Color code for ski slopes: Everything you need to know to be well prepared
Technicolor Gliding
Our aim? To help you prepare for your stay in Méribel-Mottaret, Les 3 Vallées or elsewhere, by deciphering all the secrets of color markings. No more hesitations when faced with a piste map!
Here's what you'll find out:
The technical specifics of each color and their hidden pitfalls
Differences between French and foreign resorts
Indicators to help you move up to the next level at the right time
This knowledge helps you avoid unpleasant surprises and optimizes your pleasure on the slopes. In fact, our 3 Valleys packages to suit all levels!
Ready to learn all about color codes?
Slope comparison by ski resort
Not sure which 3 Vallées resort to choose? Let us enlighten you with a few figures that will simplify your choice. You'll be able to plan your stay according to your level.
- 23 green trails perfect for learning
- 38 blue runs, the playground for intermediates
- 33 technical and varied red runs
- 11 black runs, including the demanding Eclipse run
- 8 green runs, including the legendary Little Himalaya
- 27 blue runs perfect for progress
- 27 red runs, including a very long glacier descent on the "Combe du Vallon"
- 10 black runs, including the legendary Bartavelle
- 10 secure green trails
- 36 generous blue runs
- 20 panoramic red runs
- 8 technical black runs
- 10 spacious green runs
- 32 blue runs, a paradise for improving skiers
- 25 red runs, including the "Christine", one of the longest in the area
- 7 black runs
- 2 green runs for a gentle introduction to skiing
- 3 blue runs with panoramic views, perfect for progressing with confidence
- 3 red runs dynamic and varied, ideal for skiers seeking a rhythm
- 1 black run challenging and technical, for those looking for a real test
This harmonious distribution places Méribel-Mottaret at the heart of all levels, with privileged access to the entire largest ski area in the world. Find out more on our trail map.
When are you ready to move on to the next level?
Making the leap to a more challenging color of ski run requires an honest assessment of your technical and mental skills, without burning the bridges.
On the technical side, several indicators are unmistakable:
Are you comfortable with your current level of snowploughing?
Your parallel turns become natural and fluid?
You can control your speed without any particular effort, even on tricky stretches?
These green signals show your solid, sustainable progress.
Getting to the next level requires more than just technique. Your self-confidence will play a crucial role in this progress. Gaining versatility by being at ease in a variety of snow conditions, from morning powder to afternoon icy snow, is essential.
Watch out for everyday traps that can distort your judgment! Your level of fatigue has a direct influence on your real abilities. An exhausting day is never the right time to attempt the adventure to a higher level. Likewise, weather and visibility drastically alter the perception of difficulty. Thick fog or fresh snowfall complicate even the most familiar trails.
Our most valuable piece of advice: seek the advice of an experienced ski instructor in the resort. These professionals will quickly identify your areas for improvement and guide you serenely towards the next step. A refresher course often reveals unsuspected technical details that will unlock your progress.
Finally, never forget that proper physical preparation supports your technical development over the long term. Tone up your muscles and build up your stamina, giving you that all-important safety margin when facing new challenges on the slopes.
Track color isn't the only indicator to consider
You thought the colors of the ski slopes revealed everything? The reality is more nuanced! Other factors directly influence the difficulty of a track even on a route you know by heart.
Weather conditions can dramatically change your experience:
A familiar blue trail demands extra attention in thick fog
Early-morning ice hardens an accessible red
Fresh snow weighs down your skis and masks the contours of any slope
Attendance also changes the game. A deserted black run runs unhindered, whereas a crowded blue one requires more vigilance. Width amplifies this phenomenon: narrow passages and bottlenecks complicate progress on normally straightforward routes.
Some technical elements escape the official color code. Natural bumps, breaks in the slope, icy shadows: all aspects to be anticipated that can make the descent more difficult than the standard classification.
It should be remembered that each ski area applies its own criteria. Some resorts rigorously classify their slopes, while others adopt a more flexible approach. Maintenance varies from sector to sector and from area to area, and orientation to the sun or wind influences the condition of the snow on a daily basis.
Your best reflex for taking the lead? Always consult the snow report and morning weather forecasts, then talk it over with the ski patrollers : these professionals know the particularities of each route inside out, and will advise you judiciously according to the day's conditions.
Some tracks have colors and names, but also numbers: what are they for?
We've been talking about runway colors for a while now, but have you noticed that these panels don't just have one color? Complete signage conceals ingenious safety and orientation system.
Each beacon consists of a disc or plate mounted on a post. The colored background indicates the level of difficulty: green, blue, red or black. The trail name is displayed in clear white letters: "Bartavelle", "Little Himalaya", "Venturon". Underneath, a two- or three-digit number identifies the precise trail sector.
These numbers follow a degressive logic : they decrease from the top to the bottom of the runway. The higher numbers are at the start, while beacon 1 marks the station finish. This progression tells you how far you have to go before you reach the bottom of the runway.
You've probably already used this system when skiing in a group. The markers are used to organize appointments, such as "We'll meet at beacon 12 at La Martre in 30 minutes". Families teach this system to their children, who gradually become more independent on the slopes.
In the event of an accident in the ski area, your precise location is vital. Contact the piste rescue service directly (number displayed on piste map or ski pass). When calling, clearly state: "Accident on the Bartavelle red run, beacon number 8, right side of the run". The pisteurs know this network like the back of their hand, and arrive directly at the right spot.
Is the color code the same worldwide?
Going skiing abroad? Beware: color codes vary from country to country! Each region develops its own classification standards, sometimes creating surprises.
The main European and international differences :
France : classic green-blue-red-black system
Italy and Switzerland codes similar to France
Austria and Germany blue is replaced by red, red becomes black
Scandinavia yellow trails added for ungroomed routes
North America turns habits upside down with its distinctive shapes:
Green circle for beginners
Blue square for intermediaries
Black diamond for experts
Double or triple black diamond for the extreme
These variations can be explained by national standards such as :
AFNOR in France
DIN in Germany
ÖNORM in Austria
Each standard influences the perception of difficulty.
Your life-saving reflex: always consult the piste map as soon as you arrive. Ask the tourist office or local instructors about the specifics of the area. This will avoid unpleasant surprises and help you adapt your level to local standards.
