Closed pistes: why they close, and what to do

A closed piste is marked by a barrier and a sign at the top of the run. It may be closed for avalanche risk, grooming work, lack of snow, wind, or an ongoing rescue. A closed piste is neither groomed nor patrolled: it must not be skied and must not be skied around.

29 July 2026

Why a piste closes

Closure is not a judgement on difficulty. It is an operational decision by the piste service, and often temporary within the day.

The most common reasons for closure
Reason	Typical duration	What it means
Avalanche risk	Hours to days	Controlled blasting possible; area strictly off limits
Grooming / works	Overnight or short window	Machines moving on the piste, sometimes winch cables across it
Lack of snow	The season	Rocks showing through, exposed base layer
Wind	Hours	Mostly closes lifts, which cuts access to the piste
Rescue in progress	Minutes to hours	Piste cleared to let the rescue team work

Why you must never pass a barrier

Because the closure is precisely what protects you from what you cannot see. On a closed piste there is no reliable marking, no safety netting, no grooming — and above all nobody looking for you in the right place.

Where avalanche control is under way, the area may be blasted or overflown with no expectation that a skier is on it. This is the situation where a mistake cannot be recovered.

How to know in advance what is closed

The display boards at lift stations, updated through the day
The barriers and crosses at the top of each run — the last resort, but the most reliable
The resort app, usually refreshed in the morning
The opening bulletin posted at the lift pass offices

Finding a fallback route

A closed piste rarely cuts off a whole sector, but it can remove the only easy link between two valleys. The useful reflex is not to look for an equivalent run, but to check that a route in your colour still exists all the way to where you are going.

First work out whether the closure affects a link or just a descent
Check a lift still reaches the other side of the mountain
Budget the extra time: a detour via another valley often costs 30 to 45 minutes
Watch the last lift time, which becomes critical as soon as a detour is forced

What if a piste closes while you are on it?

This happens mostly late in the day or when the weather turns quickly. If a piste closes once you are already committed, finish the descent without stopping and without leaving the marked run, then work out at the bottom how to get back to your sector.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a ski piste closed?

For avalanche risk, grooming work, lack of snow, wind, or a rescue in progress. Closure is an operational decision by the piste service and has nothing to do with how difficult the run is.

Can you ski on a closed piste?

No. A closed piste is not groomed, not reliably marked and not patrolled, and it may be subject to avalanche control. If something goes wrong, rescuers are not looking for you there.

How do you find out which pistes are open?

Check the display boards at lift stations, the resort app, and the barriers at the top of each run. Check before taking the lift: discovering a closure at the summit often forces you back down the same way.

What should I do if the piste I planned to take is closed?

Work out whether the closure affects just a descent or a link between sectors. If it is a link, find a lift that still reaches the other side, allow 30 to 45 minutes of detour, and watch the last lift time.

Does a closed piste reopen the same day?

Often, yes. Closures for grooming, wind or a rescue are temporary and can be lifted within hours. A closure for lack of snow, on the other hand, usually lasts the whole season.