Piau Engaly Ski Resort France
Piau Engaly ski resort has a vast off-piste for powderhounds plus groomers for everyone across impressive north-aspect alpine terrain. The highest ski resort in the French Pyrenees with a top of 2,528m, it is located midway between Andorra & the Atlantic Ocean(!). Piau Engaly is one of several ski resorts in the Pyrenees we need to plunder & pillage ..... I mean visit ...... if for no other reason than to cast our judgemental eyes upon the circular stylings in the village. A bonus is that there are three other ski resorts nearby to enjoy as well - St Lary, Val Louren & Peyragudes.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Piau Engaly skiing & snowboarding includes a skiable vertical of 763m on mostly north-aspect treeless alpine terrain. Piste trails are around 34km in total, with half of them rated easy. But that is not the reason for powderhounds to come here. For us, Piau Engaly is all about the off-piste & side country freeriding.
Ski terrain wise, Piau Engaly has undergone some instructive changes in the last few years. The most interesting involves the lower mountain. The current lifted vertical at Piau Engaly ranges from 1,765m up to the previously mentioned 2,528m. Not that long ago, the ski resort had the Du Hourc chair coming up from 1,420m altitude, and serving several intermediate pistes plus freeride glades. The chair has been removed and now the area is not lifted and designated as a 'Zone Ski de Montagne - Forêt', effectively an off-piste freeride zone. The zone ends at the road, so it is easy to get back into the resort if required.
Up higher, the potential freeride descents with a little bootpack or skin up to the 2,696m summit of Pic du Piau look the goods on the backside into either Vallee de Badet or Valle de la Gela. Val be Badet descents have around 900m of vertical and return via the Mouscadès chair. Vallee de la Gela descents require good snow to the valley and can provide over 1,300m of vertical, ending at the access road. Nearby peaks up to 2,850m like Pic de la Géla and Soum des Salettes are attainable on ski tours for longer descents. Skiing the fascinatingly named Le Couloir du String might be an interesting challenge too.
Whilst there are 9 ski lifts in the Piau Engaly ski resort, all the terrain can be skied from just 3 chairlifts, two of which are modern high-speed 6-seaters.
Before we get there to see it for ourselves, check out the Piau Engaly Ski Trail Map below.
Where is Piau Engaly France?
The Piau Engaly ski resort is in southern France in the central Pyrenees. The closest major town is Saint-Lary-Soulan, 20km by road to the east (30min drive). The closest major city is Toulouse, about 176km (2½hr drive) to the northeast of Piau Engaly. From Spain, Barcelona (BCN) airport is around 4hr+ drive away, with access over the mountains via the Bielsa-Aragnouet Tunnel.
Piau Engaly Accommodation
Piau Engaly ski accommodation is in either in the resort village of Piau 1850, further down the valley beyond the hamlet of Aragnouet, or further still in the major town of Saint-Lary-Soulan. Saint Lary can be used as a base to ski all the local resorts.
In the Piau 1850 village most accommodations are ski-in ski-out (or close enough to it!) and there is a surprising amount of diversity for the compact location. For affordable private & hostel-style bunkrooms, the Auberge de Piau is the go to option. A step up from that is the rooms at Hôtel des 4 Ours or apartments at Résidence Azureva Piau Engaly. Better apartments are at the nearby Résidence Le Cristal de Piau. The best apartments and facilities on the hill are the 4-star Résidence L'Ecrin du Badet.
Down valley on the road to Saint Lary, the simple comfort, affordability & food at the Hôtel Le Relais de Piau will please most.
Search & book a place to stay via the Piau Engaly Ski Accommodation Listings.
The region’s largest town, Saint-Lary-Soulan has loads of accommodation options and can be used as a base to ski all the local resorts. The standout hotels in town are Hôtel Aurélia and Hôtel Neste de Jade.
Search & book a place to stay via the Saint-Lary-Soulan Ski Accommodation Listings.
Reviews & More Info
The Powderhounds will review Piau Engaly in the coming season. More information about this European ski resort will come after our visit. Stay tuned for our sparkling repartee, new photos & insights.
See how Piau Engaly compares to the rest of the French ski resorts on the France ski resort ratings page or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding at Piau Engaly or elsewhere in Europe, CONTACT US.