Mountain Layout — Skiing

Here is a larger, more detailed map.

Here is an interactive Verbier trail map.

This resort is at one end of the Four Valleys area. It links with Thyon, Veysonnaz and Nendaz. Verbier has the best skiing for experts and advanced skiers, a decent beginner area, and new intermediate trails. The “La Chaux Express” gives intermediate skiers access to the large area of La Chaux and its intermediate blue and easy red slopes.

The Savoleyres area is the smallest of the Verbier sectors. A gondola takes skiers up to mellow trails. This area doesn’t get too many crowds, is full of sunshine all day long, and the lift lines stay manageable for the most part. During the early season, skiing back to Verbier is relatively easy, however during the late season the snow coverage requires most skiers to download on the gondola.

The main Verbier area is on the north-facing slopes with the main lifts rising to Ruinettes and Attelas. This section gets crowded and at the lower levels skiers need to be careful to keep from running into each other.

From the Attelas upper station, cablecars rise to the Mont Gelé glacier. The problems here are weather, which closes the area many days, and the long lift lines, which can be a pain.

One intermediate secret is the Bruson area that is connected with the rest of the Four Valleys by a 15-minute bus trip from the lower station of the Châble cablecar. The trails here are far from the maddening crowds. On powder days this is a wonderful spot to practice turns and perfect technique.

Experts and advanced skiers will have the time of their lives with virtually limitless off-piste possibilities. Many of the formerly black runs have been redefined as itineraries. They are not groomed or marked, but have so much traffic, they may as well have been marked by the resort as they once were. A guide is highly recommended in this area to get the most out of the mountain.

Mountain rating
Verbier has a solid reputation as the Promised Land for advanced and expert skiers. The twin and only runs down the Mont-Fort Gondola — steep, mogully, and … did we say steep already? — make this among the most difficult marked des-cents from a gondola station (10,925 feet) in all of the Alps. The Tortin descent from either Col des Gentianes or Chassoure is also renowned for its steepness: if you fall, as we have learned from personal experience, you can slide what seems forever. All of the areas beneath Mont Fort and Mont Gele above Verbier — Attelas, La Chaux, Les Ruinettes — offer challenging runs for experts as well as good terrain for advanced and intermediate skiers.

In truth, any area this large offers something for every skier. Intermediate skier will greatly enjoy the top-to-bottom runs down to towns such as Nendaz, Veysonnaz, or Les Collons. All are long, well-groomed trails with good pitch. Be forewarned, however, that you must time your touring to reach the Tortin lift back to Verbier before it closes at the end of the day, or you could be stuck on the wrong side of the mountain ridge and facing a long bus ride.

Advanced beginners will prefer the La Tzoumaz/Savoleyres area just above Verbier. The slopes on this side of the mountain tend to be wide-open and well-groomed. There are also many gentler slopes across the valley at Mayens-de-Bruson.