Snowboarding in the French Alps
A Guide to the Best Snowboard Resorts in the French Alps
With huge mountains, a laissez-faire attitude to danger, and great weather, the French Alps are home to some of Europe’s best snowboarding.
Snowboarders of every stripe flock to the French Alps each winter, from complete beginners who enjoy the wide open pistes of the Three Valleys to serious freeriders who pit their wits against the steep terrain of Chamonix and Les 2 Alpes.
Resorts such as Les Arcs and Avoriaz were instrumental in snowboarding’s early days, accepting riders when it was far from fashionable to do so. Famous resorts like Tignes, Chamonix, Val d’Isère, Courchevel and Morzine are now home to some of the largest seasonaire communities in the Alps. The ski resorts of Les 3 Vallées, with 180 lifts, 600 km of skiing on 330 marked pistes, make up the world’s largest connected ski area and it’s here you’ll find some of the best snow-sure, high altitude terrain in the French Alps.
You don’t have to be a pro snowboarder to enjoy the best of the French Alps. Most resorts try to cater for every level. You’ll find beginner runs and wide open pistes to cruise down and nail your first turns, fast and fun red runs for intermediates, and more challenging blacks for advanced skiers. Plus easy access to fantastic off-piste snowboarding wherever you go. The French Alps are often criticised by freestyle skiers and snowboarders for not having enough good quality snow parks (although Avoriaz, Serre Chevalier, Les Arcs and Tignes are trying hard to catch up with the US and Canada), but, when you ride the backcountry terrain, it’s easy to see why snow parks aren’t always top of the agenda.
Where to go Snowboarding in the French Alps
Here’s a selection of the best places to snowboard in the French Alps organised geographically from north to south:
© Pascal Gombert | OT Avoriaz
1. Snowboarding in Avoriaz
The snowpark capital of France and easily accessible off-piste with lots of steep, fun terrain to ride. It may be home to the strangest architecture on the planet but virtually all accommodation has incredible access to the slopes.
Highest lift: 3200 m. Verticle drop: 2200 m.
Km of pistes: 659 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
© flickr | Chris Hoyle
2. Snowboarding in Morzine
Morzine is your gateway to the Portes du Soleil, a vast area that spreads across the border between France and Switzerland. With several world-class snowparks, incredible freeriding and access to Avoriaz via the Super Morzine gondola, there’s masses of riding.
Highest lift: 3200 m. Verticle drop: 2200 m.
Km of pistes: 659 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
© ActiveAzur.com
3. Snowboarding in Chamonix | Go >
Situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix offers a huge variety of terrain including some of the world’s best freeriding. Cruise the often sunny north facing slopes of Le Brévent, or for a more mellow snowboarding head for the rolling terrain and wide-open pistes of Le Tour.
Highest lift: 3842 m. Verticle drop: 2807 m.
Km of pistes: 170 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
© switchmag.fr
4. Snowboarding in La Clusaz
Get away from the crowds and experience an unspoilt French mountain town just an hour’s transfer from Geneva airport. Great for beginners but scratch the surface and you’ll find lots of good tree runs kickers and easily accessible backcountry routes. Annecy’s snowboarding powder days.
Highest lift: 2600 m. Verticle drop: 1500 m.
Km of pistes: 132 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
©David Tchag
5. Snowboarding in Arêches-Beaufort
Jake Blauvelt, Freddy Kalbermaten and Eric Jackson’s latest snowboard film Naturally could have been shot anywhere in Europe, but the crew chose Arêches-Beaufort. Why? Incredible freeriding, beautiful scenery and snow covered chalets perfect for backside 540 roof drops!
Highest lift: 2320 m. Verticle drop: 1120 m.
Km of pistes: 50 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
©Thomas Foster
6. Snowboarding in Les Arcs
Les Arcs is part of the massive Paradiski domaine but with high-speed chairlifts, including some six-seaters, it’s quick and easy to get around. Hire a guide and experience the amazing off-piste run down Aiguille Rouge, or hit Vallandry for fast and fun red runs. It’s all here!
Highest lift: 3250 m. Verticle drop: 2000 m.
Km of pistes: 425 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
©worldsnowboardguide
7. Snowboarding in Tignes
Tignes is a huge purpose-built ski resort that offers snowboarding every day of the year thanks to access to the Grand Motte glacier. The sheer variety of terrain, from high-quality pistes to world-class freeriding and great snowparks to the infamous Killy dash, means there’s something for everyone no matter what your ability.
Highest lift: 3450 m. Verticle drop: 1900 m.
Km of pistes: 300 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
8. Snowboarding in Val d’Isère
Val d’Isère has got everything you could want in a resort: some of the best pistes in the French Alps, one of the highest tree lines in Europe, steep chutes and couloires and an excellent snow park to top it off. Plus easy access to more awesome terrain in Tignes if you get bored!
Highest lift: 3450 m. Verticle drop: 1900 m.
Km of pistes: 300 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
©OT Val Thorens
9. Snowboarding in Val Thorens
Board-friendly Val Thorens is Europe’s highest ski resort and gets an average of 9 metres of snow, so a long season and good snow conditions are pretty much guaranteed. The slick lift system whisks you up to 3200 metres and powder fields abound. However, the whole resort is above the tree line, so cloud can ruin your day. If that happens, hit the tree runs in La Tania lower down the valley.
Highest lift: 3230 m. Verticle drop: 2130 m.
Km of pistes: 600 km. Nearest airport: Geneva.
10. Snowboarding in Les 2 Alpes
Les 2 Alpes is a massive ski resort in the southern Alps with one of France’s best snow parks and a lively nightlife in 1650. Spend your time blasting the pistes off the top of the glacier or hone your freestyle skills in the park. Snow-sure and lots of challenging terrain for freeriders. If you’re feeling super adventurous, hire a guide and hit nearby La Grave.
Highest lift: 3568 m. Verticle drop: 2298 m.
Km of pistes: 200 km. Nearest airport: Grenoble.
©OT Serre Chevalier
11. Snowboarding in Serre Chevalier
Serre Chevalier is home to some of the best freeride snowboarding in the southern French Alpes. Largely uncrowded, especially if you head up the valley to Monêtier-les-Bains, you’ll find an abundance of great pistes, lots of nice tree runs and loads of good natural hits.
Highest lift: 2830 m. Verticle drop: 1630 m.
Km of pistes: 250 km. Nearest airport: Turin.
