Mountain Layout—Skiing

Here is a larger, more detailed map.

Here is the interactive Meribel trail map.

The skiing on both sides of the Allues valley, home to Méribel and Méribel-Mottaret, ranges from easy to hair-raising difficult. Though a trail map won’t provide black run thrills, runs marked as intermediate here would be considered black-diamond runs at most American resorts.

One of the key advantages to this area is most in evidence in this section of the Trois Vallées: bottom-to-top cablecars that not only take you to long, undisturbed cruises, but also can get you across the valley very quickly. Experts and advanced intermediates shouldn’t miss the very worthy runs and wide-open off-piste opportunities down both sides of Mont Vallon.

Mow down Mont Vallon in the morning after the sun has had a bit of a chance to soften the snow, then for gut-sucking action, mogul-busters should try the short drop under the third stage of the Plattieres lift. Advanced beginners and intermediates will find the run below the final two sections of the Plattieres lift both gentle and extended. Off-piste possibilities for intermediates abound in the area between Roc de Fer, site of the women’s Olympic downhill and Méribel (for those interested in dropping into the Vallées des Belleville from the top of Roc de Fer more intermediate skiing awaits).

The snowfields stretching beneath Saulire are wonderful with varying pitches that will delight both lower intermediates and experts. The chutes directly beneath the gondola, reached only by a scramble and the wide couloir to the left of the ascending gondola make for expert runs that will be the subject of conversations for years.

The sector near the Altiport is an intermediate delight. With more and more families skiing there recently, Méribel installed a new high-speed eight-seat chairlift to move skiers. There is plenty of lift capacity in that section now.

OFF PISTE: In the Méribel valley the best off-piste skiing is in sectors between Mont de la Chambre and Les Plattieres as well as from the top of Mont Vallon. Watch out, however, for the national wildlife refuge surrounding Mont Vallon. Skiing is now prohibited here and skiers have been given merciless fines since enforcement began in July 1990. Another off-piste gem is free skiing from Roc de Fer along the ridge then dropping down to Le Raffort or Les Allues. The slopes as far as Le Raffort normally have adequate snow. For Les Allues, check on snow conditions.

Mountain rating
This valley, as in all other valleys of this region, has something for everyone. No beginner will go wanting for good practice slopes. No intermediate will long for more cruisers. No expert will feel like there is not enough. It doesn’t get better than this.