
Ordino Arcalís
Ordino Arcalís: 442ha of skiable terrain, Freeride World Championships venue, best snow in Andorra. 1,940–2,625m.
Ordino Arcalís occupies a remote position at the end of the Ordino valley in Andorra's northern parish, sitting entirely above 1,940m and topping out at 2,625m across 442 hectares of skiable domain. While the resort's 31 pisted kilometres across 29 runs make it the smallest on-piste ski area in Andorra, that figure tells a fraction of the story — Ordino Arcalís hosts 450 hectares of skiable terrain in total, with 21 freeride zones, 120 mapped off-piste routes across three difficulty categories, and 4 kilometres of marked freeride itineraries that have drawn elite riders to the Pyrenees for over a decade. The pisted terrain itself covers a practical spread of 31% beginner, 24% intermediate, 39% advanced, and 6% expert, anchored by the 8-kilometre Mega Verde green run — the longest beginner descent in Andorra — which winds from the summit area all the way to the base.
Since joining the Freeride World Tour calendar in 2015, Ordino Arcalís has become one of the most technical stops on the global circuit Grandvalira, and in February 2026 the resort hosted the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships — the inaugural event to crown official FIS World Champions in freeride across ski and snowboard disciplines. The valley of Ordino itself was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2020, giving the resort a natural setting of genuine ecological significance. At 2,701m, the Tristaina Solar Viewpoint — a suspended 25-metre ring structure perched on Pic de Peyreguils just metres from the French border — has become one of the resort's signature landmarks, accessible in winter by snowshoe or ski touring.
Ordino Arcalís is the smallest of Andorra's three ski areas, with 31 kilometres of piste over 29 runs from 1,940 metres to 2,625 metres, a vertical of 685 metres. The grading is split between the extremes and the middle: 39% advanced, 31% beginner, 24% intermediate and 6% expert, so the in-between skier has the least to choose from. A high base means the snow tends to hold, and the area is quiet compared with its larger neighbours. The reason to come is the terrain just outside the groomed runs, which is where most of the resort's reputation was built.
Freeride is the story: Ordino Arcalís has mapped off-piste itineraries and has been a stop on the Freeride World Tour. The Pic d'Arcalís route, reached by the Bassera cable car, is the gentler introduction, and the Pic de Tristaina line is a long, committing day for experienced skiers with touring gear. On the groomed side, the Mega Verde is a very long green run for beginners and families. The off-piste terrain is avalanche-prone, so hire a guide and carry transceiver, probe and shovel. It suits advanced skiers and riders chasing powder, plus beginners who want a quiet mountain.
Ordino Arcalís typically runs the longest season of any resort in Andorra, with the 2025/26 season opening 29 November 2025 and closing 12 April 2026 — a week beyond the closing dates of both Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal. The resort's average annual snowfall of 5.84m is the highest of Andorra's three ski areas, a product of its north-facing orientation and position deep within the Ordino valley, which channels Atlantic moisture systems and shields slopes from the warming effects of direct southerly sun. Current season snowpack sits at 350cm at the mountain base, with 43cm recorded in the past seven days — conditions that reflect why advanced and freeride skiers specifically target Ordino Arcalís for the quality and longevity of its snow.
January and February produce the most consistent powder conditions, with the high-altitude freeride terrain above 2,400m holding cold, dry snow through extended periods. The resort's March and early April conditions are particularly well regarded among those chasing late-season depth — the north-facing aspects preserve quality snowpack well beyond what comparable south-facing Pyrenean terrain can sustain. The season's extended closing date also aligns with the resort's ski mountaineering and snowshoe circuits, which remain accessible across the higher terrain into early spring, giving the more adventurous visitor compelling reasons to plan a late-season trip.
Daily snow reports at Ordino Arcalís go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
Ordino Arcalís sits at the upper end of the Riu Valira d'Ordino valley in the northern Ordino parish, approximately 25 kilometres from Andorra la Vella via the CG-3 and CG-30 roads. Unlike Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal, the resort has no on-mountain accommodation — the nearest lodging is in the village of El Serrat, five minutes by car, with the town of Ordino offering a broader range of hotels approximately 15 minutes from the base. This separation from resort infrastructure is by design as much as geography; Ordino Arcalís functions as a day-trip destination, and its car parks accommodate up to 1,500 vehicles free of charge at the slope-side base area. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation of the Ordino valley places the resort within a protected natural landscape of genuine ecological value, adding a dimension to a visit that most ski destinations cannot offer.
The two primary international gateways are Barcelona El Prat Airport in Spain, approximately three hours south, and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France, around two to three hours north. Both airports are served by private transfer and coach services into Andorra, with most visitors collecting a hire car in Barcelona or Toulouse for the road journey, which is recommended given the resort's valley-end location and limited public transport frequency. Visitors based in Andorra la Vella can reach the resort in under 30 minutes by car, and the capital's full range of accommodation, the Caldea thermal spa, and duty-free retail all sit within easy reach for evenings after the lifts close.
Hotels and lodges near Ordino Arcalís, powered by Stay22.

Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.

Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.

The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.

A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.

Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.

Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.

Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.

Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Nov 28, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Ordino Arcalís typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from €20, with peak rates up to €52.
Experience Ordino Arcalís premium freeride terrain with this adult daily Nord Pass. Home to the Freeride World Tour with 30.5km of skiable terrain, 5 mountain skiing circuits, and over 120 unmarked freeride routes.
Buy passSpecial junior pricing for ages 12-17 at Ordino Arcalís ski resort. Perfect for adventurous teens to experience world-class freeride terrain and marked off-piste areas in Andorra's highest altitude resort.
Buy passGreat value child ticket for ages 6-11 at Ordino Arcalís. Kids can enjoy the famous 8km Mega Verde green run and beginner areas while parents explore advanced terrain. Family-friendly facilities available.
Buy passDiscounted senior lift ticket for ages 65-69 at Ordino Arcalís. Must present ID at ticket office. Experience Andorra's highest altitude skiing with the best snow conditions and stunning mountain views.
Buy passSpecial senior pricing for ages 70-74 at Ordino Arcalís. Proof of age required at ticket office. Enjoy premium mountain scenery and well-groomed slopes at Andorra's most spectacular ski resort.
Buy passFree daily lift ticket for children 5 and under at Ordino Arcalís. Must present proof of age at ticket office. Access to beginner areas and magic carpet lifts perfect for little ones learning to ski.
Buy passComplimentary daily lift ticket for seniors 75 and over at Ordino Arcalís. ID verification required at ticket office. Full resort access including the spectacular Tristaina cable car and mountain restaurants.
Buy passSpecial beginner-only access at Ordino Arcalís including the famous 8km Mega Verde run. Perfect for first-time skiers to experience a long, gentle descent with stunning mountain views.
Buy passSpecial mountain access pass for ski mountaineering and snowshoeing at Ordino Arcalís. One ascent and descent per lift per day, access to marked ski touring routes and designated snowshoe areas.
Buy passTwo-day Nord Pass covering both Ordino Arcalís and Arinsal. Experience the contrast between premium freeride terrain and family-friendly slopes. Weather guarantee included for peace of mind.
Buy passFour or more days Nord Pass with bonus day at Grandvalira included. Ski premium freeride terrain at Ordino Arcalís, family slopes at Arinsal, plus Europe's largest ski domain. Ultimate Andorra experience.
Buy passUnlimited skiing all season at Ordino Arcalís and Arinsal with the Nord Pass. Access to world-class freeride terrain, summer lifts, and Tristaina solar viewpoint. Perfect for serious skiers and freeriders.
Buy passMore Ordino Arcalís intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.