Which Ski Areas in the Alps Have the Most Black Pistes?

September 27, 2017 Xaver

Adrenaline junkies listen up! If you’re a fan of black piste skiing and are itching to fly off on your next adventure ski holiday, read on. We’ve put together a list of ski areas in the Alps with access to the most black ski pistes to help you find the right resort for you. In this list, we’re going beyond just talking about the runs found at each resort. Instead, we’re looking at how many black pistes you can easily get to from each spot.

Warning: these are not for the faint-hearted!

12. Alpe d’Huez – 17 Black Pistes (66km)

Location: Isère, France
Resort Altitude: 1860m
Airport Distance: 3 airports within 2 hours drive

Part of the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski area, Alp d’Huez offers 369km of downhill skiing with plenty of challenging black runs and is arguably one of the best ski resorts in France. With a 2330m vertical face, Pit Blanc is the highest peak of the Grandes Rousses Massif and one of the largest in the world. Here you will find incredibly long descents, including the longest black run in the world; the 16km long Sarenne. Are you brave enough?

11. Les Arcs 500 to 2000 – 18 Black Pistes (43km)

Location: Savoie, France
Resort Altitude: 1950m -2000m
Airport Distance: 2 airports within 2 hours drive

Les Arcs is made up of 4 areas but its the steepest, 500-2000, that offer the best advanced skiing with many steep and challenging black runs. Robert Blanc is the steepest, running down the northwest face of the Aiguille Rouge. Give it a go, if you think you’re hard enough!

10. Lech – 18 Black Pistes (33km)

Location: Vorarlberg, Austria
Resort Altitude: 1450m
Airport Distance: 5 airports within 2 hours drive

Lech is arguably one of the best ski resorts in Austria. Part of the Arlberg ski area and world famous for attracting serious skiers. If you’ve visited Lech for 3 years running, get yourself a high-tech Arlberg card which fits in your pocket and automatically lets you through turnstiles at the Arlberg cable car and lift stations. Expert skiers are spoilt for choice, with adventurous off-piste trails and challenging black runs. Kriegerhorn offers bumps and moguls galore for those skiers who fancy a fun and bumpy ride.

9. Champagny en Vanoise – 18 Black Pistes

Location: La Plagne, France
Restort Altitude: 1250m
Airport Distance: 6 airports within 2 hours drive

Champagny en Vanoise is part of the La Plagne Ski area and with the right ski pass skiers can enter all resorts in this area. If you like to cover long distances with challenging moguls, you’ll be well catered for here.

8. Alpbach – 18 Black Pistes (35km)

Location: Tyrol, Austria
Resort Altitude: 1000m
Airport Distance: 4 airports within 2 hours drive

Alpbach is part of the Ski Jewel Alpbachtal Wildschönau area and is largely centred on the wooded Wiedersberger Horn mountain. Expert skiers have the choice of 18 black pistes, including off-piste routes with tree-lined powder. The most challenging route is at the top of Gmahkopf and is the perfect route for the more adventurous skier.

7. Peisey-Vallandry – 19 Black Pistes (43km)

Location: Paradiski, France
Resort Altitude: 1600m
Airport Distance: 3 airports within 2 hours drive

Peisey-Vallandry is part of the Paradiski area which offers skiers 425km of downhill skiing and 69 black runs in total. With the right lift pass, skiers can access La Plagne and Les Arcs which are also part of Paradiski and offer plenty of advanced skiing. For advanced skiers, the 7km long black from the top of the Aiguille Rouge down to Villaroger is worth venturing a little further for.

6. Zermatt – 21 Black Pistes (47km)

Location: Valais, Switzerland
Resort Altitude: 1620m
Airport Distance: 1 airport within 2 hours drive

Zermatt is one of the largest ski resorts in Switzerland and offers some of the best skiing in the world. It is home to one of the biggest interlinked ski lift areas in the world, including an underground railway, with one section offering skiers the option to ski into bordering Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy. Sunnegga is a hot spot for expert skiers who can enjoy entertaining and challenging black runs. The Long Triftji black run is a must try for those thrill seekers!

5. Lauterbrunnen – 22 Black Pistes (46km)

Location: Bern, Switzerland
Resort Altitude: 800m
Airport Distance: 4 airports within 2 hours drive

Lauterbrunnen is an off-piste skier’s paradise! If heli-skiing is your thing, Lauterbrunnen is the place to be. When skiing on the Mürren side, be sure to check out the famous revolving restaurant which featured in the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. Ski down from the famous advanced runs from the Schilthorn summit into Mürren for a real challenge.

4. Serfaus – 28 Black Pistes (44km)

Location: Tyrol, Austria
Resort Altitude: 1427m
Airport Distance: 3 airports within 2 hours drive

Part of the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis ski area, Serfaus offers access to neighbouring Fiss and Ladis. Do not get put off by its family-friendly reputation, Serfaus has a vast terrain perfect for advanced skiers to explore! If you’re looking for a real challenge, head to the Fiss North side of Serfaus and try the “Adlerpiste” (no. 29) run!

3. Sölden – 31 Black Pistes (30km)

Location: Tyrol, Austria
Resort Altitude: 2000m
Airport Distance: Innsbruck Airport – 1 hour 10 min drive
Sölden is the biggest ski resort in the Oetztal Valley, and their slogan ‘Think big, think Solden’ applies not only to its terrain but also its nightlife. Home to the Alpine Ski world cup, Solden has excellent snow reliability and 31% of its runs are suited to advanced skiers. The Black World Cup race piste is a must try for advanced skiers who fancy themselves as a pro!

2. Clavière – 42 Black Pistes (42km)

Location: Piedmont, Italy
Resort Altitude: 1750m
Airport Distance: 5 airports within 2 hours drive

Clavière is part of the ‘Milky Way’ ski area of Italy. With access to 42 black pistes, Clavière is heaven for expert skiers looking for a thrill-seeking trip. The ‘Fast Black 99’ from the top of the Col Boeuf is a firm favourite with expert skiers, have you got what it takes?

1. Sestrière – 42 Black Pistes (80km)

Location: Val Susa, Italy
Resort Altitude: 2040m
Airport Distance: 2 airports within 2 Hours drive

Sestrière is arguably one of the best ski resorts in Italy. It’s part of the ‘Milky Way’ Ski area which offers an impressive 933km of downhill skiing. With the right ski pass, skiers can access all resorts in the Milky Way (Sansicario, Sauze d’Oulx, Clavière and Montgenèvre) and make the most of their 114 Black pistes! For expert skiers, black run skiing is highly regarded at the top of Sises and Motta. Feeling brave? Try the Mount Sises World Cup and World Championships giant slalom run for the ultimate adrenaline rush.

Which of these alpine resorts with the most black ski runs is tickling your fancy? Wherever it is, we can help you get there. We offer private transfers from all the main airports in the alps at affordable prices. Ready to hit those black runs? Find the best ski transfer deal for your holiday here.