Abries En Queyras

Abriès-en-Queyras is a small ski resort in Queyras in the French Hautes-Alpes, near the Italian border. Here, you stay in a mountain village with its own ski area rather than in a developed ski town. Abriès is part of the Queyras lift-pass network, but the areas do not form a single interconnected lift system.

The skiing ranges from 5,085 to 8,038 feet, with 2,953 feet of vertical drop, 16 runs, and five lifts. The emphasis is on intermediate runs, making the area most appealing to skiers who are already comfortable with intermediate-level terrain. There is also a separate beginner area at the base. The Le Gilly chairlift and La Colette drag lift provide access to the upper sections.

Larch forests provide much of the area’s character. Valpréveyre is a particularly popular run on the eastern side, offering skiing through the trees. Outside the marked runs, there are opportunities for tree skiing when snow conditions permit. Abriès benefits from so-called retours d’est—snowfall coming from the east that can produce excellent powder days. Artificial snow covers only a small part of the area.

Abriès is best suited to those who want to combine intermediate runs, substantial vertical terrain, and opportunities for powder skiing in larch forests without prioritizing a large lift system. Off-piste skiing requires your own assessment of snowpack and avalanche danger, ideally with a local guide.