Rating
Skicow has calculated an excellent rating of 4.04 out of 5 for the Alpe d'Huez ski area. This is based on several criteria such as the size of the ski area and the services provided. Note that we do not have all the required data, such as the number of half pipes provided, which is necessary for a comprehensive rating calculation and consequently the calculation will be slightly inaccurate.
(4.04 moos out of 5)
Overview
Alpe d'Huez is one of Europe's premier freeskiing venues. The site of the Pomagalski's first surface lift in the early sixties, the resort gained popularity when it hosted the bobsleigh events of the 1968 Winter Olympics. At that time the resort was seen as a competitor to Courchevel as France's most upmarket purpose built resort but the development of Les Trois Vallées, Val d'Isère, Tignes, La Plagne and Les Arcs saw Alpe D'Huez fall from favour in the 1970s and early 1980s.
With 236km of piste and 84 ski lifts, the resort is now one of the world's largest. Extensive snowmaking facilities helped combat the ski area's largely south-facing orientation and helped Alpe d'Huez appeal to beginner skiers, with very easy slopes. The expansion of the skiing above the linked resorts of Vaujany, Oz-en-Oisans, Villard Reculas and Auris boosted the quantity and quality of intermediate grade slopes but the resort is mostly known for freeskiing, drawing many steep skiing enthusiasts to its high altitude terrain.
Aside from the Tunnel and Sarenne black runs, the latter the world's longest at 16km, many Off-piste opportunities exist both from the summit of the 3330 m Pic Blanc and the 2808 m Dome des Petites Rousses. These include the 50-degree Cheminees du Mascle couloirs, the open powder field of Le Grand Sablat, the Couloir Fleur and the Perrins bowl. Up to 2200 m of vertical descent are available with heli drops back to the resort's altiport. The proximity to the exclusively off-piste resort of La Grave as well as tree skiing at Serre Chevalier and the glacier and terrain parks of Les Deux Alpes have made Alpe d'Huez a popular base for skiers looking to explore the Oisans region.
Alpe d'Huez has a very large vertical rise (7,251ft). As a guide, skiers will generally not be skiing top to bottom all day as the range is much too great. Most skiers would not even dream of skiing top to bottom without stopping. Alpe d'Huez has a good range of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. With an amazing 123 trails, make sure you get hold of a trail map before you set out.
For further information, visit the Alpe d'Huez web site.
Ski Area Statistics for Alpe d'Huez
Detailed ski area statistics for Alpe d'Huez are presented in the boxed sections below.
Activity Overview
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Downhill skiing?
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Yes |
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Snowboarding?
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Yes |
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Night skiing?
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No |
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Snowcat skiing?
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? |
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Cross country skiing?
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Yes |
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Snowshoeing?
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No |
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Snow tubing?
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No |
Trails
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Number of trails:
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123
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Total trail length:
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146.6 miles
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Longest trail:
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9.9 miles
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|
Number of bowls:
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? |
|
Number of half pipes:
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? |
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Number of terrain parks:
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? |
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Length of cross country trails:
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31.1 miles
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Mountain Statistics
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Vertical rise:
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7,251 ft |
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Base elevation:
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3,675 ft
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|
Top elevation:
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10,925 ft
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|
On piste area:
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237 acres
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|
Snow making area:
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22 acres
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Annual snowfall:
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215.7 in
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Lifts
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Uphill capacity:
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95,000 pph
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|
Passenger cabin lifts:
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19
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High speed chairs:
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0
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Standard chairs:
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24
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Surface lifts:
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41
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Total lifts:
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84 |
Services
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Ski lessons?
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No |
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Snowboard lessons?
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No |
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Ski rentals?
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? |
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Snowboard rental?
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No |
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Childcare?
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? |
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Number of mountain restaurants:
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? |
Submit a Link
Skicow.com welcomes you to submit links to relevant pages on the net.Relevant links on this page include:
- Skiing at Alpe d'Huez.
- Getting to and from Alpe d'Huez from nearby ski accommodation.
- Other information related to skiing or snowboarding and specific to Alpe d'Huez.
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