Chamonix Ski Resort Guide
Chamonix, France
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| Recommended For | Freeriders, Expert Skiers, Intermediates, Beginners, Snowboarders, Snowfall and Apres-Ski! |
|---|---|
| Total Piste Length | 152km |
| Highest Lift | 3,840m |
| Resort Height | 1,040m |
| Nearest Airports | Geneva and Sion |
| Save on Ski Hire | Save up to 50%  |
Chamonix
Nestled in the valley at the feet of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is one place that every skier must visit - with the world's largest lift-served vertical drop. Off the slopes there are many bars and restaurants, and the town is always lively.
Summary
The ski area of Chamonix is in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,040m, with 152km of marked runs.
Chamonix is part of the Ski Pass Mont Blanc area with access to 952km of downhill skiing, with 507 marked pistes, served by a total of 248 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Chamonix itself (152km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Ski Pass Mont Blanc ski resorts of Argentière, Combloux, Cordon, Le Tour, Les Contamines, Les Houches, Megève, Passy Plaine Joux and St Gervais Mont-Blanc.
Chamonix comprises the villages of Chamonix Sud and La Flégère.
Skiing
There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.
Snowboarding
Chamonix is very highly rated by Snowboarders and there are a variety of Snow and Terrain Parks in Chamonix.
Notable Ski Runs
The longest possible descent in Chamonix is 22km long and the most difficult run is the 'Grand Montets', which is 8km in length.
Snow and Weather
When will it snow in Chamonix?
The next notable snow forecast is 21cm, expected on 7 July, with around 32cm forecast over the next 7 days.
See our long-range Snow Forecast for the latest update.
Snow this week
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow to 2,289m | Snow to 1,999m |
Ski Area Stats
Chamonix Ski Area
| Black Pistes Expert Trails | 12 | 34km |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 25 | 70km |
| Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 27 | 46km |
| Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 16 | 5km |
| Downhill Total Length | 152km | |
| Cross Country Total Length | 43km | |
| Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 49 | |
Ski Pass Mont Blanc Ski Area
| Black Pistes Expert Trails | 66 | |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 206 | |
| Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 155 | |
| Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 54 | |
| Downhill Total Length | 952km | |
| Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 248 | |
Altitudes & Slopes
Chamonix Ski Area Heights
| Highest Lift | 3,840m |
|---|---|
| Lowest Piste | 1,040m |
| Resort Altitude (Chamonix) | 1,040m |
| Max Vertical | 2,800m |
Ski Slope Aspects
N, E, S, W
Chamonix has ski slopes facing north, south, as well as east and west, offering both sunny and sheltered skiing.
Ratings & Suitability
| Freeriders | |
|---|---|
| Expert Skiers | |
| Intermediate Skiers | |
| Beginners | |
| Snowboarding | |
| Snow | |
| Apres-Ski |
Ski Lessons in Chamonix
To choose a Ski School, and book Group Ski Lessons or a Private Instructor, see Chamonix Ski Schools and Chamonix Ski Instructors.
Location and Map
Where is Chamonix?
This ski resort is in the French Alps in Bonneville, Haute-Savoie.
Map
Tap 
for Full-Screen, or see J2Ski's Resort map, showing Hotels and Ski Shops.
How to get there
By Air
The nearest airport to Chamonix is Geneva, 60 minutes drive away.
Sion, Annecy, Chambery, Lyon St-Exupéry, Turin Caselle, Grenoble, Berne, Lyon Bron and Milan Malpensa airports are all within three hours drive.
Annecy, Geneva and Sion are just one hours drive away, in good driving conditions, so you can be on the piste quickly.
Infrastructure
Ski Lift Capacity
The 49 ski lifts are able to uplift 52,660 skiers and snowboarders every hour.
Snow Making
Snow-making is available, on 23km of ski runs, with 96 snow cannons.
Season Dates
When is Chamonix open?
Closed : 4 May 2025.
Usual opening is early December, and usual closing is Late April.
NOTE:- Ski area, lift and piste opening is subject to Current Snow Conditions.
Talking about Chamonix
Mentions in recent J2Ski News Items and Snow Reports from our users...
