Industry News
Steady snowfalls were dusting the European Alps this week. Our top 7 list of resorts with the deepest snowpack has a new leader, breaking through the 5 meter marker. France in the west of the Alps keeps topping the list, but snow has fallen all across the Alps this week.
Which resorts have the most snow right now? Here is the top 7 for the European Alps:
*Please note, snow depths are self-reported by resorts and not verified by a third party.
#7 Lauchernalp/Lötschental, Switzerland
Lauchernalp/Lötschental in the Swiss canton Valais is the only Swiss resort in the top 7. Lauchneralp is a medium-sized resort near the Aletsch Glacier with 41 km (26 miles) of groomed runs. There is no road access to the village in winter, it is only reachable by tram way.
- Snowdepth at peak: 349 cm (118 inches)
- Runs open: 10/12
- Lifts operating: 7/7
#6 La Thuile / Espace San Bernardo, Italy/France
The Espace San Bernardo ski area, which is situated at the French-Italian border, consists of La Thuile in Italy and La Rosière in France. The combined ski area offers 7,400 acres of skiing across 100 miles (160km) of groomed runs. The resort is serviced by one cable car and 39 lifts and has great training facilities for athletes, such as slalom areas, terrain parks, a boarder-cross slope, fun cross areas, a snowkite area, and kids’ games parks.
- Snowdepth at peak: 360 cm (126 inches)
- Runs open: 61/85
- Lifts operating: 38/39
#5 Grande Motte Glacier/Tignes-Val-d’Isere, L’Espace Killy, France
The Grande Motte Glacier at Tignes is situated at 3,032 meters (9,948 feet) and is recording 380cm (149 inches) of snow. Together with Val d’Isere, the resort is known as L’Espace Killy, after French ski racer Jean-Claude Killy, and boasts 160 runs stretching across 300km.
- Snowdepth at peak: 380 cm (149 inches)
- Runs open: 148/160
- Lifts operating: 62/72
Equal #2 Peisey Vallandry/Paradiski, France
Peisey Vallandry in France is connected with La Plagne and Les Arcs. The resorts together form the Paradiski ski area, the second largest interconnected ski area in the world with 265 miles (425km) of groomed runs serviced by 53 lifts and cable cars, including a two-level cable car that fits 200 people. The highest snowdepth can be found at Grand Col this week.
- Snowdepth at peak: 410 cm (161 inches)
- Runs open: 107/121
- Lifts operating: 45/53
Equal #2 Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France
Chamonix Mont-Blanc has dropped down to third place this week, still measuring 4.1 meters (13.5 feet) of snowdepth at peak. There were some top ups to the snow but sun also compacted the snow, leaving total unchanged from last week. Chamonix is one of the best European resorts for expert riders.
- Snowdepth at peak: 410 cm (161 inches)
- Runs open: 73/121
- Lifts operating: 52/69
Equal #2 Flaine/Le Grand Massif, France
Le Grand Massif in France is located in the Haute-Savoie region and is one of France’s largest interconnected ski areas. The resort faces the famous Mont Blanc and boasts 151 ski runs for beginners and experts alike, serviced by 64 modern ski lifts. Due to poor visibility and snowfalls at the moment, some of the lift infrastructure is not open. Please check daily for updates.
- Snowdepth at peak: 410 cm (161 inches)
- Runs open: 107/151
- Lifts operating: 46/64
#1 Alpe d’Huez, France
The highest peak in the Alpe d’Huez ski area in France is the Pic Blanc with 3,330 meters (10,925 feet), which has recorded the most snow this week with more than 5 meters (16 feet). From Pic Blanc you can ski/board the longest black run in Europe, the world famous Sarenne, which is 16 kilometers (10 miles) long. The combined ski area of Alpe d’Huez offers 248 kilometers of marked pistes serviced by 91 lifts.
- Snowdepth at peak: 515 cm (203 inches)
- Runs open: 93/159
- Lifts operating: 74/91
