Top 10 weather-proof ski resorts - Europe

These are resorts that offer reasonably snow-sure skiing, but also lots of trees in case of bad weather.  Trees offer shelter from strong winds and better contrast in poor visibility.

 

For example, Tignes may be one of the most reliable resorts for snow in the Alps but it has no trees and can be very bleak and prone to closure in bad weather.

 

If you are looking to hedge your bets, why not try one of the following 10 resorts (in no particular order).

1. Serre Chevalier, France

Resort height:

1200-1500m

 

Slopes:

1200-2735m

 

Pistes:

250km

 

Serre Chevalier ski area, France © Agence Zoom

Of all the major French resorts with relatively high slopes, Serre Chevalier has the most trees.  This makes it one of the most weather-proof resorts in the Alps and significant disruption due to adverse conditions is very rare.

2. Peisey-Vallandry (Les Arcs), France

Resort height:

1600m

 

Slopes:

1200-3225m (Les Arcs)

 

Pistes:

200km (Les Arcs)

 (425km - Paradiski)

Although Arc 2000 often has the best snow in the area, Peisey-Vallandry is the place to be in a storm thanks to its many long tree-lined runs.  These runs are very accessible from Arc 1600 and Arc 1800, but less so (in bad weather) from Arc 1950/2000 as links are prone to closure.

3. Montchavin-Les Coches (La Plagne), France

Resort height:

1250-1450m

 

Slopes:

1250-3250m (La Plagne)

 

Pistes:

225km (La Plagne)

 (425km - Paradiski)

Montchavin Les Coches ski area, La Plagne © B. Koumanov / OPGP

The local north facing slopes of Montchavin–Les Coches offer an impressive 1000m vertical of heavily wooded slopes that are a great asset in bad weather when the higher purpose-built parts of La Plagne may be experiencing a whiteout. 

4. La Tania (3 Valleys), France

Resort height:

1350m

 

Slopes:

1260-3230m (3 Valleys)

 

Pistes:

600km (3 Valleys)

 

La Tania ski area, France © Office de Tourisme La Tania

La Tania is the best resort base in the 3 Valleys in bad weather. Its north facing local slopes are thickly wooded and offer options for all abilities. Once skies clear, access to the rest of the area (Courchevel, Val Thorens, Meribel) is also straight forward.

5. Vars/Risoul, France

Resort height:

1850m

 

Slopes:

1660-2750m

 

Pistes:

185km

 

Vars/Risoul is probably the highest of all Alpine areas to offer extensive woodland terrain. These southern French resorts are ideal in bad weather yet are rarely short of snow.

6. La Thuile, Italy

Resort height:

 1440m

 

Slopes:

 1175-2610m

 

Pistes:

 160km

 

La Thuile shares an extensive area of snow-sure skiing with La Rosière in France, but has the vast majority of the trees, and makes much the better base in bad weather.

 

Looking for hotels in La Thuile?  Click here

7. Madonna di Campiglio, Italy

Resort height:

 1520m

 

Slopes:

 800-2505m

 

Pistes:

 150km

 

Madonna di Campiglio ski area, Italy © Madonna di Campiglio Pinzolo Val Rendena Tourist Board

Madonna di Campiglio gets more snow than the resorts in the nearby Sella Ronda (Selva, Arabba), yet still boasts excellent snow-making and plenty of trees in case of bad weather.

 

Looking for hotels in Madonna di Campiglio?  Click here

8. Selva Val Gardena, Italy

Resort height:

 1565m

 

Slopes:

 1005-2520m

 

Pistes:

 175km

 

Selva Val Gardena, Italy © Val Gardena-Gröden Marketing

Selva and the Sella Ronda offer plenty of trees for bad weather days.  They also have some of the best snow-making facilities in the Alps to combat an erratic natural snowfall record.  On-piste, at least, snow cover is highly reliable and there is normally plenty open, even in the roughest of weather.

 
Looking for hotels in Selva di Val Gardena?  Click here

9. Schladming, Austria

Resort height:

 745m

 

Slopes:

 745-2015m

 

Pistes:

 125km

 

Schladming ski area, Austria © Schladming Rohrmoos Tourismus

Nearly all of Schladming's terrain is wooded, and its low altitude is less of a problem than in other Austrian resorts due to its shady north facing slopes and excellent snow-making.

10. Åre, Sweden

Resort height:

 380m

 

Slopes:

 380-1275m

 

Pistes:

 100km

 

Given its northerly latitude, it is not surprising that Åre has highly reliable snow cover.  Its upper runs can be windswept and prone to closure in poor weather, but lower down there are lots of trees so Åre can be considered a good weather-proof resort.

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