The La Clusaz ski area

I tested the ski area of La Clusaz, Aravis massif resort, near Annecy in Haute-Savoie. The Aravis region is the region of Reblochon, a typical cheese of the Alps. Everywhere, farms, mountain pastures, meadows decorate the very bucolic landscape of the region. La Clusaz welcomes many tourists who come from the four corners of France and Europe but also many locals, who come from Geneva or Annecy to ski on the beautiful slopes of the resort.

Let's explore the ski area of La Clusaz.

Skiing in La Clusaz, a pretty little village in the Aravis.

The region of Aravis is in Haute Savoie, a mountainous region without extreme altitudes (no peaks over 3000 meters), nor glaciers, nor systematic views of Mont Blanc. It is a small region wedged between Lake Annecy and the Aravis mountain barrier, crossable only by the Aravis pass which connects it with the Val d'Arly and MegèveLa Clusaz is not the only ski resort in the Aravis, but it is certainly the one that offers the most sporty ski area.

The other stations are Le Grand Bornand et the giettaz (on the other side of the Aravis pass).

La Clusaz is a pretty village nestled around the bell tower of its church at the bottom of a wooded valley. The old village has been largely renovated, with the exception of the church square where some facades still retain the appearance of the past.

The village is located at just over 1000 meters above sea level, which is quite low for a XNUMXst century ski resort, but it is the right altitude to find villages of character, with the typical architecture of Haute Savoie: chalets! There are some everywhere. Some are large enough to accommodate several apartments, others are individual dwellings, most of them secondary.

La Clusaz is a village at the bottom of a basin, so much so that you always have the impression of going uphill when you come back from a walk in the center. The landscape is quite steep with wooded hills overlooking the village on all sides. You have to gain a little height to grasp the beauty of the valley.

The access road from Annecy passes through Thônes and Saint Jean de Sixt, two very authentic villages.

In the village, you will find everything you need to have a good holiday, especially since Thones increasingly develops service offers to attract permanent residents. In all cases, the large city of Annecy and its lake, are less than forty minutes from the resort. The town centre offers plenty of options for dining, souvenir shopping and winter sports facilities.

The dwellings are spread out towards the Aravis pass, along the road leading to the pass, just outside the village, on the sunny site of des Toliets and des Verriers up to Gotty, where the ski lifts of the Aiguille and Etale sectors meet.

On the other hand, in the valley which runs along the Aravis massif in its length, the Valley of the Confins goes up to the Golf des Confins at an altitude of 1400 meters, which becomes a cross-country skiing site in winter. This entire valley with its heavily wooded slopes is occupied by old or modern wooden chalets grouped into small hamlets. It is a very nice day trip, both in full sun and on a snowy day. The Balme sector is located precisely on this site at the Fernuy level, after the first hairpin bends that go up towards the lake and the Golf des Confins. Of course, this sector is also connected to the rest of the ski area by ski lifts.

La Clusaz Aravis resort — Confins Valley in La Clusaz

The ski area in the immediate vicinity of La Clusaz

The La Clusaz ski area is made up of five distinct sectors, adapted to specific skiers.

Aiguille massif
Balme
Beautiful eyes
L'Etale
Manigod

From the village centre, just above the church, the Crêt du Merle chairlift, allows you to gain altitude on the Aiguille massif. This is the first sector.

If snow conditions allow, you can go back and forth on the blue slopes that descend from it. You can also continue exploring the Aiguille massif by using the other chairlifts found at the arrival of the Crêt du Loup and thus switch to a red slope towards the slopes of the Combe de la Jument. On this side of the Aiguille Massif, you will find mainly beautiful red slopes that descend from the highest point at 2257 meters. The Aiguille slope, and those of the Loup are very sunny, from the end of the morning because they are exposed to the west and south. A beautiful area with fast and very steep slopes.

You can also go back down to La Clusaz and in this case you ski almost directly above the village on slopes that are dizzying. Some very beautiful photos in perspective for all skiers.

At the top of Coast 2000, on the same slopes, we can switch to the Balme sector. A long red run, often in the shade and crossing a beautiful forest in its central part, or a demanding black run but very attractive for all those who like this type of route, allow you to reach the departure station of the La Balme gondola lift which takes you to the heart of the area. More quietly, you can also reach this starting point by a long blue run (La Motte) which crosses the forest from the top of the gondola lift. The Wolf Ridge which comes up from La Clusaz.

Let's go back to La Balme. At the top of the gondola, you can still go up. The Bergerie chairlift is only interesting if you want to try the very difficult slopes of La Torchère. These are red and black. The Vraille slope - black - goes down the Torchère valley and is particularly difficult. The reds, Torchère, Botion and Lacha are barely less difficult. Area for experienced skiers on the Torchère side!

Fortunately, you can also go to the Col de Balme. You reach the summit with the chairlift of the same name at an altitude of 2477 meters. Rewarded by a very beautiful view of the Mont Blanc massif, you can then take the red, sunny slopes (especially in the afternoon) that come down: Crintiaux, Tête Blanche and Blanchot. The area is pleasant, especially in the afternoon. You ski between good skiers on fairly wide slopes at an altitude of between 1800 and 2400 meters which ensures quality snow. The descent is either on a steep red slope that crosses the forest (Roualle) or more calmly, by the Balme slope which follows the forest path.

To return to La Clusaz, you have to go back up by the Fernuy cable car, the arrival station of which is none other than Côte 2000. The descent will then be via the red Le Loup.

As you will have understood, this sector is not a sector for beginners. There are certainly a few slopes served by ski lifts at the bottom of the La Balme sector, or at the arrival of the Crêt du Merle, but they are very short and the many very good skiers who arrive at full speed from higher up in the area may be scary!

It is at the top of the Beauregard massif for beginners to start their career on the ski boards. The Beauregard gondola is located near the La Clusaz ice rink. The Village Heart Gondola ensures the connection of the Beauregard massif with that of the Aiguille and its blue slopes around the Crêt du Loup chairlift. If the climb of the Massif de Beauregard by gondola is accessible to all skiers, for the blue Guy Perillat slope is the most suitable for inexperienced skiers. The less hesitant will have the choice of a red and a black in the forest to get some thrills. Let's say that the position of the Beauregard massif and its altitude (1690 meters) does not really encourage good skiers to go there, unless they accompany members of their tribe who need to practice on green or blue slopes: there are too many sports slopes in this sector, even though the stadium is right there.

Skiing in the La Clusaz ski area — The Aiguille massif in La Clusaz

Skiing in La Clusaz in more remote areas of the domain

There are two remaining sectors, a little further out, but connected to the rest of the area.

Le Etale sector, which peaks at 2400 meters is connected by the Transval cable car to the slopes of the Combe des Juments on the Massif de l'Aiguille. The Etale massif is a sunny area in the afternoon, with good snow conditions, which offers the red Regine Cavagnoud slope, the black Tétras slope on its highest part, and blue slopes on the lower part.

One of these blue runs, Grand-Montagne, provides access to the last sector of the La Clusaz ski area, that of Manigod massif, at the Col de Merdassier and the Col de la Croix Fry, around the Tête de Corbeau which peaks at 1650 meters. The difference in altitude is low: 200 to 300 meters maximum, but the area is well equipped with around ten ski lifts and nearly thirty runs, short but for all levels. Skiers who have booked their accommodation in this area are delighted not to have to systematically go back down to La Clusaz to ski, but those who are in La Clusaz will rarely go to this area which is more suited to less experienced skiers.

The Etale and Manigod sectors, combined, and their extension towards the Massif de l'Aiguille via the Transval offer a variety of slopes sufficient to satisfy a whole tribe on a ski holiday near the Col de Merdassier (the resort is called L'Etale), or the Croix Fry, as well as those which are lower down near Manigod.

Tourists who choose La Clusaz and the Vallon des Confins for their stay will ski in the historic sectors of La Balme and the top of the Aiguille massif for the most expert. The less expert will stay on the bottom of the Aiguille and on the Beauregard massif.

Find the map of the ski area by clicking this link.

Skiing in La Clusaz: more for good skiers

Apart from the highest peaks and passes, where the view extends beyond the Aravis or Bornes region, towards the Mont Blanc Massif for example, the landscapes of the ski area offer numerous perspectives of the nearest valleys: that of Confins, that of La Clusaz, that of Nom (the torrent which descends towards Thônes) and the gap of the Col des Aravis.

La Clusaz is a village resort which, despite its false air of a small traditional Haute Savoie resort, hides its game well by lining up an impressive number of very steep and very steep slopes with sometimes dizzying routes. The snow cover on the upper part of the slopes is always excellent, however in its lower parts, below 1600 meters, the conditions can be degraded because of the low altitude.

I recommend the resort of La Clusaz to good skiers. They can have a great, very sporty stay. On the other hand, less good skiers will have more difficulty finding an area that suits them, and in this case I would recommend the neighboring resort of Grand Bornand, at the Chinaillon level.

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