While winter sledging takes place on snow at ground level, summer sledging in the French Alps happens on rails, in wheeled pods or in rubber rings — think bobsleigh meets theme park, in a mountain setting. Over the past decade, ski resorts have invested heavily in summer sledging to diversify their warm-weather offer. The result: more than 38 runs across the French Alps, ranging from gentle family descents to adrenaline-fuelled rail coasters hitting 40 km/h. Here is our near-exhaustive guide to every site, with prices and opening dates.
Why try summer sledging in the Alps?
Summer sledging is one of the few mountain activities that works for virtually everyone — from nervous five-year-olds to grandparents looking for a thrill. Completely safe (all runs have adjustable braking systems so you control your own speed), the descents take just a few minutes through sinuous mountain circuits with genuinely spectacular scenery. It is also one of the most affordable activities on offer in a French ski resort in summer — typically €5–12 per run.
The three types of summer sledging in the French Alps
Traditional tube luges — the original
The original format: stainless steel or fibreglass channels built into the mountain, descended in wheeled pods that are not fixed to the track. The sensation is closest to traditional winter sledging — fast, low to the ground, with tight bends and long straights. Children from 80 cm can ride accompanied by an adult. These runs are gradually being replaced by rail luges for safety reasons, but the five remaining sites in the Alps retain a genuine charm.
Rail luges (Alpine Coasters) — the modern standard
The dominant format in modern French ski resorts: a wheeled pod fixed to one or two rails, with an adjustable hand brake. Because the pod is locked to the track, the routes can be more adventurous — steep drops, banked corners, 360° spirals. Open four seasons at most sites (summer and winter). Generally accessible from age 9 (1.4 m) or from age 4 (1.05 m) with an adult. 23 sites in the French Alps.
Tubing — rubber rings on plastic slopes
Tubing uses inflatable rubber rings on specially constructed plastic slopes — think giant inflatable sledging, usable in summer and winter, on plastic or on snow. Most tubing parks include a carpet lift back to the top and a Big Air Bag jump section. Around 15 sites in the French Alps, mostly at mid-altitude resorts.
Summer sledging in the Northern French Alps
Traditional tube luges — Northern Alps
- Morzine — Open July/August · €6.80 per run
- Orange Montisel — 400 m run · Open May to mid-September 2025 · €3.80 per run
- La Clusaz — 2 runs of 800 m each · Open July/August 2025 · €5.60 per run
- Le Semnoz — 850 m run · Open 18 May to 26 October 2025 · from €4 per run
- Les Deux Alpes — 2 runs (one fast, one slower) · Open June to late August 2025 · €5 per run
Rail luges (Alpine Coasters) — Northern Alps
- Bernex (Luge 4 Saisons) — 1,000 m monorail · Open summer, winter and school holidays · €7.50 per run
- Les Carroz d’Arâches (Speed Dragoz) — 850 m · Open 21 June to 7 September 2025, late December to mid-April · €7.50 per run
- Chamonix (Alpine Coaster) — 1,300 m · Open mid-December to late October · €9 per run
- Les Gets (Luge 4 Saisons) — 1,100 m · Open July/August, late December to mid-April, weekends in December/May/June · €8.50 per run
- Megève (La 4S) — 715 m · Open mid-May to mid-September and late December to late March · €8.50 per run
- La Clusaz (La Luge des Bois) — 820 m, up to 40 km/h with bends and a 360° spiral · Opening winter 2026, prices to be confirmed
- Chamrousse (La Luge Coaster) — Open summer, winter and some inter-season weekends · €8 in season, €6.50 off-season
- Les Sept Laux Le Pleynet (Wiz Luge) — Open July/August and late December to late March · €7 per run
- Les Saisies (Mountain Twister) — 800 m · Open late June to late August, late December to mid-April · €7 per run
- La Rosière (X’TREME Luge) — 1,000 m · Open June to late August and mid-December to late April · €10 per run
- Les Menuires (La Mine) — 1,000 m · Open late June to late August and mid-December to late April · €9 per run
- Saint-François-Longchamp (La Comète) — 900 m · Open late June to late August and late December to early April · €7.50 per run
- La Norma (Norma Loops) — 900 m · Open daily during school holidays, weekends in autumn and spring · €8 per run
- Alpe d’Huez — 1,000 m · Open mid-December to mid-April and July/August · €7 per run
- Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors — 134 m vertical drop, 6-minute run · Open daily during school holidays, weekends in autumn and spring · €8 per run
- Col de Rousset (Vercors) — 760 m · Open July/August, late December to late March and some weekends in May/June · €6.50 per run
Tubing parks — Northern Alps
- Bernex — Open summer · €4 per run
- Col de Marcieu — 250 m run · Open summer, winter and some weekends · from €8 per hour
- La Toussuire — 170 m run · Open summer · €3.70 per run
- Aussois — Open summer and winter · €3 per person
- Le Revard — 180 m run · Open summer, winter and some weekends · €4 per run
- Alpe d’Huez — Open summer · €4 per run
- Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors — 120 m run · Open summer, winter, half-term and some weekends · €3.50 per run
- Col de Rousset (Vercors) — 70 m with Big Air jump · Open summer, winter and some weekends · €11 for 6 runs
Summer sledging in the Southern French Alps
Rail luges (Alpine Coasters) — Southern Alps
- Montgenèvre (Monty Express) — 1,400 m, 300 m vertical drop — claimed to be the longest run in France · Open July/August and mid-December to late April · €12.50 per run
- Molines en Queyras (Molines Sensations) — 740 m · Open July/August and late December to late March · €7.50 per run
- Risoul (La Luge Dévale) — 1,200 m · Open July/August and late December to mid-April · €7 per run
- Vars (Luge sur Rail du Caribou) — 1,027 m, 123 m vertical drop · Open mid-June to late August and late December to mid-April · €10 per run
- Le Dévoluy (La Dévoluge, Superdévoluy) — 1,500 m · Open mid-July to late August and late December to mid-April · €9 per run, €40 for 5
- Les Orres (L’Orrian Express) — 710 m · Open late June to late August and late December to early April · €5 per run
- Pra Loup (Praloops Pure Alpine Coaster) — 1,143 m · Open during all school holidays, January and March · €8 per run
- La Foux d’Allos (Verdon Express) — 665 m · Open July/August and late December to early April · €6.50 per run
Tubing parks — Southern Alps
- Mont Serein — 80 m run · Open summer · €3 per run
🎯 Quick picks:
- Longest run: Montgenèvre Monty Express (1,400 m)
- Best near Chamonix: Chamonix Alpine Coaster (1,300 m)
- Best open year-round: Bernex, Les Gets, Megève, Chamrousse
- Best value: Les Orres (€5), Col de Rousset (€6.50), La Norma (€8)
- Best for young children: tubing at Aussois (€3), Le Revard (€4) or Bernex (€4)
- Most adrenaline: La Clusaz Luge des Bois (360° spiral) · Chamonix Alpine Coaster · Montgenèvre Monty Express
Cover photo: © Office de Tourisme du Val d’Allos / R. Palomba
👉 Read also: Best via ferratas in the French Alps · French Alps in June · Best French Alps resorts for a summer holiday · Cycling around Lake Annecy