Les 3 Vallées is the stronger all-round pick here. It offers more vertical than Vail. That said, Vail is no slouch, and beginners may prefer what it offers. For most holiday skiers, Les 3 Vallées delivers more mountain for your trip.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Les 3 Vallées | Vail | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 1,930m (6,332ft) | 1,067m (3,501ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 3,230m (10,597ft) | 3,527m (11,572ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 1,300m (4,265ft) | 2,476m (8,123ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 700cm (276in) | 813cm (320in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 327 | 195 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 156 | 31 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | — | 2,143ha (5,295ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 16% | 18% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 40% | 29% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 44% | 53% |
Les 3 Vallées edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
Les 3 Vallées has significantly more vertical: a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall, so you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of beginner terrain, so neither has a meaningful edge for first-timers.
Les 3 Vallées is much larger: significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Vail's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer, giving better conditions through the day and into spring.
Les 3 Vallées has a comparable amount of beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Les 3 Vallées wins on the stats that matter most for experienced skiers: more mountain to explore over a full week.
Both resorts offer a similar amount of beginner terrain (Les 3 Vallées: 16%, Vail: 18%), so neither has a clear edge for first-timers. Focus on which resort offers better ski school programs and convenience for your group.
Les 3 Vallées (700 cm/year) and Vail (813 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage; other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
Les 3 Vallées is the larger mountain by trail count (Les 3 Vallées: 327 trails, Vail: 195 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Vail has a higher percentage of expert terrain. If you're an advanced skier who will spend most of your day on black and double-black runs, that extra challenge is worth considering when choosing between these two.
Both Les 3 Vallées and Vail are similarly suited to families. Look at ski school quality, on-mountain kids' facilities, and accommodation proximity to lifts when making your final decision; those practical factors matter more than raw stats for a family trip.
Other matchups featuring these resorts and their regional peers.