Purgatory is the stronger all-round pick here — it offers a larger, more varied mountain than Val Cenis. That said, Val Cenis is no slouch, and beginners may prefer what it offers. For most holiday skiers, Purgatory delivers more mountain for your trip.
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger result for each metric. Numbers are measurements — compare them directly.
| Purgatory | Val Cenis | |
|---|---|---|
Vertical Drop Height from top to bottom — more is a longer, bigger mountain feeling | 614m (2,014ft) | 1,300m (4,265ft) |
Summit Elevation How high the mountain reaches — higher tends to mean colder, drier snow | 3,299m (10,823ft) | 2,800m (9,186ft) |
Base Elevation Height of the base village — affects snow quality at the bottom of the mountain | 2,685m (8,809ft) | 1,400m (4,593ft) |
Annual Snowfall Average natural snowfall per season — more means better powder odds | 660cm (260in) | 600cm (236in) |
Trail Count Total marked runs — more variety over a week-long trip | 105 | 50 |
Lift Count Total lifts — more lifts typically means shorter queues and better mountain access | 11 | 22 |
Skiable Area Total groomed and patrolled terrain in hectares | 651ha (1,609ac) | 600ha (1,483ac) |
Beginner Terrain Percentage of trails rated beginner — higher means more options for new skiers | 23% | 25% |
Intermediate Terrain Percentage of trails rated intermediate — the core terrain for most holiday skiers | 51% | 50% |
Advanced Terrain Percentage of trails rated advanced or expert — higher means more challenge | 26% | 25% |
Purgatory edges ahead in more categories, though the gap is close. Both are excellent resorts.
Val Cenis has significantly more vertical — a full run takes noticeably longer and the mountain feels much bigger.
Both resorts receive similar annual snowfall — you can expect comparable snow conditions at either.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of beginner terrain — neither has a meaningful edge for first-timers.
Purgatory is much larger — significantly more trails means more variety and far less chance of skiing the same run twice in a week.
Purgatory's higher base elevation helps snow stay cold and dry longer — better conditions through the day and into spring.
Purgatory has a comparable amount of beginner-friendly terrain and is a lower-pressure environment for new skiers.
Purgatory 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 (Purgatory: 23%, Val Cenis: 25%), so neither has a clear edge for first-timers. Focus on which resort offers better ski school programs and convenience for your group.
Purgatory (660 cm/year) and Val Cenis (600 cm/year) receive similar annual snowfall. Neither has a meaningful snow advantage — other factors like aspect, elevation, and grooming matter more day-to-day.
Purgatory is the larger mountain by trail count (Purgatory: 105 trails, Val Cenis: 50 trails). On a week-long trip, a bigger mountain means more variety and a lower chance of feeling like you've exhausted the terrain.
Both resorts offer a similar proportion of advanced terrain (Purgatory: 26%, Val Cenis: 25%). Expert skiers should look beyond percentages at the quality of the black runs, off-piste access, and whether there's lift-accessed backcountry terrain.
Both Purgatory and Val Cenis 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.