The best off-piste runs in Verbier, shared by a local mountain guide

By Olivier Roduit, IFMGA Mountain Guide

I have been skiing and living in Verbier since I was a child, climbing up the hills behind my home just to ski down. It’s part of my life. After guiding and skiing all over the world, I always come back here. Verbier has everything from big glaciers to forests and small hidden couloirs. It is a true paradise for freeride skiing.

Here are some of my favorite off-piste runs in Verbier. It’s some of the best of what this valley can offer.

Note: These runs are in avalanche terrain and need to be treated with caution and respect. 

Mont-Fort Glacier

A big mountain run with long vertical and amazing scenery.

• How to reach it: Take the lifts up to Mont-Fort. Go down the staircases, put skis on, and traverse the south face to drop into the northeast couloir. After a few turns, traverse to the second couloir. At the bottom, bootpack about 20 minutes up a steep couloir to the summit cornice. Then ski the glacier down to Siviez.
• Terrain: High mountain skiing above 3000 meters. The first and second couloirs are around 40 degrees, then the glacier is easier with long open turns. The exit couloirs are about 35 degrees and north facing, usually with good snow.
• Why it’s special: It feels wild and remote, with 1700 meters of vertical drop. The combination of steep couloirs and glacier makes it one of Verbier’s most complete descents.
• Pro tip: Make sure the Mont-Fort lift is open and conditions are good. Visibility is important. You must be comfortable skiing 40-degree slopes. Thanks to the altitude, this run can be good all season.

Six Blanc to Orsières

A long and beautiful line that finishes in the valley.

• How to reach it: Take the lift to Bruson’s highest point. From there, skin for about 45 minutes to the summit of Six Blanc at 2445 meters.
• Terrain: The upper part is wide and easy, then it becomes more technical with trees, fields and small roads to cross. You ski about 1500 meters down to Orsières, where you can take a taxi or train back.
• Why it’s special: It is a great option when it is windy or cloudy higher up. The lower altitude slopes are grassy, so they don’t need much snow to be fun.
• Pro tip: Best early in the season. If snow is not enough to reach Orsières, you can arrange a pickup in a higher village.

Heli-run: Petit Combin to Fionnay

One of the biggest and most beautiful ski runs in the Alps.

• How to reach it: Take a heli drop from Le Châble or Verbier to the summit of Petit Combin at 3670 meters. From there, ski directly from the top.
• Terrain: High glacier skiing with cold snow, steep slopes and sometimes crevasses. From 2000 meters, there is a short 30-minute climb with skins to a perfect viewpoint of Grand Combin and Mont-Fort. Then ski another 700 meters down to Fionnay.
• Why it’s special: The view from the summit is incredible: Mont-Blanc, Grand Paradis, Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Eiger, and many others. The terrain is huge and always different.
• Pro tip: Best from mid-January to late April. Clear weather is needed for flying and to enjoy the descent safely. For heli runs, an IFMGA mountain guide is mandatory.

Mont-Fort to Fionnay

A full alpine adventure from the highest lift down to the valley.

• How to reach it: From the Mont-Fort summit, go down the staircases and ski the south face to Lac du Petit Mont-Fort. Then skin for 1 to 1.5 hours to Col de la Rionde. From there, ski all the way to Fionnay.
• Terrain: 1500 meters of vertical with slopes up to 40 degrees. The upper part is exposed above cliffs, then turns into long open terrain with a big mountain feel.
• Why it’s special: It feels far away from the resort. You ski through wild alpine terrain with views of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc. Sometimes I see eagles or chamois on the way down.
• Pro tip: Good from Christmas until late April. Powder early season, spring snow later. The exit couloir can be hard if icy or full of avalanche debris, so check snow conditions before.

My Secret Run

A hidden line for when you want to be completely alone. Can’t share any details about this. But I can show it in person.

• How to reach it: Lift access from Verbier, then skin about 45 minutes to the top.
• Terrain: A 1000-meter north-facing couloir with a 30-meter abseil in the middle. Steep and narrow, around 40 degrees.
• Why it’s special: Almost nobody skis it. It is quiet, remote, and a full adventure.
• Pro tip: Make sure the snowpack is safe. It can be skied even with poor visibility because the rock walls give contrast. For me, this is the ultimate Verbier run.

About Me

I am an IFMGA mountain guide and ski instructor living near Verbier. I started skiing as a kid in these mountains and never stopped. Even after many years of guiding around the world, Verbier is still where I feel most at home.

If you come to Verbier and want to discover these runs in a safe way, I guide them and many others through Guidezone.