Tour du Beaufortain conditions

Last updated . Satellite imagery from 30 October 2026 to 1 November 2026.

Tour du Beaufortain: 84% snow-free as of 1 November 2026.

  • 84% of the line snow-free
  • 19.6 km still under snow
  • Snow line: 2,050 m
  • No change on last week.

The Tour du Beaufortain usually opens late June, once the high cols melt out and the huts open.

This year the line was first 95% snow-free on 27 June 2026, and autumn snow returned by 22 October 2026.

The latest satellite reading, from 1 November 2026, shows 84% snow-free.

Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 30 October – 1 November 2026 shows 84% of the Tour du Beaufortain line clear of snow, with about 20 km still under snow.

That is little change from the week before.

The snow line sits at about 2,050 m.

Snow remains on stages 2, 3, 4 and 6; the rest of the route is clear or nearly clear.

Less snow than the same week in 2025, when the route was 43% snow-free.

What it means: Expect continuous snow from about 2,050 m. Micro-spikes and poles are recommended above that height, and an ice axe on steep north-facing traverses.

Stage by stage

StageSnow-freeUnder snowLowest snow
1. Beaufortain trailhead to Col du Bresson100%——
2. Col du Bresson to Presset92%1.6 km2,050 m
3. Presset to Croix du Bonhomme70%6.4 km2,100 m
4. Croix du Bonhomme to Col du Joly70%6.2 km2,000 m
5. Col du Joly to Col de la Forclaz99%0.2 km—
6. Col de la Forclaz to the trailhead78%5.2 km2,100 m

Season by season

YearFirst 95% snow-freeAutumn snow backBest reading
202627 June22 October100% snow-free
202522 June30 October100% snow-free

Update log

  1. : 84% snow-free, snow line about 2,050 m.
  2. : 84% snow-free, snow line about 2,050 m.
  3. : 32% snow-free, snow line about 550 m.
  4. : 100% snow-free.
  5. : 100% snow-free.
  6. : 100% snow-free.
  7. : 100% snow-free.
  8. : 100% snow-free.
  9. : 100% snow-free.
  10. : 100% snow-free.
  11. : 100% snow-free.
  12. : 100% snow-free.
  13. : 100% snow-free.
  14. : 100% snow-free.
  15. : 100% snow-free.
  16. : 99% snow-free.
  17. : 99% snow-free.
  18. : 99% snow-free.
  19. : 99% snow-free.
  20. : 96% snow-free, snow line about 2,450 m.
  21. : 87% snow-free, snow line about 2,150 m.
  22. : 86% snow-free, snow line about 2,100 m.
  23. : 82% snow-free, snow line about 2,000 m.
  24. : 65% snow-free, snow line about 1,700 m.
  25. : 52% snow-free, snow line about 800 m.
  26. : 25% snow-free, snow line about 550 m.
  27. : 43% snow-free, snow line about 550 m.
  28. : 24% snow-free, snow line about 550 m.
  29. : 100% snow-free.
  30. : 100% snow-free.
  31. : 100% snow-free.
  32. : 86% snow-free, snow line about 2,250 m.
  33. : 91% snow-free, snow line about 2,300 m.
  34. : 100% snow-free.
  35. : 100% snow-free.
  36. : 100% snow-free.
  37. : 100% snow-free.
  38. : 100% snow-free.
  39. : 100% snow-free.
  40. : 100% snow-free.
  41. : 100% snow-free.
  42. : 99% snow-free.
  43. : 100% snow-free.
  44. : 98% snow-free.
  45. : 99% snow-free.
  46. : 99% snow-free.
  47. : 97% snow-free, snow line about 2,450 m.
  48. : 90% snow-free, snow line about 2,200 m.
  49. : 73% snow-free, snow line about 1,900 m.
  50. : 73% snow-free, snow line about 1,900 m.
  51. : 58% snow-free, snow line about 1,500 m.
  52. : 59% snow-free, snow line about 1,550 m.
  53. : 43% snow-free, snow line about 550 m.

How this is measured

The route is sampled every 200 m along the classic stages. Each point uses its most recent cloud-free satellite view from the 10 days before the update.

A point counts as snow when Sentinel-2 classifies it as snow or its snow index (NDSI) is high. Cloud, shadow and no-data pixels are left out.

Imagery: Copernicus Sentinel-2 L2A (Earth Search STAC), 20 m. Elevation: Mapbox Terrain-DEM v1 (zoom 12).

Satellite snow cover is a planning aid, not a safety verdict. It cannot see snow under trees or thin new snow, and it says nothing about avalanche danger, cornices or ice. Check with huts, guides and local bulletins before you go.

Tour du Beaufortain route guide · Conditions on every route