Verbier 4 Vallées
412km across 1,950m vertical. 68 lifts serving Mont Fort at 3,330m. Epic Pass access to Switzerland's largest interlinked domain.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
14 Nov 2026
Closes
25 Apr 2027
Days open
162
Annual snow
5m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
The 4 Vallées network spans 412 kilometres of marked runs across elevations from 1,350 to 3,330 metres at Mont Fort, making it Switzerland's largest fully interlinked ski area. The domain records 1,950 metres of vertical drop and deploys 68 lifts serving 94 runs distributed across six connected villages. Terrain splits 26% beginner, 49% intermediate, 15% advanced and 10% expert, whilst high-altitude zones above 2,500 metres deliver reliable coverage throughout the five-and-a-half-month season.
Verbier anchors the western sector with celebrated off-piste terrain including Mont Gelé at 3,023 metres and the Bec des Rosses, venue for the annual Freeride World Tour finals each March. The Tortin lifts connect westward to the Printse sector encompassing Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon, whilst Savoleyres and Bruson provide quieter, family-oriented alternatives. Intermediates favour the wide boulevards at Attelas and La Chaux, whilst beginners progress through dedicated nursery zones at Les Esserts and Les Moulins.
Verbier village sits at 1,500 metres with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and lively après-ski culture, contrasting with the traditional mountain character of Bruson and the family focus of La Tzoumaz. The Médran base area handles peak-season crowds, though regular lift investments have reduced bottlenecks outside February half-term. On-mountain dining spans 50 establishments from self-service canteens to white-tablecloth restaurants with Mont Blanc views.
Epic Pass holders receive five consecutive days of access for the 2025-26 season, with expanded eligibility now including Epic Local Pass. The 2025-26 winter runs 8 November to 26 April across the full network, with weekend openings at Lac des Vaux sometimes beginning late October. The resort suits confident intermediates through to extreme skiers, though beginners require patience navigating between sectors on predominantly red connector runs.
1950m
Vertical
94
Runs
412 km
Piste
5m
Annual snow
Epic Pass
Pass
The Terrain
94 runs across 412 km of piste
Verbier 4 Vallées spreads 94 runs across 412 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 49%, with 24 beginner runs to find your feet and 23 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
94
runs
94 runs across 4 grades
Beginner24 runs · 26%
Intermediate46 runs · 49%
Advanced14 runs · 15%
Expert9 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Verbier 4 Vallées
The 2025-26 season operates from 8 November 2025 through 26 April 2026 across the full 4 Vallées network, with possible weekend-only skiing at Lac des Vaux from late October depending on early snowfall. The season spans 24 weeks, amongst the longest in the Alps owing to elevations topping 3,300 metres and predominantly north-facing aspects above 2,500 metres. Lift operations run daily throughout Christmas, New Year and Easter periods.
Verbier receives average annual snowfall between 4.5 and 5.5 metres, with the summit accumulating significantly more than base elevations. High-altitude terrain above 2,700 metres maintains excellent coverage from December through April, whilst lower slopes benefit from snowmaking covering approximately 40% of marked runs. The glacier-adjacent zones on Mont Fort provide snow-sure skiing into late spring, though south-facing exposures can transition from ice to slush rapidly on sunny March afternoons.
January and February deliver peak powder conditions with the most consistent natural snowfall, whilst December offers quieter slopes as the network ramps up operations. March brings longer days and stable spring conditions, with the Xtreme Verbier Freeride World Tour finals scheduled 22-30 March attracting global audiences. April skiing remains viable on high-altitude terrain, though afternoon slush requires morning starts.
The resort hosts the Verbier Festival classical music programme in late July and early August, the Grand Raid Cristalp mountain biking race, and the Grand Concours Hippique equestrian competition during summer months. Selected lifts including Le Châble-Verbier, Mont Fort and Col des Gentianes operate for hikers and cyclists from late June through September, providing 10 months of annual lift access.
Season 2026 - 2027
14 Nov 2026
Opens
25 Apr 2027
Closes
162
Days open
5 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Verbier 4 Vallées, and where to stay
Verbier occupies the Val de Bagnes in Canton Valais, southwest Switzerland, with the village at 1,500 metres overlooking the Rhône Valley. The 4 Vallées network extends across Val de Bagnes and Val d'Hérens, bordered by the Grand Combin massif to the south and opening northward toward Sion. Mont Fort's 3,330-metre summit delivers panoramic views encompassing the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Dent Blanche and the Bernese Alps.
Le Châble serves as the valley town at 821 metres with rail connections and the principal gondola link to Verbier village four kilometres uphill. Martigny, 30 kilometres west, functions as the regional hub with onward train connections throughout Switzerland. Sion lies 50 kilometres northeast along the Rhône Valley corridor. The resort operates within French-speaking Valais, with mountain culture reflecting both Swiss precision and Latin conviviality.
Road access follows the A9 motorway along the Rhône Valley to Martigny, then Route 21 south through Sembrancher before climbing 10 kilometres via hairpin bends to Le Châble and continuing to Verbier. The Great St Bernard Tunnel provides a 90-minute connection to Aosta, Italy. Driving from Geneva requires two hours in clear conditions, from Zurich 3 hours 20 minutes, and from Chamonix 90 minutes via the Col de la Forclaz.
Geneva International Airport sits 160 kilometres distant with transfers via motorway or rail taking 2 to 2.5 hours. Weekend Verbier Express trains run direct from Geneva Airport to Le Châble on Saturdays and Sundays, requiring one change at Martigny on weekdays. Zürich Airport lies 290 kilometres northeast with four-hour transfers. Sion Airport, 50 kilometres away, handles private aviation and limited scheduled services. The Le Châble-Verbier gondola operates 18 hours daily, eliminating the need for resort driving.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Verbier 4 Vallées, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Verbier 4 Vallées's ski season?
Verbier 4 Vallées's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 14 through April 25. That window is roughly 162 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Switzerland, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Verbier 4 Vallées have?
Verbier 4 Vallées lists about 412 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 94 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Verbier 4 Vallées?
Trail grading at Verbier 4 Vallées breaks down roughly as 26% beginner, 49% intermediate, 15% advanced, 10% expert. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Blue/Red) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Verbier 4 Vallées have?
Verbier 4 Vallées operates 68 lifts across 8 lift types. The fleet includes 30 t-bars, 16 gondolas, 7 quad chairs, 5 6-person chairs, 4 aerial trams, 3 double chairs, 2 surface lifts, and 1 triple chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Verbier 4 Vallées?
Base elevation at Verbier 4 Vallées is about 1,350 m (4,429 ft), with the summit around 3,300 m (10,827 ft), giving roughly 1,950 m (6,398 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Verbier 4 Vallées get each season?
Verbier 4 Vallées averages about 450 cm (177 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Does Verbier 4 Vallées accept the Epic Pass?
Verbier 4 Vallées is affiliated with the Epic Pass. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Epic Pass, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Verbier 4 Vallées before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 9 live mountain webcams, an interactive live trail map and a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Verbier 4 Vallées so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Verbier 4 Vallées have a trail map?
Yes. A live interactive map embeds current lift and run status when the provider supplies it, which is useful on-morning for seeing what is actually spinning. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Verbier 4 Vallées. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Verbier 4 Vallées located?
Verbier 4 Vallées sits in Switzerland, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026