
Les Mosses
495m vertical, 40km piste, 12 lifts. Family resort in Vaud Alps with Magic Pass, 90min from Geneva.
Les Mosses operates between 1,379 and 1,874 metres across 40 kilometres of piste served by 12 lifts, delivering 495 metres of vertical drop in the municipality of Ormont-Dessous. The resort records 430 centimetres of average annual snowfall and maintains snowmaking coverage across its entire 40-kilometre network. Terrain divides 25% beginner and 75% intermediate with no advanced runs, whilst 42 kilometres of Nordic trails spread across the high plateau between 1,450 and 1,650 metres elevation. Connectivity to neighbouring Leysin via regular shuttle bus extends the combined domain to over 100 kilometres.
The ski area splits between Les Mosses and La Lécherette sectors across gentle wide slopes ideal for progression, with named runs including the red piste Les Folliets. A terrain park offers jumps and rails catering to multiple ability levels. The longest descent measures two kilometres, whilst the most challenging run is designated Parchet 1. Les Mosses sits at Col des Mosses pass at 1,445 metres, spreading across a protected high valley that contrasts with Leysin's sun-exposed south-facing bowl.
The resort maintains a relaxed family atmosphere with minimal queuing and traditional Alpine village character at 1,450 metres base elevation. A snow garden equipped with magic carpets offers free access for children up to age nine. Off-slope activities include dog-sledding, with the resort hosting international dog-sled races, snowtubing, and ice diving at frozen Lac Lioson at 1,850 metres. On-mountain dining includes Cabane des Monts-Chevreuils and Pra-Cornet hut.
Magic Pass inclusion provides unlimited access from early December through mid-April, alongside entry to over 100 partner resorts across Switzerland. Adult day tickets cost 52 francs standard rate, rising to 58 francs peak periods, whilst seniors born 1946 or earlier ski free. The combined Leysin-Les Mosses-La Lécherette network suits families and intermediates seeking uncrowded slopes with reliable snow preservation above the Rhône Valley inversions.
Les Mosses is a small, low-key area with 18 runs over 40 kilometres, climbing from 1,379 metres at the base to 1,874 metres for a vertical of 495 metres. The grading is simple: 25% beginner and 75% intermediate, with nothing steeper. Eleven T-bars and a single surface lift carry skiers up the slopes, so there are no chairs or gondolas to wait for. Here the snow is a reasonable bet through winter because the Col des Mosses sits well above the Rhône valley inversions. It is a mellow place to build mileage rather than chase vertical.
Les Mosses and the neighbouring La Lécherette share a broad, open plateau of wide, forgiving slopes, with the two sectors joined by the Arsat lift. A shuttle bus runs to Leysin, and both areas are covered by the Alpes Vaudoises regional passes. The Col des Mosses is also well known for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog-sledding, so mixed groups can split between downhill and nordic days. There is little genuine steep terrain, so experts should look elsewhere. Beginners stepping up to blues and reds, and families wanting uncrowded cruising, are well served.
The 2025-26 season operates from 1 December 2025 through 15 April 2026, delivering approximately four and a half months of skiing. Typical season length extends mid-December through mid-April depending on snowfall, with early and late season dates varying annually. The resort opened for early season on 29-30 November 2025 when conditions permitted. December through April represents standard operating months across the Vaud Alps region.
Les Mosses records 430 centimetres average annual snowfall with peak accumulation during January and February. The resort's 1,450-metre base elevation and 1,874-metre summit provide superior snow preservation compared to lower Leysin during warming periods. Comprehensive snowmaking covers all 40 kilometres of piste, ensuring reliable coverage despite the area's abundant sunshine hours. February typically delivers optimal snow depth averaging 145 centimetres at summit elevation.
January through March offers the most consistent conditions, with December seeing 81 centimetres average snowfall and January delivering 117 centimetres. Spring conditions from March onwards favour Les Mosses' north-facing aspects over Leysin's sun-exposed terrain. The high plateau location between 1,450-1,650 metres maintains relative snow security throughout winter. Quieter periods occur weekdays outside Swiss school holidays, whilst weekends draw families from Geneva and Lausanne within 90 minutes' drive.
The resort frequently operates above cloud cover during winter inversions settling over the Rhône Valley, delivering exceptional sunshine hours. No night skiing operates at Les Mosses itself, though nearby La Forclaz village offers lit runs. The area hosts international dog-sled races during winter. Cross-country skiing on 42 kilometres of Nordic trails, including 850 metres of illuminated track, extends throughout the season. The plateau's exposed position creates reliable snow conditions from early season through April closure.
Les Mosses sits at the Col des Mosses pass at 1,445 metres elevation in the municipality of Ormont-Dessous within Aigle District, Canton of Vaud. The hamlet occupies a high plateau in the western Bernese Alps between the Grande-Eau valley and Pays-d'Enhaut, approximately 20 kilometres from Aigle in western Switzerland's French-speaking region. Surrounding peaks include Pic Chaussy at 2,351 metres to the south and Gros Van overlooking the pass, whilst Lac Lioson sits at 1,850 metres nearby.
The village of Le Sépey lies seven kilometres downvalley, whilst Château-d'Oex sits north over the pass. Aigle serves as the primary valley town 20 kilometres south at 415 metres elevation on the Rhône plain. Montreux sits 30 kilometres southwest on Lake Geneva's eastern shore. The resort occupies Col des Mosses pass linking Aigle with Château-d'Oex, a historic route through the western Vaud Alps.
From the A9 motorway, exit 17 signposted Aigle/Ollon/Les Mosses provides direct access via the Col des Mosses road. Geneva lies 130 kilometres or 90 minutes west via A9 and lakeside routes. Lausanne sits 64 kilometres or one hour northwest via A9. The pass road remains open year-round with winter maintenance, though chains may be required during heavy snowfall. Swiss motorway vignette costs 40 francs annually and is compulsory.
Geneva Airport lies 130 kilometres or 80 minutes by road, serving as the closest international hub. Sion Airport sits 60 minutes east, whilst Bern Airport lies 90 minutes northeast. Rail access requires Swiss Federal Railways to Aigle station, then the Aigle-Leysin (AL) cog railway to Le Sépey, followed by bus 175 to Les Mosses village. Total journey from Geneva by public transport takes approximately three and a half hours with transfers. TGV Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon reaches Lausanne in five hours fifteen minutes.
Hotels and lodges near Les Mosses, powered by Stay22.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.

The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.

Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.

Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.
Les Mosses operates 12 lifts comprising 11 T-bar drag lifts and one magic carpet surface lift concentrated across the high valley terrain. The system delivers an uphill capacity of 10,000 skiers per hour across the 40-kilometre network. All installations are surface lifts - no chairlifts or gondolas serve the Les Mosses-La Lécherette sector independently. Connected partner Leysin adds a gondola and chairlifts to the combined 100-kilometre domain accessible via shuttle bus.
Key installations include Téléski des Chaux providing primary summit access and Téléski de l'Arsat serving mid-mountain terrain. The Dorchaux I and Dorchaux II T-bars access separate slope sectors. A magic carpet in the snow garden facilitates beginner progression near the village base at 1,379 metres. Named lifts spread across both Les Mosses and adjacent La Lécherette, with La Lécherette's 13 installations overlapping in combined resort statistics reported variously as 12-14 total lifts.
Base-to-summit flow relies entirely on drag lift progression with no high-speed detachable installations present. The predominantly surface lift infrastructure creates an old-school Alpine experience requiring T-bar proficiency. Shuttle buses connect to Leysin every 15 minutes during operating hours, providing strategic access to that sector's more modern gondola and chairlift network. Lift tickets grant access across both sectors, though the connecting bus journey requires nine minutes between bases.
No recent major infrastructure upgrades have been documented, with the resort maintaining its traditional drag lift character. The system serves terrain efficiently given the moderate vertical drop and gentle gradient favouring beginners and intermediates. Bottlenecks rarely occur due to the uncrowded nature and spread of installations across multiple sectors. Facilities operate reliably throughout December to April season with regular grooming maintaining piste quality across the predominantly intermediate terrain profile.
More Les Mosses intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.