Ski in Alpe d'Huez

Why ski in Alpe d'Huez?

A major ski area, Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski offers an ideal setting for winter sports with family and friends.

1. There are 5 resorts in the Grandes Rousses massif (Alpe d'Huez,

   Auris-en-Oisans, Villard-Reculas, Oz-en-Oisans and Vaujany) and 2 villages (Oz-en-Oisans and Vaujany)

2. Altitude between 1,860 and 3,330 metres above sea level

3. 250 km of slopes spread over 10,000 hectares

4. 300 days of sunshine per year in the village

5. 99 slopes, including 26 green, 22 blue, 24 red, 12 black and 15 yellow

6. 45 ski lifts, including cable cars and gondolas

7. 5 snowparks for all levels

8. Just under 50 km of Nordic ski slopes

9. The longest black slope in Europe: the Sarenne and its 16 km descent

10. A single package for all stations

Skiing for everyone

Alpe d'Huez encourages friendly skiing where everyone, independent of their level, will find a suitable playground in the town.

Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski is the perfect resort for beginners, as nearly 50% of its skiable area consists of green and blue runs. To ensure a positive experience for novice skiers, the resort offers a special incentive: the first three ski lift rides are free for those skiing for the first time. Once beginners feel more confident, they can take advantage of a special package that includes four additional lifts at a discounted price.

Seasoned skiers need not worry about feeling bored at Alpe d'Huez! The resort offers technical tracks, as well as challenging ones like the Tunnel. This unique descent crosses the mountain and provides an indescribable sensation of vertigo upon exiting the Tunnel. The 200-metre drop is extremely demanding but can be tackled without excessive speed, allowing skiers to plan each movement carefully. It is recommended only for those who are well-trained!

Don't miss the mythical Sarenne if you're seeking adrenaline without facing extreme difficulty. Recognised as the longest black slope in France and even in Europe, it connects Pic Blanc at an altitude of 3,330 metres to the Gorges de Sarenne at 1,510 metres, offering a 16-kilometre descent in a breathtaking environment. It's impossible to resist these 30 minutes of pure pleasure!

With children

Labelled a Family Plus resort, Alpe d'Huez aims to promote holidays through family skiing in fun areas where it is good to challenge yourself.

The ski schools in Alpe d'Huez welcome children as young as two and a half to explore the sport through a range of activities. Additionally, children under the age of five can ski for free, as the resort provides them with a complimentary ski pass.

Once they feel comfortable on their skis, they can head to the play areas! Chez Roger, located in the Shepherd's area, will make you want to play leapfrog. This green slope resembles a giant Cool Border, much to the delight of the whole family.

Then go to Jacques le Bûcheron, where young and adults can dive into the Auris-en-Oisans forest on skis to discover the woodworking trades.

Finally, Marcel's Farm presents an exciting and playful track featuring tunnels, whoops, slaloms, bumps, and other vibrant modules and attractions.

For lovers of other sports

The Alpe d'Huez snowpark is the place to be for thrills and spills. Intended for all levels, from beginners to experts, it provides spaces for learning and improvement at your own pace.

A place of conviviality par excellence, the Snowpark Alpe d'Huez is suitable for all audiences and levels, featuring a Family Park area for beginners and an XXL version for experts.

Whoops, tabletop, rainbow boxes, rails, boxes, pipes, all available on the S (blue level), M (red level) and L-XL (black level) courses so that everyone can indulge in the pleasures of skiing according to their skills, without getting into trouble. An XS version (green level) is also available for children at the Kids Park, a beginner's area comprising easy modules.

In addition to this fun park, beginners who wish to develop in a quieter setting can visit the Montfrais Snowpark. Smaller, it makes it easier to learn to snowboard and perform first tricks.

For off-piste enthusiasts

With its exceptional sunshine and its routes exposed to the four cardinal points, Alpe d'Huez is undoubtedly one of the best resorts in the French Alps for freeride skiing.

From the summit of Pic Blanc, which stands at an altitude of 3,330 meters, you will find approximately twenty off-piste routes, each more spectacular than the last. The most popular route is undoubtedly the Grand Sablat glacier route, a classic of the resort that is considered relatively easy by experts.

A bit more difficult, La Pyramide offers breathtaking landscapes and steep slopes on a high mountain route, accessible after a half-hour walk.

For advanced skiers, the Cheminées de Mâcle offers an exhilarating experience. However, it is advisable to avoid falls on these steep slopes, which are bordered by narrow corridors where there's barely enough space to execute a jump turn.

Considering the abundance of freeride routes in the area, it is advisable to hire a mountain guide from the resort. This will help ensure that you can enjoy the powder snow safely and find the best snow conditions based on the current weather.

For Nordic skiers

While Alpe d'Huez is famous for downhill skiing, it also offers commendable opportunities for cross-country skiing. Enthusiasts will find over 50 km of trails at the base of the Grandes Rousses.

There's no better way to appreciate the resort's stunning winter landscapes than during a ski or snowshoe trek. One highlight is the breathtaking view of the Ecrins National Park mountain range from the heights of Pic Blanc.

For beginner cross-country skiers, three routes are especially suitable.

• the Nordic Park and its 1 km trip in a peaceful setting for first-timers to get comfortable

• the 8 km long Boucle de la Rochette that will take you on a tour of the peaks of the Grandes Rousses massif

• the Boucle de Poutran which will take you 10 km through mountain lakes, with splendid views of the white-clad peaks.

The Boucle des Lacs is a longer and more technical route that takes you from Lac Besson to Alpette, passing by lakes Carrelet and Faucille. Along the way, you can enjoy 20 kilometres of slopes at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, providing sensational views of the snow-covered peaks of the Grandes Rousses and Belledonne mountains. It's a real physical challenge!