Here is a large detailed map.

The ski and snowboard region of Alpe d’Huez is massive and if one includes all of the resorts covered by the Grandes Alpes lift ticket it covers 468 kilometers of marked trails and countless opportunities for off-trail skiing or riding. The six-day Grandes Alpes lift ticket includes the resorts of Les 2 Alpes and La Grave as well as the interconnected resorts surrounding Alpe d’Huez — Vaujany, Oz-en-Oisans, Auris-en-Oisans and Villard-Reculas. On Wednesday and Thursday there is a special shuttle bus that connects the resorts that do not have interconnected lifts. Helicopters link Alpe d’Huez and Les 2 Alpes.

This area is immense. There are 133 ski lifts, 225 marked runs for every ability and four separate runs where skiers and riders can ski non-stop 6,560 feet of vertical drop. One of these runs the 16-km.-long Sarenne is measured as the longest marked trail in the world.

Never-Evers and Beginners
Beginners have one of Europe’s best learning slopes right at the main base area of Alpe d’Huez. As one goes further up the hill the steepness increases. Plus it is very wide. This broad stretch of beginner terrain is served by nine surface lifts and a gondola with a middle station for beginners to exit. Complimenting the excellent learning terrain, the area is surrounded by good dining options as well. Each of the interconnected towns has a small beginner area as well, some reached first by gondola where the lessons begin and at the end of the day the beginners download back to their accommodation. Overall at the resort there are 66 trails marked for beginners.

Intermediates
More than half of the trails in the region are dedicated to intermediate skiers. These are long and sinewy dropping through various folds in the mountains that soar behind the village. The Sarenne (the longest run in the world), though marked black on the trail map, is an upper-intermediate run that requires endurance. The entire trail is normally groomed and wide enough to allow an intermediate to zigzag down at their own pace.

From the top of the Dome des Petites Rousses intermediates can drop down a series of different groomed runs that gobble up more then 3,200 feet of nonstop vertical. (That is more vertical than almost any resort in the USA.)

From l’Arpette even lower-intermediate skiers can drop down 1,300 feet of nonstop vertical to Montfrais above Vaujany. Some of the best and most scenic intermediate trails drop from Signal down to Villard-Reculas and Huez.

Experts
Alpe d’Huez is a field day for expert and advanced skiers and riders. What you see, you can ski or ride is the basic rule. Snowboarders should be aware that there are some stretches of runs through the crooks in the mountains that are flatter than a pancake — especially the end of the Sarenne. Some skiers can glide the entire length, but that means one would have to ski the run when no one is on the narrow trail that runs out to the only lift back to the main area. Most end up kicking and gliding. Snowboarders end up walking or pushing themselves along on one leg.

A slightly tougher version of the Sarenne is Chateau Noir that is a bit more challenging, but ends up at the same runout at the base of the trail.

The real experts turn off the Sarenne trail and take the Le Tunnel drop – the steepest trail in Alpe d’Huez. It is reached through a 100-meter-long tunnel that was carved ages ago just to reach these hallowed steeps. To the right of Le Tunnel is Les Chocards, an advanced trail and to the left Le Brecbe, another expert run curls around rocky outcroppings. Go with a buddy, if anyone falls, it may be some time before another daring soul comes along.

Dropping from just below l’Alpette the narrow and shaded La Fare twists its way through rocks and trees to the town of Vaujany where a massive tram carries skiers and riders back to the main area.


Mountain rating
This area is so vast and varied that no skier should have trouble finding the perfect slope for his or her ability. The center of the trail system is the focus of intermediate terrain, the edges of the trail map finds the expert drops and the beginner terrain is near each of the villages.

Expert skiing is everywhere however. What you can see, you can ski. No expert will go wanting.