Portes du Soleil

Portes du Soleil
Les Crosets
Les Crosets
Portes du Soleil is located in Alps
Portes du Soleil
Portes du Soleil
Location within Alps
LocationFrance and Switzerland
Nearest major cityMonthey and Aigle
Coordinates46°11′37″N 6°46′24″E / 46.193676°N 6.773329°E / 46.193676; 6.773329
Top elevation2,466 m (8,091 ft)
Base elevation930 m (3,050 ft)
Skiable area1,036 km2 (400 sq mi)
Trails
  • 300 total[1]
  • - 37 (12%) beginner
  • - 123 (41%) easy
  • - 110 (37%) intermediate
  • - 30 (10%) difficult
Longest runRapaille - Grand Paradis (7.5km)
Total length650 km (400 mi)
Lift system
Terrain parks10
Snowfall8.7 m (29 ft) (average 1998–2008)[2]
Snowmaking694 cannons
Websitewww.portesdusoleil.com

Les Portes du Soleil (literally "The Doors of the Sun") is a major skisports destination in the Alps, encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. With more than 650 km of marked pistes (claimed by the lift companies; an independent expert measured about 426 km [3]) and about 200 lifts in total,[4] spread over 14 valleys and about 1,036 square kilometres (400 sq mi), Portes du Soleil ranks among the two largest ski areas in the world (the other being Les Trois Vallées). Almost all of the pistes are connected by lifts – a few marginal towns can be reached only by the free bus services in the area. The highest elevation accessible on skis is 2260 m (Pointe de Mossettes) and the lowest is 930 m (Abondance Village). As with many other Alpine ski resorts, the lower slopes of the Portes du Soleil have snow-making facilities to extend the ski season by keeping the lower slopes open during the warmer months.

The name Portes du Soleil originates from the 1,950-meter-high pass of the same name, connecting Morgins to Les Crosets.

  1. ^ "Le Domaine Sauvage". Portes du Soleil. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Winter 2008 press kit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  3. ^ "The world's ten biggest ski areas". Snow Magazine. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Lifts & Terrain". Powderhounds. Retrieved 7 August 2024.