Alpe d'Huez france
Review of snowboarding and skiing in Alpe d'Huez France.
Alpe d'Huez Ski Holiday Facts
Established in 1923 the French ski resort Alpe d'Huez lies at 1860 metres altitude in the Dauphiné - Isère region of the French Alps / Alpes. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 3330m Alpe d'Huez ski area is snow sure. Over 900 snow cannons ensure artificial Alpe d'Huez snow making covers 62km of ski trails, which equates to around 32 of the ski slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Alpe d'Huez (France) is Grenoble - Isére at a distance of 99km or approximately 90 minutes driving time. Alpe d'Huez ski season runs from December to April.
SNO-man says
One of the world's top resorts, Alpe d'Huez offers one of the greatest unbroken verticals in the world. Built above the original village of Huez, the resort has expanded in all directions over the past 20 years. There is a huge beginners area directly above the resort and those going on to the top of the lifts will be able to see a fifth of France, on a clear day, from the top station.
alpine downhill runs to ski in Alpe d'Huez France
Beginner Trails
 38 runs 47km |
31% |
Intermediate Trails
 32 runs 53km |
26% |
Advanced Trails
 34 runs 74km |
28% |
Expert Trails
 16 runs 16km |
13% |
Alpe d'Huez Resort & Holiday Info
| Beginners learning to ski |  |
| Intermediate Skiers | |
| Expert Skiers | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family friendly | |
| Snowsure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Ski Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | €179 - €225 |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Ski Resort Opens | Dec 2012 |
| Ski Resort Closes | Apr 2013 |
| (snow conditions often influence resort opening & closing) |
Ski Area Alpe d'Huez Mountain
| Downhill Ski Runs | 240km |
| total length of Alpe d'Huez trails |
| Longest lift serve Run | 16km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by ski lift |
| Ski Slope Orientation | S SW NW |
| direction Alpe d'Huez ski areas face |
| Top Altitude | 3330m |
| top station of highest ski lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 1100m |
| bottom of lowest ski run |
| Resort Altitude | 1860m |
| centre of Alpe d'Huez ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 2230m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 2230m |
| can include extra hike up which may be possible above top lift - stat used by some resorts to con us about true "vertical drop" which is lift-served |
Skiing in Alpe d'Huez
Skiing Alpe d'Huez you'll enjoy 120 pistes and trails and that means approximately 240km of ski runs. Alpe d'Huez lifts number 84 with the capacity to uplift 102600 skiers up the mountain per hour. The longest ski run in the French ski resort of Alpe d'Huez is over 16km long. Ski Alpe d'Huez summer or winter as there is also glacier skiing in Alpe d'Huez.
SNO-man says
Alpe d’Huez ski resort, set in a huge sunny bowl has excellent skiing terrain for all abilities with a very high percentage of sunny days. The resort has predominantly south facing slopes, topped by the Pic Blanc Glacier, and have 800 snow cannons, to ensure good conditions. The wide open gentle slopes immediately above the resort are perfect for beginners and there is a free lift. Intermediates have endless terrain to choose from with a large network of red and blue runs, two of the best areas being the slopes of Le Signal d'Homme and the Plat des Marmottes. The blue run Signal is recommended, which runs from the top of signal to Villard-Reculas village below. Alpe d'Huez has a large number of black runs which are great for advanced skiers. The 2230m vertical from Pic Blanc/Sarenne can be accessed via the lifts and small cable-train. This ski area includes one of the longest black runs in the world, the Sarenne, which is nearly 17km long. Other popular choices are the Champagne and the infamous “tunnel” for experts! There are an abundance of off-piste possibilities in Alpe d'Huez, with some lovely deep snow descents. For more challenging off-piste action, make your way to La Grave, the off-piste mecca further up the valley. Weekly passes include limited access to the other resorts in the area, you can also get a joint pass which includes the ski domain of Les 2 Alpes.
Alpe d'Huez Ski Area
Alpe d'Huez ski area has 31% beginner ski runs or nursery slopes, 26% intermediate, 28% advanced ski slopes and 13% for expert skiers - the most difficult Alpe d'Huez piste is the 16km Tunnel run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. You can ski Alpe d'Huez after dark as there is night skiing on ?km of illuminated piste.
Alpe d'Huez for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Snowboarding in Alpe d'Huez
If you snowboard Alpe d'Huez you'll want to know that, of the 84 ski lifts in total, 40 are surface lifts or "drag lifts" - this gives a good indication of how modern the lift system is and well set up Alpe d'Huez snowboarding is - especially for beginners learning to snowboard. Alpe d'Huez snowboard facilities include 2 terrain parks and 1 half pipe (longest half pipe length is ? metres), 1 quarter pipe and 1 boardercross courses.
SNO-man says
Alpe d’Huez is an active snowboarding centre having hosted the World cup in the past and having their own Olympic champion, Isabelle Blanc. The pistes are broad slopes, excellent for boarding and there is powder to both sides of most runs. With good snow, there is a vast amount of off-piste terrain available and varied enough to entertain most die-hard snowboarders. Off-piste and glacier excursion should be undertaken with a guide. For beginners, unluckily, the nursery areas, directly above the resort, are mostly serviced drag lifts. There are two snow parks: the Nature Snowboard Space, next to the Rond Point des Pistes has slides, quarter pipes and a Rossignol poutlet. The newer 'Espace Freestyle snow park, aimed at expert ‘boarders and freeriders, extends over 1.5 kilometers and features 1 half-pipe, 1 quarter pipe, Hips, Boarder Cross, Quatters and Hoops, slide rails and a 12m table jump.
Alpe d'Huez for snowboarding gets 5 stars out of 5 overall
Alpe d'Huez Apres Ski
The apres ski Alpe d'Huez scene and off-slope or "non-skier" activities include:
30 apres ski bars 70 restaurants 0 bowling 4 night club 2 cinema 1 billiards / pool 2 games room 1 concert 1 indoor swimming 1 outdoor heated pools 3 saunas 0 hot tubs 2 solariums 2 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 1 outdoor ice skating 1 indoor sports centre 3 indoor tennis 4 squash racquetball 1 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 0 horse riding 30 prepare winter walks 1 climbing 1 golf 0 fishing 1 museum 1 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Aerobics, Archery, Clasical Music Concerts, Climbing Wall, Curling, Ice Driving, Martial Arts ,Shooting, Table Tennis.
SNO-man says
The heavily promoted Visalp Pass not only gives access to all the resort's skiing so long as you're staying more than two days, but also provides discounts on many other activities including access to the swimming pools, ice rink and the Palais des Sports where 26 different activities are on offer. These include options like indoor golf, table tennis, dance, squash and many more. The pass also gives free access to the weekly classical music concerts and the museum in the area.
The Guides Office can arrange a variety of outdoor activities for you including snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and ice climbing. You can also visit one of the snowmaking plants if you wish.
An unusual attraction is the ice cave, hollowed out at 2,700 metres up in 1996 by high mountain guides Bruno Gardent and Bernard Lambolez. Created from 410 cubic metres of ice the manmade cave in the glacier contains ice sculpture displays which are changed annually and illuminated by coloured lighting.
Back in the resort there are also two cinemas. The resort offers a variety of air sports including hang-gliding and first flights. Panoramic tours are available by plane, helicopter or microlight.
Alpe d'Huez for apres ski gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
More Alpe d'Huez Snow Ski Area and Resort Information
Alpe d'Huez resort - ski Alpe d'Huez by any other name
The French ski resort of Alpe d'Huez ski resort is also known as L'Alpe Alpe d'Huez Pic Blanc and has the following common misspellings: Alp Duez, Alpd'Huez, Alpdhuez, Alpduhuez, Alpe D Heuz, Alpe Dhuez, Alpe-D'Huez, Alpe-Dhuez, Alped'Huez, Alpedhues, Alpedhuez, Alpeduez, Alpeduhuez, Alpes Dhuez
Alpe d'Huez ski area has ski slopes which face S SW NW
The direction which the various Alpe d'Huez ski slopes face can make or break your skiing or snowboarding holiday. If you want to guarantee good snow and ski conditions, you should choose a resort with ski slopes which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February you need a ski resort with some sunny south facing ski slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a ski resort with some cool and shady north facing slopes will ensure you're not skiing on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best ski resorts have ski areas and slopes which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating skiing whatever the weather. Alpe d'Huez ski resort has ski slopes facing S SW NW.
Alpe d'Huez for snow gets 5 stars out of 5 overall
Alpe d'Huez reviews, 4.8 star rating and resort and ski area information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.