About Off-piste skiing in the Portes du Soleil

Morzine offers excellent off-piste terrain, with Nyon and Chamossière providing the best lift-accessed powder skiing in the local area. These peaks allow skiers to explore untouched snow without long, strenuous hikes.

Nyon

• Reachable via the TS de la Pointe chairlift, Nyon has numerous off-piste lines between the marked runs.
• Skiers can choose routes depending on their experience level, with options to stay close to the pistes or venture further.
• To the right – the ridge marks the boundary of the Vallée de la Manche. Avoid dropping over the edge, as this leads straight to the valley floor with no skiable exit. Fortunately, the denser trees here act as a natural warning.
• To the left – access the Nyon face by cutting off the Aigle Rouge piste at the first switchback. A traverse to the weather station allows skiers to drop into the Chamossière valley, with multiple choices depending on how far they traverse.

Chamossière

Chamossière has epxansive off-piste terrain and is accessed via the TS des Têtes or Chamossière Express chairlifts and features some of the best off-piste skiing in Morzine.

• Chamossière Bowl – To the right of the lift, a vast unpisted bowl offers excellent freeride terrain. Traverse from the lift station over the small ridge above the avalanche cannon before dropping in. The bowl gets tracked quickly, but its size allows for multiple fresh lines early in the day.
• Extended drop-in – A short hike along the ridge above the bowl, before reaching the Pointe d’Angolon peak, provides extra vertical descent. The upper section stays untracked for longer due to the effort required to reach it, and its north-facing slopes keep the powder in excellent condition long after a snowfall.
• Off-piste routes from pistes – The Arbis red run and Creux black both offer multiple off-piste descents.
  • To the right of Arbis – A ridge separates the red and black runs, allowing a traverse that drops out near the Blanchots red and Choucas blue runs, close to the drag lift.
  • Creux black – Skiers can drop straight down to the Grand Pré on Choucas and continue towards Les Gets, or return to the bottom of the TS Chamossière for another lap.

Super Morzine

For those new to off-piste skiing or looking to build confidence, the tree runs around Super Morzine provide a great training ground.

• Take the Zore chairlift and explore the terrain back down to the top of the Super Morzine bubble.
• This area is ideal for practising powder skiing without venturing too far from the main resort.

Avoriaz offers some of the most extensive and easily accessible off-piste terrain in the Portes du Soleil. Its high-altitude slopes provide excellent freeride opportunities, with terrain suitable for all levels of off-piste skiers.

Snowcross zones – controlled off-piste areas

For those unfamiliar with the area or snow conditions, Avoriaz features Snowcross Zones—un-pisted but secured areas where you can enjoy the thrill of off-piste skiing with added safety. These zones get tracked out quickly, so early starts are essential after fresh snowfall. If a Snowcross Zone is closed, avoid entering as it indicates dangerous conditions.

Secteur Chavanette – A freeride playground

• Take the Express Lac Intrets to the top of the Hauts Forts and descend towards Secteur Chavanette via Bleue du Lac, exploring the powder stashes along the way.
• Follow Aller Chavanette through the tunnel to the foot of the sector, where two lifts—Express Choucas and Express du Fornet—offer access to different freeride areas.
• Canyon du Pschott Snowzone (accessed via Express du Fornet) is a vast off-piste playground with natural canyons and half-pipes. Cliff drops and natural kickers. Multiple descent options, all leading back to the lifts for repeated runs
• Opposite side of the bowl which is accessed via Express Choucas, this area offers similar terrain with fewer high-risk cliff drops but remains demanding.

Vallée de la Manche

For a more adventurous descent, take the Express du Fornet and traverse towards Vallée de la Manche, a remote powder haven. This area is unpatrolled, so only experienced skiers should attempt it.

• Traverse left before the Canyon du Pschott and drop over the low saddle into the valley.
• Enjoy a vast powder field with long, open descents ideal for big carving turns or classic powder skiing.
• The route leads past an old chalet to the valley road. If conditions allow, you can ski all the way back to Morzine, though some flat sections require poling. Alternatively, a bus service runs back to town.

Secteur Lindarets

Lindarets next to Avoriaz and the Fornet valley, offers more off-piste options with forest runs and natural features.

Col de Bassachaux (Lower Lindarets Valley)

Accessed from TS Chaux Fleurie, the route drops straight under the lift line and veers to the left. This off-piste area features tree skiing and small to large cliffs near the base of the lifts.

Higher Lindarets Valley and La Frontalière Snowzone

• Take Express Mossettes and drop directly under the lift line for a long descent filled with natural features, drop-ins, and wall rides. Also snow-covered kickers and technical freeride terrain.
• Alternatively, ski towards Les Cases and, once past the fence, drop over the edge to traverse back towards the Mossettes lift. This route offers a long descent down to the Les Cases blue, from where you can loop back up via Express Mossettes.
• The TS Cubore lift provides access to the opposite side of the valley, with further traverses leading to fresh off-piste lines.

Super Morzine

For those looking for a gentle introduction to off-piste or to build confidence in powder, the tree runs at Super Morzine provide a perfect training ground.

• Take the Zore chairlift and explore the terrain leading back to the top of the Super Morzine bubble.
• Ideal for skiers and snowboarders looking to refine their off-piste technique without venturing too far from the resort.

With its mix of high-altitude bowls, technical descents, and tree runs, Avoriaz is a prime destination for off-piste skiers seeking both challenge and adventure.

Les Gets - Chavannes

For blacks, hit Yeti and Myrtilles, accessed via the La Rosta and Grains d'Or lifts. These runs get bumpy by afternoon, so morning’s the best time to enjoy them before the moguls take over. Off-piste options weave through the trees and link back to main runs, so there’s minimal risk of getting lost.

Mont Chéry

A quieter area with fewer runs but some great reds and blacks on the shaded (north) back side. There’s also lovely off-piste here, off the side of the pistes and through the trees – ideal after a fresh snowfall, just mind the icy spots.

Before you head off piste, here's a few things you should be thinking about:

• hire a guide!
• take a course in avalanche awareness and practice the techniques learned
• look at the weather and avalanche forecasts for France, reviewing the degree of local avalanche risk also
• don’t ignore advice given by local mountain guides or others if advised to ski a certain path, or to keep a specific distance between fellow members in a group
• plan the route carefully, evaluating all different options and assessing all elements of danger. Look at the timings for each route. Inform others of your route, and when you expect to arrive back
• attach your transceiver properly TO YOU and DON'T FORGET to turn it on, test the signal is working, and make sure you have all the necessary equipment.
• a transceiver is of no use if the user has not been trained in its use, it is turned off, or it is in a rucksack - unless you want just your bag to be recovered

Read more about understanding avalanches and how to try to avoid them.

Take a look at this year's ski pass prices or find your way around with piste maps for Morzine.