Ski resorts with the best snow coverage ❄

Ski resorts with the best snow coverage :

In order to carry out this evaluation (score out of 10)Several criteria are taken into account, such as the altitude of the domain, the exposure, the local meteorological particularities, as well as the presence (or not) of snow cannons.

Ski resort	Mountain	Average altitude of the Ski Area	Altitude high (in m)	Snow of culture (in ha)	Snowmaking capacity of the massif Score / 10
Val Thorens	Northern Alps	2765	3230	48	10
Val d’Isère	Northern Alps	2653	3456	80	10
Alpe d’Huez	Northern Alps	2580	3300	88	10
The Colmiane	Southern Alps	1600	1800	0	10
Tignes	Northern Alps	2500	3450	175	10
Les 2 Alpes	Northern Alps	2475	3600	60	10
Auris en oisans	Northern Alps	2450	3300	88	10
Peisey Vallandry	Northern Alps	2450	3250	42	10
Bonneval sur Arc	Northern Alps	2400	3000	60	10
La Rosière 1850	Northern Alps	2325	2800	40	9
Isola 2000	Southern Alps	2305	2610	40	9
Risoul	Southern Alps	2300	2750	180	9
Orcières Merlette	Southern Alps	2288	2725	204	9
Saint Véran	Southern Alps	2285	2830	19	10
Molines en Queyras	Southern Alps	2285	2830	19	9
Montgenèvre	Southern Alps	2280	2700	30	9
Champagny en Vanoise	Northern Alps	2250	3250	30	10
La Plagne	Northern Alps	2250	3250	329	10
Montchavin – La Plagne	Northern Alps	2250	3250	132	10
Vaujany	Northern Alps	2225	2800	115	9
Les Arcs	Northern Alps	2213	3226	130	10
Val d’Allos	Southern Alps	2200	2600	30	9
Vars	Southern Alps	2200	2750	180	9
Chamonix	Northern Alps	2159	3275	65	9
Les Menuires	Northern Alps	2150	2850	170	10
Saint Martin de Belleville	Northern Alps	2150	2850	170	10
Valfréjus	Northern Alps	2144	2737	30	9
Les Orres	Southern Alps	2135	2720	110	9
Aussois	Northern Alps	2125	2750	36	9
Gavarnie Gèdre	Pyrenees	2125	2400	0	9
Sainte Anne la Condamine	Southern Alps	2115	2400	0	9
Saint Lary Soulan	Pyrenees	2100	2500	322	9
Cauterets	Pyrenees	2090	2450	15	9
Luz Ardiden	Pyrenees	2090	2500	32	9
Valloire	Northern Alps	2090	2750	36	9
Valmeinier	Northern Alps	2090	2750	36	9
Sainte Foy Tarentaise	Northern Alps	2085	2620	9	9
Ceillac in Queyras	Southern Alps	2075	2450	6	9
Crévoux	Southern Alps	2075	2550	20	9
Les Karellis	Northern Alps	2060	2520	10	9
Saint Sorlin d’Arves	Northern Alps	2060	2620	81	9
Orelle	Northern Alps	2050	3200	49	10
Flaine	Northern Alps	2050	2500	40	9
Formiguères	Pyrenees	2050	2400	0	9
La Norma	Northern Alps	2050	2750	34	9
Le Chazelet	Southern Alps	2050	2300	6	9
Puymorens Span	Pyrenees	2050	2500	48	9
Puy-Saint-Vincent	Southern Alps	2050	2700	40	9
Val Cenis	Northern Alps	2050	2800	20	9
La Tania	Northern Alps	2041	2732	218	9
Meribel	Northern Alps	2026	2952	217	10
Auron	Southern Alps	2025	2450	94	9
Les Angles	Pyrenees	2025	2400	138	9
Cambre d’Aze	Pyrenees	2020	2400	0	9
Piau Engaly	Pyrenees	2010	2600	40	9
Abriès en Queyras	Southern Alps	2000	2450	4	9
Les Agudes	Pyrenees	2000	2400	90	9
Peyresourde	Pyrenees	2000	2400	90	9
Pra-Loup	Southern Alps	2000	2500	65	9
Saint Francis Longchamp	Northern Alps	2000	2550	34	9
Serre Chevalier	Southern Alps	2000	2800	158	9
Superdevoluy / La Joue du Loup	Southern Alps	2000	2500	30	9
Doucy	Northern Alps	1975	2550	45	9
Valmorel	Northern Alps	1975	2550	45	9
Barèges	Pyrenees	1950	2500	100	9
La Mongie	Pyrenees	1950	2500	100	9
Oz en oisans	Northern Alps	1950	2800	115	9
Font-Romeu – Bolquère – Pyrenees 2000	Pyrenees	1932	2213	95	9
Montclar les 2 valleys	Southern Alps	1925	2500	35	9
Courchevel	Northern Alps	1919	2738	282	9
Ax 3 Domains	Pyrenees	1900	2400	28	9
Beille	Pyrenees	1900	2000	0	9
Gourette	Pyrenees	1900	2450	48	9
Sauze Super Sauze	Southern Alps	1900	2400	35	9
Valberg	Southern Alps	1900	2100	10	9
Arvieux en Queyras	Southern Alps	1898	2105	4	8
Pralognan la Vanoise	Northern Alps	1883	2355	48	8
The 7 Laux	Northern Alps	1875	2400	650	8
Bessans	Northern Alps	1870	2000	0	8
La Toussuire	Northern Alps	1860	2620	55	8
Le Corbier	Northern Alps	1860	2620	28	8
Saint Colomban des Villards	Northern Alps	1860	2620	48	8
Saint Jean d’Arves	Northern Alps	1860	2620	30	8
Reallon	Southern Alps	1853	2146	0	8
La Pierre St Martin	Pyrenees	1840	2153	19	8
Saint Gervais Mont-Blanc	Northern Alps	1838	2525	97	8
Chamrousse	Northern Alps	1825	2250	51	8
Les Contamines Montjoie	Northern Alps	1805	2450	50	8
Albiez Montrond	Northern Alps	1800	2100	23	8
Ascou Pailhères	Pyrenees	1800	2100	6	8
Chabanon	Southern Alps	1800	2050	30	8
Chaillol	Southern Alps	1800	2000	0	8
La Grave la Meije	Southern Alps	2500	3560	0	9
Villard Reculas	Northern Alps	1798	2115	30	8
Luchon Superbagnères	Pyrenees	1794	2122	48	8
Serre Eyraud	Southern Alps	1790	2100	5	8
Val Louron	Pyrenees	1783	2100	18	8
Alpe du Grand Serre	Northern Alps	1776	2184	10	8
Brides les Bains	Northern Alps	1775	2950	101	10
The Collet of Allevard	Northern Alps	1775	2100	13	8
Vallouise-Pelvoux	Southern Alps	1775	2300	35	8
La Clusaz	Northern Alps	1770	2500	88	8
Beuil les Launes	Southern Alps	1765	2100	20	8
Céüze	Southern Alps	1765	2000	0	8
Mijanès – Donezan	Pyrenees	1765	2000	2	8
Puyvalador	Pyrenees	1760	1820	20	8
Turini Silver Camp	Southern Alps	1760	1920	0	8
Artouste	Pyrenees	1750	2100	0	8
Nistos	Pyrenees	1744	1887	10	8
Morzine	Northern Alps	1733	2466	98	8
Ghisoni	Corsica	1725	1870	0	8
Avoriaz	Northern Alps	1714	2277	112	8
Areches Beaufort	Northern Alps	1700	2320	14	8
The Olmes Mountains	Pyrenees	1700	2000	40	8
Megeve	Northern Alps	1700	2350	172	8
Goulier	Pyrenees	1675	1850	0	8
Ristolas in Queyras	Southern Alps	1675	1700	0	7
Val Pelens	Southern Alps	1675	1750	0	7
Montriond	Northern Alps	1660	2350	57	8
Roubion – Les Buisses	Southern Alps	1660	1920	0	8
Hautacam	Pyrenees	1657	1813	0	8
Ventoux – Mont Serein	Southern Alps	1656	1912	0	8
Chatel	Northern Alps	1650	2200	77	8
Crest Voland Cohennoz	Northern Alps	1650	2069	25	8
Camurac	Pyrenees	1650	1800	6	7
Saint Léger les Mélèzes	Southern Alps	1630	2000	0	8
Rousset Pass	Northern Alps	1625	1900	0	8
Praz de Lys Sommand	Northern Alps	1625	2000	15	8
Les Carroz	Northern Alps	1620	2100	41	8
Manigod	Northern Alps	1620	1780	19	7
Lans en Vercors	Northern Alps	1614	1807	6	8
Les Saisies	Northern Alps	1610	2069	15	8
Our Lady of Bellecombe	Northern Alps	1610	2070	15	8
Le Mourtis	Pyrenees	1605	1860	10	8
Besse Super Besse	Central Massif	1600	1850	50	8
Greolières les Neiges	Southern Alps	1600	1800	0	8
Guzet	Pyrenees	1600	2100	0	8
The Audibergue – La Moulière	Southern Alps	1600	1800	0	8
Morillon	Northern Alps	1600	2500	20	8
Samoëns	Northern Alps	1600	2500	20	8
Villard de Lans	Northern Alps	1597	2050	38	8
Les Bottières	Northern Alps	1590	1900	30	8
Les Gets	Northern Alps	1587	2002	126	8
Corrençon en Vercors	Northern Alps	1581	2050	38	8
Ancelle	Southern Alps	1579	1807	0	8
The Semnoz	Northern Alps	1577	1704	0	7
Laye en Champsaur	Southern Alps	1575	1850	0	8
La Giettaz	Northern Alps	1565	1930	17	8
Combloux	Northern Alps	1557	1930	42	8
Praz sur Arly	Northern Alps	1552	2069	0	8
Le Grand Bornand	Northern Alps	1550	2100	95	8
Le Grand Puy	Southern Alps	1550	1800	0	8
Passy Plaine Joux	Northern Alps	1550	1750	25	7
Chastreix Sancy	Central Massif	1540	1730	0	7
Larche	Southern Alps	1531	1657	0	7
Needles in Queyras	Southern Alps	1530	1610	3	7
Le Mont Dore	Central Massif	1525	1850	20	8
Les Estables – Mezenc	Central Massif	1520	1690	0	7
Bramans	Northern Alps	1515	1800	0	8
Le Lioran	Central Massif	1505	1850	95	8
Bernex	Northern Alps	1500	2000	16	8
La Sambuy	Northern Alps	1500	1850	0	8
Thollon les Memises	Northern Alps	1500	2000	10	8
Gresse en Vercors	Northern Alps	1498	1751	17	7
The Chioula	Pyrenees	1483	1725	0	7
Le Bleymard – Mont Lozère	Central Massif	1480	1600	0	7
Col de Porte	Northern Alps	1478	1700	0	7
Font d’Urle	Northern Alps	1475	1700	0	7
Val d’Azun	Pyrenees	1475	1600	0	7
Aillons Margeriaz	Northern Alps	1450	1900	0	8
Savoie Grand Revard	Northern Alps	1450	1550	0	7
Les Houches	Northern Alps	1445	1900	30	8
Pond of Lers	Pyrenees	1435	1570	0	7
Les Rousses	Jura	1420	1680	18	7
Alti Aigoual	Central Massif	1409	1567	7	7
The Chapel of Abondance	Northern Alps	1400	1800	20	8
Romme	Northern Alps	1390	1580	0	6
Chalmazel	Central Massif	1382	1634	13	6
The Cross of Bauzon	Central Massif	1381	1511	0	6
Autrans	Northern Alps	1380	1710	0	6
Marcieu pass	Northern Alps	1375	1550	6	6
Bellevaux – Hirmentaz	Northern Alps	1355	1610	10	6
Saint Pierre de Chartreuse / Le Planolet	Northern Alps	1350	1800	0	8
Roc d’Enfer – St Jean d’Aulps	Northern Alps	1350	1800	38	7
Abundance	Northern Alps	1340	1730	20	6
Prabouré	Central Massif	1333	1400	0	6
Flumet – St Nicolas la Chapelle	Northern Alps	1325	1650	30	6
Lus la Jarjatte	Northern Alps	1325	1510	0	6
Méaudre	Northern Alps	1306	1600	7	6
Laguiole	Central Massif	1304	1407	0	6
Cord	Northern Alps	1300	1600	15	6
The Desert of Entremont	Northern Alps	1300	1400	0	6
Brameloup	Central Massif	1295	1390	0	6
Menthières	Jura	1292	1534	0	6
Le Reposoir	Northern Alps	1290	1600	10	6
Jura Mountains	Jura	1290	1680	33	6
The Coulmes	Northern Alps	1264	1463	0	6
Les Habères	Northern Alps	1250	1600	0	6
Mount Saxonnex	Northern Alps	1250	1500	0	6
Les Plans d’Hotonnes – Plateau de Retord	Jura	1225	1350	0	6
The Granier	Northern Alps	1210	1420	0	6
Ornon Pass	Northern Alps	1205	1350	0	6
The Brasses	Northern Alps	1200	1500	40	6
Saint Hilaire du Touvet	Northern Alps	1200	1400	9	6
Les Fourgs	Jura	1185	1270	2	6
Métabief Mont d’Or	Jura	1180	1460	36	6
The Markstein	Vosges	1177	1267	0	6
The Schlucht	Vosges	1173	1246	1	6
Le Sappey en Chartreuse	Northern Alps	1155	1350	0	6
Gaschney 360	Vosges	1135	1290	0	6
Montmin – Col de la Forclaz	Northern Alps	1135	1180	0	5
The Schnepfenried	Vosges	1134	1258	6	6
Bellefontaine Alpine Space	Jura	1131	1261	0	6
La Bresse Hohneck	Vosges	1125	1350	9	6
The Guards Lodge	Central Massif	1080	1160	0	5
The Source of the Doubs – Mouthe	Jura	1050	1172	0	5
White Lake	Vosges	1050	1200	20	5
La Planche des Belles Filles	Vosges	1049	1148	0	5
La Bresse Lispach	Vosges	1015	1120	12	5
Ventron	Vosges	1010	1150	3	5
The Equals	Northern Alps	1000	1100	0	5
Sixt Horseshoe	Northern Alps	1000	1200	20	5
The Ballon d’Alsace	Vosges	985	1150	10	4
Saint Jean de Sixt	Northern Alps	970	1000	40	4
La Combe Saint Pierre	Jura	958	1035	0	4
Gérardmer	Vosges	950	1150	10	4
The Grand Valtin	Vosges	945	1139	0	4
La Bresse Brabant	Vosges	940	1000	0	4
Saint Maurice sur Moselle	Vosges	905	1260	2	4
The Field of Fire	Vosges	900	1100	41	4
Bussang – Larcenaire	Vosges	896	970	10	3
Xonrupt – Le Poli	Vosges	893	980	0	3

The rating of snowmaking capacity is an evaluation, based on the average and maximum altitude, the orientation of the ski area, as well as the local characteristics (hydrometry). I also took into consideration the snowmaking history, in order to have the maximum historical consistency.

Questions & Answers

Which ski resort has the best snow coverage?

The record for snowfall in France is at Flaine in the Alps, with a record of 420m of cumulative snowfall, over one winter, for a record at 2450m.

Which resort to see snow in summer ?

In the resorts of Tignes, Val d’Isère and Les 2 Alpes, you can find a glacierrespectively at more than 3000m of altitudeand which remain relatively snowy, on a layer of iceduring the summer. It is even possible to ski there.

Which resort has the best snow in the Pyrenees?

The resort of Piau-Engaly has the best snow coverage in the Pyrenees, notably thanks to thealtitude of its ski area, which goes up to 2600m.

Which ski resort has the most snow?

The ski resort of Val Thorens is at 2300 of altitude, and is the resort of France, where you will have the best chance to have a sufficient snow cover to be able to ski. It is also the highest resort in France.

Which resort has the most artificial snow?

La Plagne is the ski resort with the largest area of its ski area covered with artificial snow. There are 329 hectares of artificial snow.

Where to ski in November?

Tignes, Les 2 Alpes, or Val d’Isère are the resorts that open their ski areas the earliest, because they have a glacier above 3 000mwhich allows them to have sufficient snow cover for skiing, and present early in the season.

Where to ski in April?

Tignes, Les 2 Alpes, Val d’Isère, Chamonix or Alpe d’Huez are the resorts that benefit from the best snow cover in spring, because their ski areas exceed the 3000m of altitudewhere the snow melts less quickly, and is more likely to fall.

On which French glaciers is it possible to ski ?

It is possible to ski on the glaciers of Tignes, Val d’Isere or the one of 2 Alpsand thus to benefit from the altitude and the presence of the ice underneath, in order to be able to ski even in spring, or in autumn.

What is the percentage of ski runs with artificial snow?

In France, 29% of ski runs have snow cannon, and can thus create artificial snow, in case of negative temperaturebut from lack of snow.

How do you create artificial snow?

Snowmaking consists of spraying water droplets at high pressure into air at negative temperature, from preferably from -2°.

Is artificial snow ecological?

To make artificial snow, you need electricity and water. 1 cubic meter of water makes 2 cubic meters of snow. 65% of the French snow comes from dams at altitude, and the rest comes from underground sources, which man also uses for his consumption. The necessary electrical consumption is equivalent to 2.1w / day and per skier.

What is the cost of snowmaking for ski resorts?

On average, 1 cubic meter of snow costs 1 euro to the resort. The most expensive part is the installation of the snow cannons on the slopes, and the cost of electricity. The electricity consumption is not negligible and raises ecological questions.

What is the highest ski run in Europe?

It is the Kleine Matterhorn glacier in Switzerland, with a starting altitude of 3883m. It is the highest ski run in Europe, surrounded by several peaks exceeding 4000m. The view on the Matterhorn is grandiose.

Where to ski in summer in Europe ?

The Kleine Matterhorn glacier in Switzerland is the only one that is truly open all summer, and where it is possible to ski at 3 883m. There is also the glacier of Tignes and 2 Alpes, but they sometimes close in August and September, depending on the weather and the snow cover.

How will the snow cover evolve with global warming ?

The rise in temperature should have a negative impact on snowmaking and the reduction of glaciers, however, not all mountain ranges will be as affected, since there is another factor to consider: hydrometry. Thus, it is preferable to invest in the massifs above 1800m of altitude.

What are the alternatives to snow?

There are resorts that offer plastic coverings, also to allow skiing in the summer, but these facilities are highly criticized from an ecological point of view, because they contribute to the artificialization of the soil.

Videos

Bonus: what is my favorite station?

It’s Les Arcs 1800, because there is a TGV link, directly from Paris, and it’s a resort that I frequent both in winter (see my ski rental in Arc 1800), and in summer as well, where hiking is very pleasant, and also the possibility to climb some cycling passes in the surroundings, and many shops that remain open in the resort.

Translated from the french original version : https://skidata.io/station-de-ski/domaine-skiable/enneigement/?rand=9113

Pierre Giraud

Fondateur de Skidata.io, j’ai une passion pour le ski, la randonnée en montagne, ainsi que la data.

Mon objectif est de vous aider à comparer factuellement les domaines skiables et villages de montagne.

Ski resorts with the best snow coverage ❄