Ski in Morzine

Why ski at the Portes du Soleil?

It is no coincidence that the Portes du Soleil is included among the most famous ski areas in the world. Here are some fun facts about the area:

1. It has the largest cross-border ski area in Europe

2. The two countries in the same domain are France and Switzerland

3. There's more than 650 km of cumulative descent

4. The 8 resorts in the French Alps: Morzine, Avoriaz 1800, LEs Gets, Chatel, La Chapelle d'Abondance, Montriond, St. Jean d'Aulps

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

6. 308 slopes, including 39 green, 131 blue, 105 red, and 33 black

7. 209 ski lifts

8. There are 30 snowparks, boardercross and ski-cross

9. 1,335 mechanical snow guns

10. One complete package for all stations

XXL version ski

If you enjoy skiing on various slopes, this exceptional Franco-Swiss area will surely impress you.

The Portes du Soleil extends its 300 trails as far as the eye can see between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva. You will require at least 15 days of skiing to try them all.

Morzine resort's strategic location makes it the perfect base to access the entire area, especially if you plan to ski in the Avoriaz and Les Gets areas.

Families will be excited to visit Morzine to enjoy its expansive slopes, lined with fir trees, including the long and winding blue slope of Les Choucas, which happens to be our favourite. Overall, the Pleney sector has the highest concentration of easy slopes, making it an ideal location for beginners.

Morzine offers a range of challenging slopes to cater to the needs of experienced skiers. Among these legendary descents, you should not miss the Chamossière and the Pas de Chavanette in Avoriaz. The latter is known as one of the steepest black runs in the world, earning the nickname "the Swiss Wall."

The children's version of ski

Labelled Family Plus, this resort knows how to welcome young skiers!

You can trust your children to the Outa daycare, which is open to little ones starting from 3 months old. Those aged 3 years and above are welcomed to the Club Piou-Piou ski school of the ESF.

Children aged 3 to 16 are invited to the Avoriaz Children's Village, a fun and playful space organised into three age groups. The village provides engaging activities for the youngest participants (ages 3-4), teaches skiing basics to children (ages 5-12), and offers entertaining experiences for teenagers (ages 13-16).

Group activities and private ski or snowboard lessons, including freeride, freestyle, and boardercross courses, are part of the program, tailored to participants' age and skill level.

Avoriaz is home to the enchanting Lil' Stash, a fantastic snow park designed especially for children. Within this park lives Shreddie, a playful creature alongside a beaver, a yeti, and a tiny gorilla. In addition to the designated play areas, Morzine offers specific ski slopes for young skiers, such as the Penguins slope, which can be accessed from the Nabor chairlift, and the Zouzous path—a groomed slope on Pléney where children can encounter amusing animals.

Other sports areas

Morzine has two snowparks and a boardercross course. Slopestyle, pipe, and boardercross competitions are regularly held at the resort, and freestyle skiing is also quite popular.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced freestyle enthusiast, there are plenty of options for snowboarders in the area. You'll find various features, such as jumps, rails, and boxes, particularly at the Superpark des Crosets and the snow parks in La Chapelle and Châtel.

The most beautiful features of the area can be found in Avoriaz 1800, where a new concept of ecological snowpark was established ten years ago, inspired by practices from California. Here, you can experience a reinvented form of snowboarding. All the modules in the Stash, along with its smaller counterpart, the Lil'Stash, designed for children, are crafted from deadwood sourced from local forests. The slopes are situated in the Lindarets forest, in a vast expanse of untouched, ungroomed snow. It's a fantastic environment for practising freeride and freestyle in the safety of unspoiled nature, with plenty of surprises waiting to be discovered throughout the day!

On the off-piste side

Morzine is the ideal resort for starting freeriding, with its gentle slopes and rock-free terrain.

The best areas for off-piste skiing in the resort, when snow conditions allow, are Nyon and Chamossière, both located at an altitude of 2000 m. The Pointe de Nyon is intended for advanced skiers only, while the Combe d'Angolon and the off-piste route of Chamossière are well-suited for average to good skiers.

Expert freeriders can go to Avoriaz for top-level terrain, especially in the areas of Crozats, La Frontalière, Brochaux, and Marmotte.

For a truly unique and mythical experience, visit Champéry! You can navigate the powder along the edge of the notorious Swiss Wall.

To explore the most beautiful spots in the Portes du Soleil area and to enjoy off-piste skiing safely, it is highly recommended to hire a high-mountain guide. They will lead you to hidden locations where the snow conditions are optimal for skiing.

Nordic skiing

Morzine offers the most diverse cross-country ski routes in the Portes du Soleil.

Enjoy cross-country skiing, walking, or snowshoeing. You can easily explore the trails in the Vallée de la Manche. The path is accessible on foot from the centre of Morzine. Please note that no ski lift takes you to this serene valley, which is situated at an altitude of 1100 to 1400 metres. You can expect a tranquil and relaxing experience.

On the Pléney-Chavannes side, you will find a Nordic site located at an altitude of 1,500 m, offering extensive snow and ample sunshine. People visit as much to practice activities as to admire the view of Mont-Blanc.

If you're searching for the largest and most impressive Nordic skiing area in the region, head straight to Super-Morzine. This destination is the top choice for cross-country skiing in a high-altitude mountain setting, with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 metres above sea level.

Finally, Lake Montriond can be explored in winter through Nordic activities. The area boasts natural assets and resembles the Canadian Far North.