Ordino Arcalís

Ordino Arcalís lies at the far end of the Ordino Valley in northern Andorra, high up and facing north. It is a separate ski area, not a piste-linked part of Grandvalira. In the past, Arcalís and Pal Arinsal were part of the Vallnord brand. That name is no longer used. Today, the resort is called Ordino Arcalís and is marketed under Grandvalira Resorts, but you get there by car or bus, not on skis.

The terrain is the most alpine in Andorra: open above the tree line, with bowls, ridges, and natural lines. Approximately 18.6 miles of pistes between about 6,365 and 8,612 feet provide around 2,247 feet of vertical drop. This is a mountain to work your way around, both on the pistes and just beside them, rather than a system to traverse back and forth across.

The north-facing location often provides better snow than the rest of the country, which has made Arcalís Andorra’s clearest choice for freeriders. Ordino Arcalís is a good fit if you want a high-alpine feel and off-piste terrain in a moderately sized area, without a village at the base of the lifts.