The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Portes du Soleil

You can either drive (via Essert Romand and Cote D'Arbroz) or take the lifts up Mont Chery (TC Mont Chery, TS de la Pointe) and ride the Marmottes, Mouflon or Chevreuil pistes down to reach L'Encrenaz and access this gentle line down from Col Ratti....

From the middle of the blue slope "Ecosti's 49", we will need to turn right below a big patch of trees. Some 10-15 minutes hiking will be needed. The main danger will be the lack of snow and rocks, as our face is takes a lot of sun due to the southerly aspect- this is an early season line....

At the top of the "Chermillon" ski lift, follow the blue slope "Chermillon Muave Milka" but instead of carrying on right with the blue slope, continue straight. Speed needs to be taken and kept to join this line as our line is quite flat....

Easy access on this line as we do have more or less 2 options either the top of the Petit Chatel chairlift or we can go down the Barbossine chairlift. This is more like a way home line we will do instead of taking the lift....

This is an easy access line by the bottom of the ski lift "Le Lac" on the left of the bottom of blue slope. The line is not steep and can feel like a piste but there are some stones all along the track and trees as soon as a mistake is done from the track....

Again another easy access line with 10 minutes hike needed from top left of "Grand-frémoux" ski lift. The line is not steep and can feel like a piste in the forest where the line gets a lot of sun so make sure there's enough snow before heading in due to the south West exposure what make the snow often wet....

This is an easy access line close Avoriaz plateau. The line is not steep and can feel like a piste but there are some trees and few stones about if there is low snow cover....

Take a left on the second flat section towards the bottom of blue slope "Retour Village". The line is not steep and can feel like a piste but there is often a lack of snow cover so make sure there's enough snow before heading in....

This off-piste area is very popular on a powder day because it is not difficult and it is easy to access. To get there, take the Chaux-Fleurie chairlift from Lindarets. Once at the top, turn left towards the arrival of the opposite chairlift....

From the top of the Bochasses chair traverse immediately left off the Bochasses piste towards the obvious gap in the ridge (marked by hiking signposts). Follow the track left down into and then around the shallow bowl until you reach the trees and then choose your route down through the glades....

This is easily accessed from the top of the lift of the same name, skiing roughly next to the lift itself, through the trees. The main hazard is looking out for others as you cross the "Culet's" piste....

A really short shortcut getting you back to "Panoramique (Chaux Longe)" slope instead of taking the "Onnaz" ski lift. There's nothing complicated on this line. This is nice if there's fresh snow as you can get some powder turns, and there's not much steepness so avalanche risk is low....

Easily accessed line and easy short cut to manage before joining the red slope "La Combe", there's nothing really to be worried about here unless sometimes the lack of snow as we are below 1500 meters....

From the gondolas you need to get into the red slope "La Combe"and as soon as you get into the middle of this slope, turn to the right. The real part of this line is when you will be below the red slope to the right side....

A gentle shortcut between 2 slopes to avoid some traffic and get the chance to do a few turns close to some trees. This area often has good snow as it is over 1700 meters....

This is a really easy short cut between slopes, where a few trees are the main dangers. The face is takes a lot of sun so remember to check the weather as this can make things unstable and bringing some avalanches....

This line goes between the blue slope "Les Follys" and the other other blue slope "Grand Fremoux". It's an easy line and not steep. The area is quickly tracked due to the easy access and the minimal avalanche risks....

There's nothing really to be worried about on this part of the mountain other than the snow cover, as there is a of sun and the base can be thin. Aim to join the red slope "Retour Village (Red)" in order to access the bottom of the ski resort....

The blue slope "45 - Foilleuse" brings you to this line and 100 meters after the big turn to the right, you turn left. Good tree skiing skills are required and this line is quite isolated but it's not steep and because the line gets little sun there is a good chance of finding nice snow here....

This is an easy access line - just go under the Corbeau's chairlift. The line is not steep and can feel like a piste but there are some rocks about if there is low snow cover....