La Clusaz ski area

Boarding in La Clusaz can start as early as late November or early December, especially if you like off-piste trekking but the official ski season usually starts the week before Christmas and continues until late April.

The La Clusaz domain covers five mountains and covers 130km of extensive and varied runs, the majority of which are north facing, which explains the good snow record of the resort.

La Clusaz also tends to get the first of the snow, and boarding back into the town centre is possible throughout the winter season, so you can step right into the aprés-ski vibe after a hard day on th slopes. The pistes and park are groomed well and the authorities work hard at maintaining the snow, with snow cannons on the lower runs back to the town.

The La Clusaz lift system includes five cable cars, 16 chairlifts and 36 drag lifts. There are 25 green runs, 28 blue, 23 red and 7 black runs, not to mention the abundance of off piste areas.

La Clusaz provides a wide range of beginner slopes on the lower slopes near the town centre and on the Beauregard plateau, which is served by a high speed cable car. The Beauregard area has lovely gentle green runs to progress to, including one long one which takes you around the base of the mountain back to the village.

For a first experience of chair lifts, the long tree lined runs from the Cret de Merle to La Balme and back, provide a lovely long gentle solution. Most of the beginners slopes are in close proximity to the mountain restaurants or town centre, which makes La Clusaz an ideal beginner site for skiers, and parties of mixed abilities.

Beginner lessons can also be taken at the Croix Fry area of la Clusaz, which provides quieter, gentler slopes, served mainly by drag lifts. For a change of scenery, Le Grand Bornand offers a great place for beginners to spread their wings, progressing on to the gentle slopes of La Joyere, Gettiers or Chinaillon. 

La Clusaz offers an abundance of boarding with some high long blue and reds in the La Balme area. La Balme holds it's snow really well and is a big favourite with intermediate boarders for it's wide runs and fab off-piste. There is a tricky button in the adjoing bowl of Torchere, but it is well worth mastering.

The L'Aiguille at La Clusaz is the second highest areas and the top is often quite mogully, but a good challenge for intermediates. It is accessed by chair lifts and is half way down is the snow park and boarder cross. The Etale and Col de Medassier areas are the third highest areas. However the areas are mainly served by a few chairlifts and drag lifts which have proved hard for in-experienced boarders.

Manigod and Beauregard are good areas for practising technique amongst the trees and enjoying the scenery. The shorter runs are good fun with some un-recognised rat runs through the trees which the kids love.

When visiting Le Grand Bornand take the Tolar or Lachat runs to access the snow park and long blues and reds of the extensive maroly area, avoiding some painful greens! 

La Clusaz offers some fantastic opportunities for off-piste riding and exhilerating black runs at Etale, Combe de Fernuy and La Balme. All of which also have soem awesome unbashed natural kickers. The off-piste on all of these can be great fun when the powder is good, and if you take advice on where to go.

At the Col de Balme there are various renowned off-piste routes over the Cols on both sides, however, these should never be attempted without a guide and are best to tackle in January or February when the snow is safer and the avalanche risk is lower.

Le Grand Bornand offers a few black runs off Mont Lachat and Floria, good powder in the Maroly area, a challenging boarder cross, championship half pipe and some awesome jumps in the snowpark. 

If you would like to have a more detailed look at the layout of the pistes in the Aravis area, then one of the best we've found is this interactive map of the Aravis ski area...