Orcières-Merlette Ski Resort Guide
Orcières-Merlette, France
Rated: 3/5 (from 6 ratings)
| Recommended For | Intermediates, Beginners, Snowboarders and Snowfall! |
|---|---|
| Total Piste Length | 85km |
| Highest Lift | 2,730m |
| Resort Height | 1,850m |
| Nearest Airports | Grenoble and Marseille Provence |
| Save on Ski Hire | Save up to 50%  |
| Free Snow Reports by e-Mail | Sign Up for Powder Alerts |
Orcières-Merlette
The ski area of Orcières-Merlette is in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,850m, with 85km of marked runs.
Summary
Orcières-Merlette has direct access to 85km of downhill skiing, with 44 marked pistes, served by a total of 29 ski lifts.
The ski resort itself is at 1,850m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With ski lifts as high as 2,730m, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.
Skiing
Orcières-Merlette offers good sking, particularly, for Intermediate and Beginner skiers.
Snowboarding
Orcières-Merlette offers some good boarding and there are a variety of Snow and Terrain Parks in Orcières-Merlette.
Notable Ski Runs
The most difficult run is the 'Le Gourou'.
Snow and Weather
When will it snow in Orcières-Merlette?
The next notable snow forecast is 14cm, expected on 22 December.
See our long-range Snow Forecast for the latest update, or Join our Snow Mail Here
Snow this week
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow to resort |
Ski Area Stats
Orcières-Merlette Ski Area
| Black Pistes Expert Trails | 6 | 10km |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 19 | |
| Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 20 | |
| Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 9 | |
| Downhill Total Length | 85km | |
| Cross Country Total Length | 25km | |
| Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 29 | |
Altitudes & Slopes
Orcières-Merlette Ski Area Heights
| Highest Lift | 2,730m |
|---|---|
| Lowest Piste | 1,850m |
| Resort Altitude (Orcières-Merlette) | 1,850m |
| Max Vertical | 880m |
Ski Slope Aspects
S
Orcières-Merlette has ski slopes facing south (for sunny skiing).
Ratings & Suitability
| Intermediate Skiers | |
|---|---|
| Beginners | |
| Snowboarding | |
| Snow | |
| Apres-Ski |
Ski Lessons in Orcières-Merlette
To choose a Ski School, and book Group Ski Lessons or a Private Instructor, see Orcières-Merlette Ski Schools and Orcières-Merlette Ski Instructors.
Location and Map
Where is Orcières-Merlette?
This ski resort is in the French Alps in Orcières, Gap.
Map
Tap 
for Full-Screen, or see J2Ski's Resort map, showing Hotels and Ski Shops.
How to get there
By Air
The nearest airport to Orcières-Merlette is Grenoble, 150 minutes drive away.
Marseille Provence, Chambery, Avignon, Lyon St-Exupéry and Lyon Bron airports are all within three hours drive.
Infrastructure
Ski Lift Capacity
The 29 ski lifts are able to uplift 22,500 skiers and snowboarders every hour.
Snow Making
Snow-making is available, on 40km of ski runs, with 33 snow cannons.
Season Dates
When is Orcières-Merlette open?
Opened (since 14 December 2024).
Closes : 13 April 2025.
Usual opening is mid December, and usual closing is Mid April.
NOTE:- Ski area, lift and piste opening is subject to Current Snow Conditions.
