Bad weather ski areas in Val Thorens

When the clouds come in and the light turns flat it can be hard to know where to ski and what to do. The high, open pistes can lack the contrast required for orientation during white out conditions and slope and sky can blur into one.

Skiing in bad weather in Val Thorens

One drawback of Val Thorens’ vast ski area is the lack of trees, which can make skiing difficult in poor weather due to reduced visibility. However, some pistes offer better contrast—your best option is to seek out tree-lined runs, as they help provide definition when everything else appears white.

Staying safe in low visibility

In snowy or white-out conditions, always keep the poles that line the pistes in sight. These markers indicate the difficulty of the run with their colour (green, blue, red, or black). The key to staying on track is the orange bands: poles on the right-hand side (when looking downhill) have a 20cm orange band at the top. If you see one, keep it on your right. If a pole is a single colour all the way up, keep it on your left—this simple rule ensures you stay safely on the piste.

Best pistes in Val Thorens for low visibility

If visibility deteriorates, try heading to lower pistes near the resort, as they may sit below the cloud cover, offering better conditions. Runs from the top of the Cascades chairlift are a good option, including the gentle blue Dalles and the steeper black Cascades piste. Alternatively, take Plein Sud and ski the blue run down to the bottom of the Cairn bubble.

If the cloud is sitting in the valley, conditions might be clearer higher up. Consider taking a bubble or cable car to check, but ensure there’s an easy route down in case visibility remains poor. Checking the live webcams can give you a better idea of conditions across the mountain. If it’s snowing in the valley, it’s likely snowing at the top too—creating excellent skiing and quieter pistes.