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St-Luc – Chandolin

St-Luc – Chandolin Ski Trail Map – Click on Trail Map to launch new browser and enlarge.

St-Luc – Chandolin is sweet scenic Swiss ski area with stunning views and vast terrain that few have heard of. With just 24 slopes that cover over 60 kilometers, its actually expansive in its territory. With 12 ski lifts (including several pomas and a long T-Bar) you ski from 1680-2980-meters on multiple unique aspects and mountain faces. The terrain is scenic, fun and interesting. The ski resort is actually two towns – St Luc & Chandolin – two ski areas now combined by a modern quad chair – Le Roste – all on one ski pass. St Luc + Chandolin is also on the Magic Pass with lots of ski area options in this beautiful valley Wallis along the Rhone. St Luc is the French side of the Swiss valley, in Val D’Anniviers. St Luc Chandolin is actually same ownership is Grimentz-Zinal and Vercorin ski areas which you can see just across the valley.

Your St Luc adventure starts with crazy narrow mountain roads that zig zag UP to the ski area. The second challenge of the day is actually finding the Funicular and the ski area parking, as you pass through small villages with minimal signage. Find the metered parking and pay with a QR code. Despite the arrival confusion, the setting is quaint and stunning. The reliable efficient Funicular zips you to mid-mountain where chairlifts, T-Bars and pomas get you to the best skiing. Or if you can find it up a very narrow road you can start on the Forest chairlift. When you park at this upper mountain lot, there are no services (you’ll be booting up by your car).

Up on St Luc, the views are magnificent. The Imperial Crown of Peaks, they call it, with the Weisshorn, Dent Blanche, 5 massive Swiss peaks, all towering over 4000-meters, over 13,000′, in your view scape! You can see the mighty Matterhorn too, from a different interesting perspective… it looks more like a flat topped butte than a pointy peak from this vantage point – very cool.

St-Luc has some of the longest steepest pomas we have ever skied, a total of 11! Two of these are double black diamond ascents, the furthest right highest poma – Bella Tolla (named for the grand peak) is very steep, with just one groomed trail, and off-piste options (hire a guide). The poma farthest left on Chandolin side – Illhorn – is actually steeper with a 60% pitch (steep) so hold on, and snowboarders beware. Near the base of this poma the Cabane Illhorn is a great spot for lunch, with a scenic deck and creative healthy food! Check out the dormitory bunk beds downstairs in the rustic chalet on your way to the loo.

The skiing at St Luc Chandolin is family friendly, fun, with so much off-piste terrain in a good winter too! We encountered lots of local school groups on the slopes. We learned that local kids get a free ski pass. Snow parks and fun slopes are located around the bustling mid-mountain funicular area.

Fun fact, St Luc is the only ski area (we know of) with a planetarium and star-gazing solarium installation on its slopes! The Anniviers valley is legendary for its clear mountain air, lack of light pollution, and stellar viewing.

For lodging, we enjoyed the modest Hotel Beausite in St Luc, cozy, with an amazing view from our balcony (Room #34). Beausite is right next to the bus stop, and has a pleasant restaurant, plus breakfast included. Fancier lodging is nearby at Hotel Bella Tolla, which they call a “living history museum.” Or on-mountain is the Hotel Weisshorn, but you must climb to it, or take a snow cat.

For a fun St Luc adventure, ski from the top of Bella Tolla poma, all the way down to Prilett, where the ice rink is located. Here you can lunch at the cozy French restaurant – Gite du Prilett chalet, then catch a free bus back to the Funicular.

On a Swiss ski safari of the Valais, St Luc Chandolin is a fun stop as a retro-ski mountain. You can also ski Leukerbad, Télé Marécottes, Evolene/Arolla/La Forclaz, Tele Mont Noble, Grimentz-Zinal Vercorin, Anzere, all nearby and all on the Magic Pass. St-Luc + Chandolin are 2 hours from Geneva.

St Luc Chandolin Ski Stats
15 lifts, including a funicular, 11 pomas, and a few new quad and six-pack charis
1350-meters vertical, 4430′, elevation base 1680 to 2980-meters, up to 9800′

St-Luc/Chandolin, Grimentz-Zinal and Vercorin are all in the Val d’Anniviers

See more on Top Swiss Ski Resorts for Family Skiing and Top Swiss Ski Hotels