Les Orres Ski Resort Guide
Les Orres, France
Rated: 3/5 (from 6 ratings)
Recommended For | Intermediates, Snowboarders, Snowfall and Apres-Ski! |
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Total Piste Length | 63km |
Highest Lift | 2,770m |
Resort Height | 1,600m |
Nearest Airports | Grenoble and Marseille Provence |
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Les Orres
A local forester, Emile Hodoul, dreamed up les Orres in 1935, but the first lift was not installed until 1966. The resort has a sunny, southerly location, skiing up to snow-sure altitudes (despite latitude) with a good variety of more challenging terrain.
Summary
The French ski resort of Les Orres is in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,600m, with 63km of marked runs.
Les Orres has direct access to 63km of downhill skiing, with 29 marked pistes, served by a total of 25 ski lifts.
The ski resort itself is at 1,600m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With ski lifts as high as 2,770m, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.
Snow and Weather
When will it snow in Les Orres?
The next notable snow forecast is 1cm, expected on 20 January, with around 61cm forecast over the next 7 days.
See our long-range Snow Forecast for the latest update, or Join our Snow Mail Here
Snow this week
Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri |
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Snow to base | Snow to base | Snow to base |
Ski Area Stats
Les Orres Ski Area
Black Pistes Expert Trails | 4 | 10km |
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Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 20 | 48km |
Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 6 | 10km |
Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 7 | 20km |
Downhill Total Length | 63km | |
Cross Country Total Length | 40km | |
Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 25 |
Altitudes
Les Orres Ski Area Heights
Highest Lift | 2,770m |
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Lowest Piste | 1,650m |
Resort Altitude (Les Orres) | 1,600m |
Max Vertical | 1,170m |
Ratings & Suitability
Intermediate Skiers | |
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Beginners | |
Snowboarding | |
Snow | |
Apres-Ski |
Les Orres Overview
Overlooking the Durance Valley and the lake of Serre-Poncon, Les Orres has one of the largest ski areas in the Southern Alps. The resort has a sunny, southerly location with skiing up to snow-sure altitudes. Les Orres did seem to be losing its edge in the 1990s with increasingly old lifts and buildings, but three new high-speed six-seater chairs and plenty of new initiatives to enhance the 'guest experience' have definitely spiced it up. There are also more facilities to diversify the holiday options available including an ice rink, cyber cafe, training circuit, multi-media room, family area and health spa. Although an 'intermediate heaven' there are serious opportunities for off-piste. The only thing you won't find is a buzzing nightlife.
Notable Ski Runs
The most difficult run is the 'L'Horrible'.
Skiing
There are 88km (55 miles) of marked trails at Les Orres which despite its southerly latitude, has skiing right up to a snowsure 2730m, creating a 1200m vertical - big for a resort of this size (it would be one of the five biggest if this were North America!) and southerly location. Its not a great choice for experts with the majority of terrain graded easy to intermediate but of the three blacks L'Horrible has the best name and meanest reputation. L'Ecureuil, cut through the trees beneath the Grand Clos double chair which serves it is also worth a shot, especially when bumpy as well as steep. Two thirds of the trails are graded intermediate and there are wonderful long runs, especially the Grand Cabane trail accessed via trail three which descends for four kilometres along the boundaries of the marked area, first above the treeline and then making its solitary way through the forest, far from all the other trails. A third six-seater chair was added recently to access the Fontaines area.
There are plenty of off piste opportunities above Les Orres, some of the best reached with a ridge hike from the top of three drag lifts that access Grand Vallon and Petit Vallon sectors, but beware the off-limits zones marked on the map. To be on the safe side and find the best powder, a five full day course (Monday to Friday) is available with a mountain guide to discover off-piste and ski touring across the local southern Alps.
The plateau of Charance offers you five kilometres of cross country skiing through the forest. The 24km Mazelière loipe will excite more advanced skiers.
Les Orres offers good sking, particularly, for Intermediate and Beginner skiers.
Snowboarding
The snowpark at Les Orres has slides, five tables, two quarters and two big airs. The resort also has a boardercross course and tuition provided by several ski and board schools which run a range of specialised classes from complete beginner to boardercross skills.
Location and Map
Where is Les Orres?
This ski resort is in the French Alps in Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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 Les Orres is Grenoble, 140 minutes drive away.
Marseille Provence, Chambery, Turin Caselle, Avignon and Turin Cuneo airports are all within three hours drive.
Infrastructure
Ski Lift Capacity
The 25 ski lifts are able to uplift 21,000 skiers and snowboarders every hour.
Snow Making
Snow-making is available, on 65km of ski runs, with 104 snow cannons.
Season Dates
When is Les Orres open?
Open from : February 6, 2021.
Closes : April 17, 2021.
Usual opening is early December, and usual closing is Late April.
NOTE:- Ski area, lift and piste opening is subject to Current Snow Conditions.
COVID-19 / Coronavirus
We don't yet have specific details of the COVID-19 precautions being taken in Les Orres, but they are likely to include most of the following :-
- Face masks required on lifts, and in shops.
- Social distancing in public areas.
- Reduced lift capacity.
- Extensive disinfection / sanitization.
French Ski Resort COVID-19 Measures describes further measures that may also be applied.
Visit the Les Orres Tourist Office for the latest.
Aprés Ski
There are more than a dozen bars and a lone nightclub, Les Caves.
The mini-bowling alley, Le Bowlingo, located in the shopping arcade can make part of an entertaining evening or L'Ubac Cinema shows two different movies a day, with more in bad weather (Not all films are shown in English, check before you buy your ticket)