It has recently become the site of a large winter sports resort of the Pyrenees, mainly dedicated to the practice of cross-country skiing, with tracks between 1,650 and 2,000 metres (5,410 and 6,560 ft) altitude.

The ski station is located between Tarascon-sur-Ariège and Ax-les-Thermes, close to the Spanish border, and above the communes of Les Cabannes, Albiès and Vèbre.

The Plateau de Beille is bounded by two tributaries of the Ariège Valley, these being the Aston [fr] to the west, and the Labail stream to the east.

[1] The plateau ends at the south by the Col de Finestres at 1,967 metres (6,453 ft) where it passes the GR 10; to the north, the slope falls steeply to the Ariège Valley.

It was discovered by the Route du Sud in 1995, followed by the Tour de France in 1998, and every other year constitutes the final mountain for the cyclists of the L'Ariégeoise [fr].

[8] While the valley roads are virtually flat, as soon as leaving the central square of Les Cabannes, riders face a very steep ramp[9] to arrive at the height of the Château de Gudanes (commune of Château-Verdun).

The forest offers very little respite, the slope is high and regular with many hairpins and it is during the 6th kilometre where it is possible to traverse a flat section of about 400 metres (1,300 ft).

At the 12th kilometre, it passes the Cabanne de Pierrefite with a short flat part followed by a difficult break in gradient.

[10] After having crossed a hairpin a little further up the road, the final section offers a moderate slope and the finish takes place at the large car park outside the building of the ski station, at an altitude of 1,790 metres (5,870 ft).