The ski area
La Station at Baraque de Fraiture sits on the plateau near Vielsalm, at 652 m one of the highest points in Belgium. It has three alpine runs of 350, 700 and 1,000 m, about 2 km in all, each served by its own tow lift and all floodlit for evening skiing. There is no official difficulty grading, but the slopes are gentle enough for beginners and children. Around the station, four cross-country loops of 3, 7, 14 and 21 km wind through the forest, and there is a sledging slope for the little ones.
There is no snowmaking. The station opens from 9 am to 5 pm only when natural snow allows, and the official website publishes no season dates. In a good winter that means several weekends; in a mild one, almost nothing.
Who is Baraque de Fraiture for?
This is a place to discover snow, not to chase mileage. Children can try skis for the first time, adults can brush up before an Alpine holiday and cross-country skiers get the best of the deal with proper trails through the Ardennes forest. Combine it with a walk, a hot chocolate and a sledge run and you have a lovely winter day out. Anyone who already skis confidently will find the runs short and the queues long on busy weekends.
Practical
From Brussels it is about 150 km and 2 hours, from Antwerp 190 km and 2.25 hours; the nearest airport is Liège, 70 km away, which is irrelevant for a day trip. A day pass costs 15 euros and ski hire 15 euros, so a family day is affordable. Leave early on snowy weekends: parking fills up fast and the tows get busy.