What can you do with the ski lifts in summer?

the chairlift takes you

Hiking, via ferrata and family outings

When you spend your summer holidays in a resort, walks, hikes or via ferrata for the more sporty are always within easy reach! And in the mountains, the higher you go, the more you feel the change of scenery and the serenity of the great outdoors.

In summer, ski lifts make the mountains even more accessible to everyone, especially families, to avoid too steep a gradient that would discourage the youngest… By limiting your physical effort, you have access to exceptional panoramic scenery, without needing to embark on a long day’s expedition either.

In many resorts, summer passes are available to use the ski lifts for the duration of your stay!

For example, at the resort of Méribel in Savoie, the ski lifts operate throughout the summer, giving you access to a wide range of hiking possibilities. To vary the pleasures, you can do a “mixed” hike, i.e. taking in sections of the ski lifts and then walking on the many signposted paths.

For the more sporty, the Pas du Lac cable car takes you to an altitude of 2700m for the Via Ferrata on the Dent de Burgin. Fasten your seatbelts (or rather your carabiners), it’s the highest in Europe!

In Le Grand-Bornand, the Rosay cable car will take you to Lac de la Cour. After just a 1.5km walk, you’ll arrive at an ideal spot for relaxation and contemplation, where you can even sit down on the grass for a picnic amidst the peaks of Haute-Savoie! Find all the practical information for this outing here.

In the Pyrenees, using a ski lift in summer will give you access to a legendary hike: the GR10, which crosses the French Pyrenees between Hendaye on the Atlantic side and Banyuls-sur-Mer on the Mediterranean side!

In the resort of Saint-Lary-Soulan (the village of Saint-Lary is also a stage on the GR10), the cable car from Espiaube will take you up to 2300m altitude, to the Pic de la Tourette in less than 10 minutes! Once you’re up there, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, particularly around Lac de l’Oule.

Contemplate wide open spaces

Quick and easy access to high-altitude viewpoints

Because the pleasures of the mountains also include contemplating the great outdoors, it’s easy to get there by taking the ski lifts in summer! From the summit of the resort, with its panoramic views over the mountain range, its “step into the void” installations and its high-altitude restaurants, come and admire!

At Super Besse, in the Massif Central, you’ll be treated to a truly exceptional panorama, and you won’t be going up for nothing! Take the Perdrix cable car up to the Puy de la Perdrix at 1850 metres.

Up there, you’ll enjoy a 360° view of Puy du Sancy, the highest peak in the Massif Central (1886 m), the Chaudefour valley nature reserve, Mont-Dore, Puy de Dôme and Plomb du Cantal, the second highest peak in the massif. On a clear day, you can even see the roof of Europe, Mont-Blanc!

If you like admiring mountain scenery with a dose of adrenalin, this is an excellent combo. In Chamonix, the iconic Aiguille du Midi cable car takes you to an altitude of over 3,000 metres, before taking you to “Le Pas dans le Vide”.

Suspended from the side of the cliff, a fully glazed cabin lets you admire the Mont-Blanc range from every angle, even from beneath your feet! It’s a unique and safe way to see the mountain like you’ve never seen it before.

In summer, you can also take advantage of this visit to sample Savoyard specialities at the high-altitude 3842 Restaurant, with its breathtaking view of the roof of Europe.

Now let’s head for the Pyrenees, and more specifically the resort of Cauterets. A short connecting route from the village will take you up to an altitude of 2400m, to admire the panorama of the Crètes du Lys.

Stage 1: take the cable car from the village. Then take the Grand Barbat chairlift up to the orientation table and admire the surrounding peaks, including the Vignemale and Pic du Midi. You can find all the practical information about this route here.

With this lift ascent, the resort of Cauterets offers a wide range of summer activities, so you can enjoy the great outdoors without too much effort, for all abilities and all ages.

High-flying sporting activities

Direct access to thrills

For those who prefer the mountains in summer for the thrills and spills they have to offer, the ski lifts are also your allies for access to high-flying sporting activities. Take a quiet ride up in a gondola, only to come back down at top speed! Here are a few summer activities that are sure to give you a thrill.

The star activity of the summer

Downhill mountain biking

To make the most of the slopes in the resorts in summer, there’s nothing better than hurtling down them on a mountain bike! Many resorts also offer hire of all the equipment needed for this activity. Climbing the slopes couldn’t be easier: just hop aboard a gondola with your bike, attach it to the back of the chairlift (many are adapted to carry bikes), sit down and off you go!

Mountain bike trails have been set up in ‘Bike parks’, and many resorts offer a variety of downhill runs at different levels of difficulty, just like the snow-covered slopes in winter.

At Auron, for example, in the Southern Alps, the ski lifts open in summer (1 cable car, 1 gondola and 2 chair lifts) provide access to around twenty trails suitable for mountain biking, including 4 open to electrically-assisted mountain bikes. Auron offers over 30km of trails for all levels, with over 1200m of vertical drop. A thrill-seeker’s paradise! Find all the information about this bike park here.

The unusual at Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves

Mountain Kart

Fancy adding a bit of an unusual twist to your descent? Here’s an alternative to mountain biking that’s just as adrenalin-pumping! The resort of Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves in Savoie offers the “Mountain Kart”, a kart with no engine and powered solely by gravity. On a track over 7km long, you can hurtle down the 700m vertical drop with your family or friends. The activity is open to anyone at least 1m35 tall.

To take advantage of this activity, the resort offers a ski pass which includes the lift up and the ride down in a Mountain Kart. Find out more about this unusual activity here.

High-speed thrills

Tyrolean traverse

Another thrilling option is to use the ski lifts to access certain zip lines! Sometimes several kilometres long, zip-lines are a unique way to enjoy the mountain scenery from a different point of view. Sitting or lying head first, alone or in pairs, there are many different types in the resorts.

The resort of Chamrousse in Isère offers a giant zip line in the heart of Adrénaline Park. And since it’s quite simply the world’s biggest pylon zip line, you’re guaranteed a thrilling 2km descent!

To get there, take the Croix de Chamrousse cable car. The Régie des remontées mécaniques du Recoin runs the activity, and you can book your slot at the ticket office during opening hours, or via the resort’s website, which you can find here.

Another example can be found in Valloire, where the Brive 2 chairlift takes you to an altitude of over 2,500m. Up there, two cables allow you to descend solo or in pairs at over 100km/h! Don’t panic, if you prefer a more moderate speed, you can ask at the start. The giant Tyrolienne “La Catelle” costs €40, including the chairlift ascent. All the information and bookings here.

As you can see, in summer, the ski lifts are the gateway to activities at altitude, whether you’re looking for a quiet, contemplative stroll or a thrill-seeking, adrenalin-fuelled ride!