland · IcelandAlpine hike
1,651 m
South side from Seljavellir to Hámundur · F · 7h up · best Apr–Jun · GPX
May: Long days, good snow cover
Snowdon, 1,085 m, Snowdonia · United KingdomSnowdonia · United KingdomHike
1,085 m
Llanberis Path · T2 · 4h up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Good conditions; railway usually reaches the summit from May
Carrauntoohil, 1,039 m, MacGillycuddy's Reeks · IrelandMacGillycuddy's Reeks · IrelandMountain hike
1,039 m
Devil's Ladder from Cronin's Yard via the Hag's Glen · T3 · 3h 45m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Often the best mix of daylight and drier weather
Ben More, 966 m, Ardmeanach · United KingdomArdmeanach · United KingdomHike
966 m
From Dhiseig by the Abhainn Dhiseig and the north-west ridge · T2 · 3h 45m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Long days, usually before the worst of the midges
Liathach, 1,055 m, Scottish Highlands · United KingdomScottish Highlands · United KingdomAlpine hike
1,055 m
Spidean a' Choire Lèith from Glen Torridon via Coire Liath Mhòr · T4 · 4h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Long days; good conditions when dry
Mount Brandon, 952 m, Brandon Group · IrelandBrandon Group · IrelandHike
952 m
Saints' Road from Ballybrack · T2 · 3h up · best May–Sep · GPX
May: Often the driest month; long days
Ben Lawers, 1,214 m, Scottish Highlands · United KingdomScottish Highlands · United KingdomHike
1,214 m
Via Beinn Ghlas from the Ben Lawers NNR car park · T2 · 4h up · best May–Sep · GPX
May: Longer days; late snow patches possible high up
Scafell Pike, 978 m, Lake District · United KingdomLake District · United KingdomMountain hike
978 m
From Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue, Hollow Stones and Lingmell Col · T3 · 3h 45m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Often the driest month; long days
Lugnaquilla, 925 m, Wicklow Mountains · IrelandWicklow Mountains · IrelandHike
925 m
Glen of Imaal 'Tourist Route' from Fenton's via Camarahill · T2 · 3h 15m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Often the driest month
Goat Fell, 874 m, Isle of Arran · United KingdomIsle of Arran · United KingdomHike
874 m
From Cladach by the east ridge · T2 · 3h 30m up · best May–Sep · GPX
Gorbea, 1,481 m, Gorbeia mountain range · SpainGorbeia mountain range · SpainHike
1,481 m
From Pagomakurre via the Arraba meadows, Egiriñao and the Aldaminoste col · T2 · 3h 15m up · best May–Oct · GPX
Slieve Donard, 849 m, Mourne Mountains · United KingdomMourne Mountains · United KingdomHike
849 m
From Donard Park via the Glen River and the Mourne Wall · T2 · 3h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Long days, often dry
Ben Lomond, 974 m, Scottish Highlands · United KingdomScottish Highlands · United KingdomHike
974 m
Tourist Path from Rowardennan · T2 · 4h up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Often dry; long days; few midges
An Teallach, 1,062 m, Northwest Highlands · United KingdomNorthwest Highlands · United KingdomMountain hike
1,062 m
From Dundonnell via Meall Garbh and Sròn a' Choire · T3 · 4h 15m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Long days; good conditions if dry
Anboto, 1,333 m, Anboto mountain range · SpainAnboto mountain range · SpainAlpine hike
1,333 m
From Urkiola via Asuntze, Pagozelai and the Agindi gap · T4 · 3h 15m up · best May–Jun · GPX
Mont Aigoual, 1,567 m, Cévennes · FranceCévennes · FranceHike
1,567 m
Sentier des 4000 marches from Valleraugue · T2 · 5h up · best Apr–May · GPX
Schiehallion, 1,083 m, Grampian Mountains · United KingdomGrampian Mountains · United KingdomHike
1,083 m
East ridge from Braes of Foss · T2 · 3h 15m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Good walking; car park busy on fine weekends
Helvellyn, 950 m, Lake District · United KingdomLake District · United KingdomHike
950 m
From Swirls via Helvellyn Gill and Browncove Crags · T2 · 3h up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Often dry; long days
Merrick, 843 m, Galloway Hills · United KingdomGalloway Hills · United KingdomHike
843 m
From Glen Trool via Culsharg and Benyellary · T2 · 3h 30m up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Long days, usually before the worst of the midges
Jungfrau, 4,158 m, Jungfrau-Fiescherhorn Group · SwitzerlandJungfrau-Fiescherhorn Group · SwitzerlandAlpine climb
4,158 m
From the Jungfraujoch via the Rottalsattel and south-east ridge · AD- · 3h 15m up · best Apr–Jun · GPX
May: Good snow conditions on the Rottalsattel slopes
Errigal, 749 m, Derryveagh Mountains · IrelandDerryveagh Mountains · IrelandMountain hike
749 m
South-east ridge from the R251 car park · T3 · 2h up · best May–Sep · GPX
May: Often the driest month; long days
Pen y Fan, 886 m, Brecon Beacons · United KingdomBrecon Beacons · United KingdomHike
886 m
From Pont ar Daf via Bwlch Duwynt and Corn Du · T2 · 2h up · best May–Jun · GPX
May: Long days, often dry
The Storr, 719 m, Trotternish · United KingdomTrotternish · United KingdomMountain hike
719 m
Via the Sanctuary and Coire Scamadal, descending by Bealach Beag · T3 · 3h 45m up · best May–Sep · GPX
May: Long days; busy at the Old Man

Questions

What mountains can you climb in May?: Mount Etna (3,403 m), Teide (3,715 m), Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m), Finsteraarhorn (4,274 m) and Hvannadalshnúkur (2,110 m) are among the 40 peaks in their best season in May. In May the snow line climbs fast. Low and mid-height summits in the south are at their best; in the Alps many paths above 2,000 m are still snowbound and most huts open only in June.
What is an easy mountain to climb in May?: Pico Ruivo (1,862 m): the normal route, the PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo from Achada do Teixeira, graded T2, about 1h 30m up. It is in the Madeira Island, Portugal.