Dévoluy

About the area

Dévoluy in the French Southern Alps is a blue-run area: 64% of the 70 km of pistes are green or blue (45 km), with 42 km of that blue, so it suits confident beginners moving up and intermediates who want mileage without stress. Three magic carpets handle first turns, and there are 25 short easy runs right next to a lift base, which keeps early days simple. Experts get less: only 8 km of black, expert and freeride terrain (12%), including 3 km of marked freeride, and the biggest vertical on a single run is 543 m. Families should check lift types first.

The ski area runs from 1,457 m to 2,494 m, so the upper slopes hold snow better than the valley runs. Of the 23 lifts, 13 are platters and one is a drag lift, with five chairlifts; kids and nervous skiers may find that a factor. The longest descent measures 2,805 m, and there are 10 km of cross-country trails.