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    SnowbasinFrance

    Top 5 Longest Ski Lifts in the World: Engineering Marvels Of The Resorts

    Michael FultonMichael Fulton·3 Sept 2024
    Level Up Your Ski Day — Download SnowStash on the App Store

    World's Longest Ski Lifts: Engineering Marvels That Elevate Your Mountain Experience Ski lifts are the second most fundamental part of a ski resort, of course the first is snow! They are more than just transportation up the mountain – they're impressive pieces of engineering that provide stunning views and sometimes memorable rides. Today, we’re diving into the top 5 longest ski lifts in the world. These lifts not only give you a chance to rest your legs but also showcase some of the most beautiful mountain scenery around the globe. From the towering Alps to the Rockies and even a surprising spot in the USA, let’s take a look at these remarkable ski lift creations!#5 Coulouvrier Chairlift - Grand Massif, FranceThe Coulouvrier Chairlift in the French Alps stretches an impressive 2.8 kilometers (1.74 miles). This six-seater lift can transport 3,000 people per hour at 6 meters per second. It connects Samoëns village to Morillon resort in just 8 minutes, reducing wait times and opening up the new Coulouvrier Bowl for intermediate and advanced skiers.#4 Pré St Esprit Chairlift - Les Arcs, FranceAt 2.9 kilometers (1.76 miles), the Pré St Esprit Chairlift is another French marvel. This six-seater lift features heated seats for an 8-minute journey offering stunning views of Arc 1950's traditional alpine architecture. Its eco-friendly design includes a turf roof that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. #3 Slide Brook Express - Sugarbush, Vermont, USACrossing the Atlantic, we find the world's longest chairlift at Sugarbush resort in Vermont. The Slide Brook Express spans 3.4 kilometers (2.11 miles), connecting Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen. This quad chair offers an 11-minute ride through untouched wilderness, with potential sightings of local wildlife like black bears and moose.#2 Peak2Peak Gondola - Whistler, CanadaWhistler Blackcomb's Peak2Peak Gondola is a 4.4-kilometer (2.73-mile) engineering masterpiece. It boasts a maximum height of 436 meters (1,430 feet) and an unsupported span of 3 kilometers between towers. The 11-minute journey between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offers panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows, with some cabins featuring glass floors for an extra thrill.#1 Zugspitze Gondola - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GermanyTopping our list is the Zugspitze Gondola in the Bavarian Alps. At 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles), it's currently the world's longest gondola lift. This aerial tram conquers the highest elevation difference in a single section, whisking riders from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Germany's highest peak in just 10 minutes. It features the world's highest steel support tower for an aerial tramway and the longest unsupported span globally.

    Brian Head Resort Is Utah's First Ski Resort to Open for 2024-25 Season

    About the author

    Michael Fulton

    Michael Fulton

    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    50+ resorts visited15 years skiing

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    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    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 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

    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 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

    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

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

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    27 Aug 2026
    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    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

    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