Morzine & Portes du Soleil Ski Area

Morzine has an excellent central position in the Portes du Soleil with several possibilities to start your ski tour. The resort pistes of Pleney connect to the larger ski area of Les Gets, an area with mostly gentle blue and red runs. The alternative is to head up the other side of the valley towards the more challenging ski area of Avoriaz which connects to the ski resorts of Champery/Les Crosets and Champoussin in Switzerland and the La Linga section of the Chatel ski area.

First time skiers will not be disappointed with Morzine's nursery slopes and have the opportunity to explore further afield if they wish! ... see "Where to go in the Portes du Soleil for..." for more

Portes du Soleil Piste Map

Morzine has many runs accessed via the Pléney télécabine and a number of télésièges; TS de la Crusaz, TS des Mouilles, TS d’Atray and TS des Fys. The runs are an even mix between blues and reds, the latter spanning the intermediate ability levels whereby some would maybe constitute black status if they were not running directly into resort.

The red Piste R, Piste F and Piste A runs above Morzine town are steep but generally wide and are perfect for the advancing intermediate skier/boarder. All can be repeated multiple times using the télésiège d’Atray after initially reaching the Pléney plateau via the télécabine. Piste J is a black run gaining its status as a function of dropping steeply down the mountain adjacent to the lift line. Piste H does likewise but is more frequently pisted, it runs into the Le Stade floodlit red and onward directly into Morzine at the foot of the Pléney Télécabine. ... see "Morzine for Skiing & Snowboarding" for more

Morzine & Les Gets Piste Map

Avoriaz is a vast ski area perched 600 meters above Morzine on the cliffs above the valley Ardoisières. Access from Morzine is easy enough, either directly from town via Super Morzine and the Express du Zore or from the Prodains Valley. The latter offers two mechanisms of uphill transport; Prodains téléphérique and TS du Verare and TS Combe du Machon. The former can get busy in the peak season and the latter is exposed to the elements but does take you higher up the Hauts Forts avoiding the busy Avoriaz town area.

For the more advanced skier with a penchant for steep fast blacks and long mogul runs the Hauts Forts is the place to head. There are multiple black runs dropping down to the TS du Crot and onward to the valley floor, amongst them the Coupe du Monde downhill course. For those wishing to take a more leisurely approach then drop down the Bleue d’Arare and onward to the home run of Le Crot. Both are excellent runs and not as easy as you may think. The former is used for ski races and the latter does not see much action until the end of the day so you can be relatively unencumbered by avoiding hordes of your fellow skiers and boarders. ... see "Avoriaz for Skiing & Snowboarding" for more

Les Gets immediate ski area offers two lifts, the Chavannes Express and the télécabine des Chavannes. The latter services the beginner area above the Chavannes offering the wide but not so gentle gradient of Bruyère and the Gentiane. Many more runs are available over in the Chavannes bowl serviced by five lifts; Nauchets Express, TS Mouille au Chat, Ranfoilly Express, TS Rosta and Grains d’Or Express. There are multiple blues, reds and blacks in the bowl offering something for every level of experience and ability. All the runs converge on the lifts at the centre of the bowl making this the perfect area to spend the day, or longer, with a mixed ability group.

Les Gets/Mont Chery is a little visited freestanding mountain opposite the Chavannes side of the resort. In the depths of winter it is possible to ski across the road at the bottom of the Chavannes, adjacent to the excellent Bar Bush watering hole, and skate over to the bottom of the TC du Mont Chery. From the resulting Mont Blanc view point at the top of the télécabine two chair lifts offer access to the mainly red runs dropping down the face of Mont Chery; TS de la Pointe and TS Grande Ourse. A drag lift TK de Super Chery sees very little use and for those not averse to this mode of transport is a more than acceptable way to access the top of the mountain. This aspect of Mont Chery is south facing and does, later in the season, become slushy quicker than other aspects. ... see "Les Gets for Skiing & Snowboarding" for more

Morzine & Les Gets Piste Map

The Châtel Linga section of the Portes du Soleil is accessed via the TS Chaux Fleurie out of Linderets. The Secteur is really two distinct geographies whereby Linga sits immediately the other side of the Col du Bassachaux ridge line. Châtel sits a little further down the Vallée Abondance and is the only broken section of the Portes du Soleil requiring a short bus ride to reach it.

Linga offers some excellent terrain, a mixture of blues and reds but no blacks. However, some of the reds are extremely steep and are a challenge to more advanced skiers. Initially there is a choice of four reds dropping down to Plain Dranse. If you are heading onwards to Combe then take the red to skiers right, Les Voraches, which drops you to the bottom of the TS de la Chaux-Rosées lift. The other three reds run further down the hill converging into one red run - Les Rochassons. A green also runs in the same direction but the red is fairly tame, both lead to the TS Pierre Longue which will return you to Plaine Dranse ready for onward exploration. ... see "Chatel for Skiing & Snowboarding" for more

Of the 14 resorts in the Portes du Soleil, seven of them are located in Switzerland: Les Crosets, Morgins, Champoussin, Planachaux, Champery, Val-d'Illiez and Torgon. You can ski to them from Chatel or from Avoriaz. Although alot smaller than their French counter-parts, it is well worth making a trip over to them, as long as you ensure you leave enough time to get home - taxis are expensive! ... see "Swiss Side Ski Areas of the Portes du Soleil" for more