Ski in Châtel

Where to ski in Châtel?

For a short stay or a winter holiday, Châtel offers a wide range of accommodations and endless possibilities.

Suppose you prefer mountain ski areas that are well-equipped without being overly extravagant. In that case, you can opt for the Espace Liberté area and book its economic package, which gives you access to the two ski areas of Châtel: 

• Super Châtel Barbossine and Linga Pré la Joux

• At the Chapel of Abondance station

• At the Swiss resorts of Torgon and Morgins (Corbeau sector)

If you want to test your limits, vary the pleasures, satisfy the desires of young and old alike, and have as many holiday experiences as possible on skis, go to the Portes du Soleil, the largest cross-border ski area in France and Europe! Here are 10 good reasons to ski in the Portes du Soleil:

1. Two countries for a single domain: France and Switzerland

2. Over 600 km of slopes

3. 8 Haute-Savoie resorts in the French Alps: Abondance, Avoriaz 1800, Châtel, La Chapelle d’Abondance, Les Gets, Montriond, Morzine, St Jean d’Aulps

4. 4 resorts in the Swiss Alps: Champéry, Morgins, Torgon, Val-d'Ulliez, Les Crosets, Champoussin

5. 308 slopes for all levels: 39 green and 131 blue, 105 red and 33 black

6. 30 areas dedicated to other sports: snow parks, boardercross, ski cross, and more

7. 209 ski lifts

8. 694 mechanical snow guns for guaranteed snowfall

9. A single package for the 12 stations

10. 90 restaurants on the slopes

Skiing for everyone

You won't know where to start between the Châtel resort and the entire Portes du Soleil ski area!

On its own, Châtel boasts 83 km of slopes, divided into two ski areas: the Linga/Meadow sector, which is suitable for experienced skiers and powder enthusiasts, and Super Châtel/Barbossine, located above the village, catering to beginners and intermediate skiers. Barbossine, however, is more challenging.

Among the unmissable slopes in Châtel are:

• The blue slope, La Panoramique, to admire Lake Geneva and the Eagle Valley.

• The red La Perdrix Blanche is relatively easy, and it is interesting because it is rich in relief.

• The red La Combe is located just above the village and has a reasonably wide configuration, making it not too steep.

• The red Le Linga, one of the most famous of the Portes du Soleil, is technical to perfection!

• The black Barbossine slope, ungroomed, will delight free-riders.

Besides the quality and variety of its slopes, what appeals so much about this resort is its friendliness and sense of sharing. All skiers are welcome here, from the youngest to the oldest, from beginners to experienced skiers.

The pleasure of skiing is shared in Châtel, which is why the resort is committed to facilitating the practice of handi-skiing thanks to 15 accessible ski lifts. The resort's ski schools offer several adapted activities, including kart-ski, taxi-ski, and tandem-ski. A varied offer that allows everyone to taste the sensations of skiing during the holidays!

With children

Châtel offers a rich children's program with a variety of activities in secure areas, allowing children to progress with confidence at every age.

For children aged 3 to 6, meet at the Piou-Piou Village Club in Marmottons. Supervised by a team of state-certified instructors, the children move on the skis in small groups. Games and workshops facilitate smooth learning.

For all ages and levels, the Belette green run, 3.7 km long and equipped with approximately twenty fun modules, will allow you to ski while discovering the history of Abondance cheese, a local pride.

For teens looking for thrills, head to Z'ALP! Over 250 metres long, this secure track will allow them to measure their speed using a stopwatch with an illuminated display. But make no mistake, the goal of this area is not so much to break records as to educate (young) audiences about the importance of stopping distances and controlling their trajectory. So skiing is always a pleasure.

Young and old can also meet in the resort's tobogganing areas. The Pré-la-Jaloux sledging area, Snake Glisse, has two locations: one for children from 2 to 6 years old and the other for those over six years old. The Super-Châtel one is open to everyone from the age of 2.

Snowboard and other slides

Super Châtel has a first-rate snowpark that will delight beginners and expert freestylers.

With its 800m boardercross bordered by fir trees and dotted with whoops and multiple obstacles, the 800m slopestyle also offers ten easy-to-difficult level sequences. Its 120m long halfpipe, FFS-approved and equipped with a turbo snowboard, makes the Smoothpark de Châtel a player in the big leagues!

And if you still want more after that, all you have to do is set your sights on one of the 10 other snowparks or the 3 other boarder crosses of the Portes du Soleil, offered by four other resorts resolutely turned towards new snow sports with everything you need. It would be best if you had big air, halfpipe, jib zone, banked turns and airbag:

• Avoriaz, with its 5 sliding areas for all levels and more particularly the Stash, its new snowpark inspired by Jake Burton

• Les Crosets with the Superpark for experts and the Micro Park for beginners

• The Abondance Chapel with its snowpark

• Les Gets with the Chavannes Snowpark

Off-piste ski version

Freeriders are spoiled in Châtel with varied terrain suitable for all levels. You can go off-piste there in all weathers, as long as you are accompanied by a guide who will find the best snow for you throughout the season.

It is possible to indulge in freeride in the two sectors that make up the Châtel resort.

On the Super Châtel Barbossine side, you will have the choice between two extreme options:

• The first relatively easy covers the area between the red slopes, Folières and Chermillon on the west face of Morlan.

• The second, particularly difficult, with very steep and complicated passages, awaits you on the north face, on the Corridors of Morclan.

On the Pré La Joux Linga sector, you will again have the choice with easy routes: the Pointe de Chésery or Lindarets in particular, as well as the Combes de la Leiche or even more difficult ones such as the northern Couloir de la Tête du Géant.

Safety comes first when off-piste skiing, so don't hesitate to take a trip to the Super-Châtel DVA Park. You will benefit from the expert advice of the high mountain guides, train in the handling of the Avalanche Victim Detector (DVA) and test your equipment before setting out to attack the virgin slopes of the resort.

Nordic ski version

The largest Nordic area awaits the cross-country skiers at the Abondance Chapel. They will find 23 km of tracks divided into 9 tracks of different levels. There is plenty of room for both skating and cross-country skiing.

Nordic skiing, biathlon, Nordic Park, orienteering, and a toboggan run comprise the extensive Nordic area that links Châtel to this resort. As for the slopes, there will be something for everyone with:

• an initiation track,

• 2 green runs with a total length of 2.4 km

• 4 blue runs over 7.8 km,

• 2 red slopes over 11 km

• and a black one over 1.8 km

In parallel, eight Nordic routes allow you to practice cross-country skiing, walking and snowshoeing in winter.

And for those who always want more, no problem: a second Nordic-French area awaits them at Lac des Plagnes, 5 km from the village resort of Abondance. In addition to a 3 km loop for alternative cross-country skiing or skating, the area offers a variety of Nordic activities, including skijoring, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ski lifts, and dog sledging.