Gourette Ski Area
The biggest vertical drop in the French Pyrenees… and one hell of a playground!
Located in the heart of the Ossau Valley, Gourette is one of the Pyrenees’ leading ski resorts. With the biggest vertical drop in the mountain range, natural terrain and a variety of ski sectors, Gourette is one of the most exciting ski areas in the Pyrenees.
From its excellent beginners’ area, with gentle slopes that are ideal for getting to grips with skiing, to steeper pistes for skiers looking for more challenging terrain and plenty of speed, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Gourette offers a genuine mountain skiing experience.
All set against a spectacular mountain backdrop, beneath the cliffs of Pène Sarrière, with the Les Coutchets slopes and the imposing Pic d’Amoulat (2,594m) and Pic de Ger (2,613m) towering above.
The biggest vertical drop in the French Pyrenees
The Pyrenees’ most Dolomites-like ski area
Come and take a look around Gourette with us! Ready? Let’s go!
Gourette ski area in numbers
All the key figures at a glance
39 slopes
For all levels
14 lifts
Recently upgraded lifts
1,350 to 2,450m
From woodland to peaks
1 beginners’ zone
Renovated in 2024
3 snowparks
For all levels
1 Nordic area
Accessible via the Bézou gondola
2 mountain restaurants
Le Snow K’fé and Le Cairn
3 controlled freeride areas
La Combe de l’Arlas
Gourette has a feature that really sets it apart: the biggest vertical drop in the Pyrenees.
With almost 1,100m of vertical descent, the ski area offers an impressive amount of vertical skiing and a real taste of big-mountain terrain.
If you like your skiing fast and challenging, trust us – you’ll know you’ve had a workout by the time you reach the bottom!
It’s a properly rewarding descent, with the kind of vertical you’d expect from the big Alpine resorts.
From the top of the Anglas chairlift at around 2,450m down to the resort at 1,350m, it’s a long, varied descent that takes you through a huge range of terrain.
What a run! You start high in the mountains at Anglas, then ski down the red slopes of Pène Medaa and Les Bosses before heading into the trees as you approach the resort, finishing on the blue Rhododendrons slope.
You finish right at the bottom of the resort, where you can practically ski straight to the bar for a well-earned drink!
Four main sectors to explore
Bézou, the advanced beginners’ zone, Cotch and Pène Blanque
Gourette’s ski area is split into four main sectors, each with its own character and offering a different style of skiing.
The Bézou sector
The family favourite
The Bézou plateau, nicknamed the “Happy Place”, is the perfect starting point for anyone learning to ski. At 1,600m above sea level and reached by the Bézou gondola, this area is dedicated entirely to beginners.
It’s also designed with parents and non-skiers in mind, with a sunny terrace and a peaceful setting where they can relax and enjoy the views.
There are several green slopes and a wide blue slope, all ideal for those first turns.
The sector is particularly popular with families, thanks to:
The Pène Blanque sector
High-mountain terrain
The highest part of the ski area lies on the slopes of Pène Blanque, reached by the Anglas chairlift. This is the highest point in the ski area, at over 2,400m, where the landscape changes dramatically and snow conditions are often at their best.
- Spectacular views across the Ossau Valley
- A true high-mountain setting
- Often excellent snow conditions thanks to the altitude
This is where the terrain gets steeper, and experienced skiers looking for a challenge know exactly where to head. The slopes are more demanding, with some great red slopes and black slopes for confident, sporty skiers.
The highest of them all, the Pène Blanque red slope, combines fantastic skiing with an incredible mountain setting that makes it easy to forget you’re even in a ski resort.
The Cotch sector
The heart of the ski area
At the centre of the ski area, Cotch is a key hub for the slopes and a great place to experience Gourette’s impressive vertical. It’s easy to reach in comfort thanks to the new Cotch gondola. The slopes here are long, steep and varied, making the sector particularly popular with intermediate and advanced skiers.
- Long red slopes with several hundred metres of vertical descent
- Wide slopes for dynamic skiing
- Quick links between the lifts
From Cotch, you can easily access most of the other sectors, making it the main hub of Gourette’s ski area.
N’PY tip: Try the red Cotch slope, which winds beneath the dramatic walls of Pène Sarrière, or take on the Edelweiss black slope. It’s a must for anyone looking to earn their stripes as a true Pyrenean skier!
3 freestyle spots for riders of all levels
And that’s not all!
Gourette is a forward-thinking resort that has always had plenty to offer freestyle fans, whether you ski or snowboard.
Today, the resort has 3 freestyle spots where you can catch some air and learn new tricks: CintoPark, RailPark and KidsPark.
Gourette’s park shapers are constantly building and reshaping jumps, features and bumps to keep things fun and give you plenty of opportunities to get airborne.
Want to learn the basics or take your freestyle to the next level? The École du Ski Français de Gourette has specialist instructors who can help you progress.
Here’s a closer look at Gourette’s freestyle spots:
Gourette for families and beginners
Make memories in the snow
At Gourette, families have the perfect setting for discovering the joys of skiing.
With dedicated beginner areas, accessible slopes and quality snow, everything is in place for everyone to enjoy the mountains at their own pace.
And between the kids’ first descents and parents calling out “just one more slope!”, memories are made almost as quickly as snowmen.
![[A beginner skier on a magic carpet in Gourette’s Bézou beginner zone]](https://storage.googleapis.com/npy-website-media-prod/Gourette-Tapis-Espace-Debutant-Bezou.webp?v=3)
The largest beginner zone
A ski area for everyone
Comfortable lifts
A ski school
Gourette for experienced skiers
For those who like to finish the day with tired legs!
Gourette embodies the Spirit of the Pyrenees: steep slopes winding through long, twisting valleys, where shepherds sing in Béarnais beneath jagged mountain peaks.
Gourette’s red and black slopes reflect this wild, rugged character. The challenge is yours to take on!
The biggest vertical drop
45% red and black slopes
Legendary off-piste terrain
CintoPark
Gourette’s legendary slopes
The slopes you simply can’t miss
Gourette’s ski area stretches from 1,350m to 2,450m and offers some of the most alpine skiing in the Pyrenees.
So, which slopes should you put at the top of your list? Here’s our pick of the must-ski slopes.
This is the highest slope in the ski area! The red slope that shares its name with the Pène Blanque sector is every bit as impressive for the scenery as it is for the skiing.
Tucked beneath Pic de Ger and Amoulat, it’s the slope that gives you the strongest taste of the Dolomites right here in the Pyrenees.
Towering limestone peaks surround you all the way down, with steep pitches, dramatic walls and wider sections to open up your turns.
At the top of the eastern side of Gourette’s ski area, Cotch is one of the resort’s signature slopes.
It regularly hosts training sessions and competitions for the resort’s top skiers.
Picture a beautifully straight wall of snow beneath the towering 200m-high cliffs of Pène Sarrière.
It’s the perfect slope for linking big, flowing carved turns.
The name says it all: La Balade is one of the prettiest green slopes in the Ossau Valley and the most family-friendly slope in the ski area.
Starting from the Bézou gondola, it winds through the trees of Bois Noir, taking families and beginners on a long, gentle descent all the way back to the base of the slopes.
It’s the perfect slope to master before moving on to the blue slopes.
Don’t worry – there are no dinosaurs or Neanderthals skiing around on wooden skis here! Just snow as far as the eye can see, jagged peaks and uninterrupted views across the plain.
This blue slope is the highest blue slope in the ski area.
If you’re an intermediate skier, it’s a must for getting a taste of high-mountain skiing at Gourette.
Live ski area updates
See which slopes are open or closed
At N’PY resorts, we believe in being transparent with our customers.
That’s why, throughout the season, we provide an interactive live map showing which slopes and lifts are open, along with a wide range of webcams covering the entire ski area, from the base of the slopes right up to the highest points.
Pène Blanque - 2450m
Gourette’s ski area has 2 sectors and 2 access points, each with its own mountain restaurant. Two places, two different vibes!
Le Snow K’Fé
In the Cotch sector, Le Snow K’Fé has a fantastic terrace with a lively, welcoming atmosphere – perfect for soaking up the sunshine and the buzz of the slopes.
Le Cairn
Right in the heart of the Bézou beginner zone, Le Cairn has a panoramic terrace that’s perfect for keeping an eye on the kids.
Enjoy Gourette without skis
There’s just as much to enjoy without skis!
Opening days and hours
Slope orientation
North-facingUseful links
Services in the ski area
- Ticket office
- Food and drink
- Toilets
- Picnic areas
- Ski and snowboard tools
Useful phone number
Piste emergency number:
Accepted payment methods
- Credit/debit card
- Cash
- Apple Pay
- Chèques vacances ANCV
- Wero
- Bizum
Gourette address
Gourette
Place Sarrière
Gourette , 64440 Eaux-Bonnes
Getting to the ski area
Plan your stay in Gourette
Everything you need for skiing in Béarn
Reviews
Because no one knows Gourette better than you do.
“Very pleasant ski resort, especially for beginners (magic carpet lift and wide slopes). A fairly large sledging area. A village with all shops right at the foot of the slopes.”
Blanche
“A small, friendly and welcoming ski resort. Plenty of shops, restaurants and services. Highly recommended for those looking for skiing in a peaceful setting and fresh mountain air.”
Jérémy
“Beautiful hiking trails, breathtaking landscapes and everything you need on site.”
Olivier
“A very nice resort with the option of hiking up (around 1 hour) or taking the cable car (paid). A wide range of activities on site: mountain biking areas, hiking trails, and in winter skiing and snowshoeing. Very friendly staff.”
Karine
“Excellent resort with one of the best value-for-money offers and a varied, interesting ski area. I’ve been coming since I was a child and I always return.”
Julien
“A fantastic Terra Aventura trail, starting from the cable car station. Friendly and helpful staff.”
Cécile
“Great ski resort! We went with friends and had an amazing time. We did a snowshoeing route and it was truly beautiful. Easy level and breathtaking scenery.”
Aude
“A small ski resort with good lifts. Ideal outside school holidays, with reliable snow conditions and well-groomed slopes. Well exposed and easily accessible from Pau.”
Philippe