La Grave is a small ski resort in the southern French Alps, where the skiing is almost all off-piste. Set in the Massif des Écrins and dominated by the mighty La Meije peak (3,983 m), La Grave is all about empty slopes of untracked powder and epic backcountry terrain with steep gullies, huge drops and some of the best tree runs in the Alps.
Best for: strong skiers and snowboarders who want big, wild terrain with a guide. Need groomed pistes instead? Then pick another of our French Alps ski resorts, or try the family slopes at Le Chazelet across the valley.
La Grave Skiing at a Glance
Truly epic big mountain terrain. Great powder. World-class freeriding.
No piste network, just one groomed glacier run. Everything else is unmarked, unpatrolled off-piste for experts only. You need a guide.
Key Facts
Top lift
Vertical
Village altitude
Lifts
Pistes
Ski area
Season 2026/27
Nearest airport
Transfer times are a typical private transfer in good conditions; allow extra time on winter Saturdays.
Pistes by Difficulty
Beginner (green)
Intermediate (blue)
Advanced (red)
Expert (black)
Plan Your Trip
Ski Holiday Deals
Ski Rental (-10%)
Airport Transfers
Where to Stay
Off-Piste Guiding
Travel Insurance
Where to stay in La Grave
La Grave is a tiny mountain village with a handful of hotels and gîtes. Book early and keep a backup plan for bad-weather days.
We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Pick your base
- La GraveVillage at the foot of the cable car.See places →
- Villar-d’ArêneQuieter village about five minutes’ drive up the road.See places →
- Les 2 AlpesBigger resort with far more beds, covered with La Grave by the Pass AEON 3 Domaines.See places →
Local tip: The cable car is due to run from 19 December 2026 to 2 May 2027, but cable damage kept it shut for much of winter 2024/25, and it closes in high wind or poor visibility. Check it’s running before you book.
Self-catering? Browse apartments and chalets in La Grave →
The Skiing
La Grave skiing is almost all off-piste, with just one groomed run and no snowpark. From the village, a two-section cable car then climbs 1,750 m to 3,200 m.
Freeriding
Use the La Meije cable car to access 1,750 m of non-stop vertical drop (up to 2,150 m when the glacier drag runs) and some of the world’s best freeriding. La Grave is extreme, take a guide.
In fact, April isn’t too late here: the Derby de la Meije freeride race runs on 2–3 April 2027.
Freestyle
No park as such but plenty of natural hits and gullies.
Pistes
The only groomed run is on the glacier, served by a weather-dependent drag above the 3,200 m top station. The 2026/27 day pass covers the drag, but it usually only runs from late February to late April.
La Grave Piste Map
There’s one marked run on the glacier, but otherwise there are no graded pistes here. Instead, the map shows the off-piste routes, such as the Vallons de la Meije. View the official piste map
La Grave Ski & Snowboard Guide
Don’t miss the opportunity to ski in the freeride capital of the world. La Grave is not like any other ski area you’ve ever been to. There’s no piste network, just one groomed run on the glacier, and no one patrols the off-piste. There are also no busy, expensive restaurants and no crowds in expensive, fashionable ski clothing. La Grave is a natural and magical mountain where you are free to make your turns and to express yourself through your off-piste skiing.
La Grave is located beneath the formidable La Meije mountain. It’s a mecca for off-piste freeride skiing and snowboarding. La Grave’s two-section cable car, the Téléphériques des Glaciers de la Meije, starts in the village at 1,450 m. It takes skiers and snowboarders up to the Col des Ruillans at 3,200 m. Then, from the top, you can reach a weather-dependent glacier drag that usually runs late February to late April.
Even for advanced skiers and boarders, booking a trip with a qualified mountain guide is definitely recommended as they will be able to tailor the descent to your ability and help you avoid the super-steep couloirs and glacial terrain which is the reserve of expert skiers only.
The Skiing and Snowboarding
Floss from FREEFLO loves La Grave! Here, she gives us the lowdown on the best runs in the resort:
La Grave in my eyes is the freeride capital of the world, where it’s possible to ski or board up to 2,000 m of vertical drop in a single descent.
There is no place like it anywhere else on earth. It’s a magical and beautiful place overlooked by the awe-inspiring 3,983 m peak La Meije. It is a natural, uncontrolled mountain and a ski area for strong intermediate skiers and above. Access the ski area via the iconic La Meije cable car which takes you to 3,200 m. You then hike up for 10 minutes to get to the top drag lift (if it’s open) and then access the one marked glacier run, the only marked run in the resort. With a guide, glacier routes also lead over to La Grave’s sister resort, Les 2 Alpes.
The Off-Piste Descents from 3,200 m
From 3,200 m you have two main off-piste descents that are not marked – Vallons de la Meije and Vallon de Chancel. This is where you need a guide or instructor and you can ski a variety of different routes through forests, open bowls, steeps and couloirs. The skiing can be as hard or as easy as you want to make it. Some variations of the Vallon de Chancel are slightly less challenging as they’re flatter and shorter routes, but be prepared all the same to ski the bumps and through the trees back to the P1 lift. At this stage, if you’re tired then you can always take the lift down back to the village.
The Vallons de la Meije descent is mostly north facing and is a spectacular run skiing below the Meije. It’s steeper and has some great open bowl skiing. Once committed you can then ski all the way down to below the village of La Grave to the river and have a 10 minute walk out. This run normally takes 1-2 hours of off piste skiing depending on the ski level and fitness of the group.
Off-Piste Ski Guiding
Many top mountain guides have made La Grave their home, for the simple reason that this isn’t really a ski resort at all, it’s a massive off-piste area with one marked glacier run scratched through it. The mountains are awe-inspiring and the terrain is one of a kind in the Alps. If you want to get the best out of your stay here, and stay safe, you’ll need to organise a guide. An experienced guide will not only know where to find the best snow on the day but will teach you invaluable backcountry skills. You’ll improve both your off-piste and steep skiing skills and stay safe at the same time. You’ll go home having had an unforgettable ski experience and with a newfound respect for the mountains. Find an off-piste guide.
Where to Stay
La Grave is geared toward hardcore boarders and skiers and as such there isn’t much in the way of creature comforts. There is a limited but consistently good selection of very reasonably priced hotels and as long as you understand that this isn’t a resort driven by luxury, you won’t be disappointed. L’Hôtel des Alpes Skiers Lodge is one of the best choices in the town. It also offers guided ski weeks and freeride camps. Guests rave about the terrace views of La Meije at sunset and the excellent fresh food. Service can be a little slow, but most reviewers say it’s worth the wait.
Where to Eat
The restaurants in La Grave mainly offer French and Italian food. Le Bois des Fées serves homemade pizzas, burgers and local beers. The people are friendly and it is a great place to sit back and relax after a tiring day.
The Auberge Edelweiss hotel stands out for its wine list, with more than 500 French and international wines. Its restaurant also serves a nightly three-course menu for €39.
For a quick and easy snack to satisfy check out Café Les Glaciers, a café-crêperie in the village.
On the mountain, La Cabine at the 3,200 m top cable car station is a great spot for lunch. Daily specials cost from €22, and the views from the 360° terrace are pretty good too!
Après Shred
Nightlife is not that prominent, as people get exhausted during the day of skiing and snowboarding. Le Bois des Fées still attracts a considerable crowd in the evenings. Sometimes, as a treat, there are live performances. The bar at the Auberge Edelweiss is popular for a nightcap, and the Skiers Lodge has a locals’ bar downstairs.
If you fancy a change from all that hard core boarding, book a guided day of ice-fall climbing. Otherwise, take it easy on the family slopes at Le Chazelet, across the valley.
La Grave Gallery
La Grave Skiing & Snowboarding Videos
Watch this: Ian McIntosh Skis the “Y” Couloir in La Grave, France
Veteran big mountain skier, Ian McIntosh heads to La Grave, France to ski the “Y” couloir. Get in the head of McIntosh as we experience step-by-step what it took to ski this mythical descent. Ian overcomes a wide variety of obstacles, both to access and ski the couloir. Watch a veteran of big mountain skiing use his signature speed and precision to transition between sections and double bergschrund at the bottom of the slope.
Practical Information
Opening dates
Lift passes
Nearest airports
Tourist office
Bureau de La Grave
38 route des Grands Cols
05320 La Grave
France
The RD1091 is the only road in, and brief avalanche closures are possible. Check Info Route 05 before you travel.
Latest access info here
La Grave Skiing FAQ
Not by lift. The La Grave cable car isn’t linked to the Les 2 Alpes ski area, although the same company runs both. High-mountain glacier routes do cross between them, but they aren’t official links and you need a mountain guide. To ski Les 2 Alpes, drive along the RD1091, which can close briefly when avalanche risk is high. The AEON 3 Domaines pass covers both areas.
Very. La Grave isn’t a ski resort in the usual sense: it’s unmarked, unpatrolled off-piste terrain, apart from a marked run on the glacier. The tourist office says you should be at ease on red or even black runs, handle any snow and understand avalanche risk. If you’re not there yet, ski Le Chazelet, the family area across the valley. For more big terrain, see extreme and steep skiing.
It isn’t compulsory, but you should take one. The off-piste isn’t marked, groomed or secured, and the tourist office strongly recommends a high-mountain guide or ski instructor. A guide finds the best snow, tailors the descent to your ability and keeps you clear of crevasses. The two classic routes are the Vallons de la Meije and the Vallon de Chancel. More on off-piste skiing in the French Alps.
Carry a transceiver, shovel and probe every day, and know how to use them. On the glacier, the tourist office also recommends a harness, a lanyard and an ice screw, because off-piste glacier skiing carries a real risk of falling into a crevasse. Avoid the glacier routes in fog, and check the forecast on the morning you ride up. Make sure your travel insurance covers off-piste skiing.
The La Grave cable car runs 19 Dec 2026 – 2 May 2027, from 8:30 to 16:00. An adult La Grave–La Meije cable car pass costs €68 a day or €336 for 6 days. Opening isn’t guaranteed: a damaged cable shut it for much of 2024/25, and it closes in strong wind, poor visibility or high avalanche risk. Check the operator’s site before you go.
Fly into Grenoble-Isère, 1 h 30 – 2 h away by private transfer in good conditions, or Turin, at 2 h 15 – 2 h 45. Allow extra time on winter Saturdays. La Grave sits on the RD1091 between Grenoble and Briançon, and the ZOU express line 55 bus runs between the two. From Briançon, the Col du Lautaret stays open in winter except in snowstorms. Book airport transfers to La Grave.
Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your ski holiday to La Grave, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
