Valais snow forecast

Skiing in Valais

Valais, or Wallis, is the canton of the upper Rhône valley in south-west Switzerland, and one of the country's highest ski regions, with many of its resorts lying above 1,500 m. Its big ski areas sit in side valleys that branch off the main Rhône valley, so each has its own weather and snow. This region page brings together three areas: the 4 Vallées, Central Valais and Zermatt-Cervinia.

The 4 Vallées, around Verbier and Nendaz, is the largest ski area wholly in Switzerland, with about 410 km of runs and freeride routes up to Mont-Fort at about 3,330 m; it is best known for off-piste. Central Valais groups three separate areas: sunny, south-facing Crans-Montana, about 140 km up to the Plaine Morte glacier; Grimentz-Zinal in the Val d'Anniviers, about 115 km with a strong freeride reputation; and Saas-Fee, a car-free village with glacier skiing up to about 3,600 m. Zermatt-Cervinia is the highest of all, linked across the Theodul glacier to Italy, with about 360 km of pistes reaching 3,883 m and skiing all year.

Altitude makes Valais one of the more dependable choices in the Alps for snow, especially early and late in the winter. The main season typically runs from December to April, with the glaciers at Zermatt and Saas-Fee going much longer.

The Rhône valley railway serves the region via Martigny, Sion, Sierre and Visp, with connections up to the resorts. Geneva is the main airport, with Zurich and Milan also used.