Hej, intrepid adventurers and powder lovers! ❄️
Today, we're taking you on a rather special tour of France - no cheese or baguette, but rather snow up to your knees and snowshoes on your feet (and raclette, doesn't that make up for it?)! Hold on to your hats, we'll be hurtling down the peaks and plunging into breathtaking snow-covered panoramas.🏔☃️
Okay, first, the definition stage
... For those who may have forgotten or never tried this little mountain pleasure. What are snowshoes, anyway?
It's a bit like having all-terrain tires for hiking in powder snow! 🏔️👟 Imagine floating slightly above the snow, like a magical mountain creature. These space slippers let you defy gravity and explore snowy terrain like never before.
In short, snowshoes are the ultimate superpower for winter adventurers. They turn every hike into an epically fun adventure!
We're all about definition? You're dreaming of a snowshoe walk right now? All that's left is to find out where! Let's get to work on our top 10 snowshoeing spots! ❄️🚀
1. Chamrousse (Isère), for beginners and families
Ludovic Charlet
Are you ready to dive headfirst into the snowy world of the Arselle plateau in Chamrousse, in the magnificent Isère region? Get out your snowshoes, it's time to brave the snowy trails in style! ❄️👟
At the start of the Nordic area, an experience begins: You advance between the fir trees in the company of cross-country skiers who jiggle around you like dancers in a winter ballet. 🌲💃
Once on the ridge, it's a revelation. You're on top of the world, your arms open 360° to take in the grandiose spectacle of the valley and mountains all around. 🌟🏞️
This walk is short, but intensely immersive. This is the magic of the Arselle plateau, an invitation to relax, discover, and above all, to an avalanche of Instagrammable photos that will make your followers swoon with envy! 📸❤️
2. The Plateau des Glières, a place of resistance!
Arnaud Bouchard
Embark on an unforgettable snowshoeing adventure on the legendary Plateau des Glières, the jewel of the Alps françaises🌨️⛰️
This snow-covered area, nestled in a stunningly beautiful mountain setting, transports you into a magical winter experience, where every step in the fresh snow becomes an exploration of unspoilt nature.
Moderately elevated routes guide you through winding trails, offering breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding mountains.
With experienced guides to guide you, the Plateau des Glières is much more than just a winter playground. It's an invitation to discovery, an ode to unspoilt nature, where every step brings you closer to a snow-covered summit and a breathtaking view.
3. Areches Beaufort, the crème de la crème
© Nolwen Bombereau
Get ready for an epic winter adventure in the Alps with a snowshoe hike in Areches Beaufort, a snowy paradise that offers the crème de la crème of snowshoeing experiences.
Between majestic peaks, stretches of virgin snow and breathtaking panoramas, every step in the powder becomes a sensory discovery. Areches Beaufort's snowshoeing itineraries guide you through picturesque loops, with well-positioned markers to ensure you never get lost.
4. Au Prat d'Albis, a magical walk in the heart of the Pyrenees
Tommy Brunel
In the Ariège Pyrenees, a snowshoeing adventure becomes a magical journey from Prat d'Albis to Bout de Touron. In the heart of the Pyrenees, this winter getaway promises spectacular scenery, with expanses of snow stretching as far as the eye can see and towering peaks looming on the horizon.
Snowshoeing routes take you through undulating trails, offering breathtaking views of the Pyrenees and the valleys below. Well-placed beacons guide you along your route, ensuring hassle-free exploration.
Whether you're looking for the best snowshoe hike for a leisurely day or a more adventurous adventure, the Prat d'Albis to Bout de Touron transports you into a magical winter world, where the snow sparkles and every step becomes a celebration of snow-covered nature. ❄️🏞️
5. Les Karellis, all the beauty of the Savoie at the end of your snowshoes
© Mercvrie
Embark on an unforgettable snowy adventure in Les Karellis, where snowshoes become your accomplices for an exceptional hike to Lac de Pramol.
Nestled in the heart of the Alps, Les Karellis offers snowshoeing itineraries that criss-cross snow-covered plateaus, taking you through immaculate forests and marked trails.
Snowshoeing in Les Karellis offers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding mountains and frozen lake, creating Instagram-worthy moments. The clean air, serene surroundings and natural beauty make this snowshoeing getaway an incomparable winter experience.
6. Le Prat de Bouc, because yes, the name exists and it's hot!
© DDP
Hey budding adventurers, ready to take off for the Col de Prat de Bouc above the Auvergne resort of Le Lioran? 🏔️👣 Imagine yourself, with snowshoes on your feet, plunged into a veritable natural immersion. Here, it's as if nature itself were inviting you to contemplate!
Look up and you'll see the spectacular volcanic plateau of the Planèze de Saint-Flour. It's a bit like being on top of the world, but without having to climb Everest. Trapper atmosphere guaranteed, with a dose of fun to boot! 🌨️🌲
7. The Col d'Arves, conquering the Savoyard massif
Tim Arnold
In Le Corbier, snowshoeing adventure reaches new heights with a getaway to Col d'Arves. Nestled in the Savoyard Massif, this site offers snowshoeing itineraries that lead you through wooded trails, revealing breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks.
Snowshoe itineraries guide you through picturesque loops, while well-positioned beacons ensure smooth navigation.
With breathtaking panoramas of valleys and snow-capped peaks, this Col d'Arves getaway is much more than just a snowshoe hike; it's a plunge into the magic of Savoyard winter, a discovery with every step in the glistening snow. ❄️🏔️
8. The vast expanses of Grandvaux, to discover the Jura
Peter Bucks
Enter the enchanted world of snowshoeing in the Jura, with the vast expanses of Grandvaux revealing spectacular routes for snowy nature lovers. 🌨️🏞️
In Grandvaux, treat yourself to a unique winter experience on snowshoe trails ranging from 2 to 9 km in length, perfect for fit adventurers. The trails, carefully groomed or left wild for trappers at heart, wind through the picturesque sites of Saint-Laurent, Saint-Pierre, Nanchez/Les Piards and Lac-des-Rouges-Truites. 🌲❄️
For just 3 euros, get a day pass, a magic key that opens the doors to this winter adventure. And for budding trappers under 16, it's free! Let the beacons guide you through snow-covered forests, discover breathtaking panoramas, and set off to discover the winter magic of the Jura.
9. The Lac Blanc resort, a must-see in the Vosges
Fabien Twc
Welcome to snowshoeing paradise in the Vosges, aka the Lac Blanc resort, perched at an altitude of 1,200 metres and ready to blow your mind (and your feet, with snowshoes of course!). From December onwards, the winter festivities kick off with a bevy of activities to get you dancing in the snow. 🌨️🎉
But hang on, because we're not just talking about 77 km of cross-country ski trails or 14 km of downhill skiing (although that's great, isn't it?). No, no, the resort has rolled out the white carpet for snowshoe enthusiasts with no fewer than five marked trails in the sumptuous Ballons des Vosges regional nature park. 🏞️👟
Follow the markers like an intrepid adventurer, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and let yourself be carried away by the magic of the Vosges on snowshoes. This is much more than just a hike, it's a plunge into a world where the snow becomes your playground.
10. The Chamonix valley, a must for all snowshoe enthusiasts!
© Chris Biron
Dive into snowshoeing adventure in the Chamonix valley with an itinerary that will make you love winter even more than hot chocolates by the fireplace! 🌨️🏔️
If you're a hiker looking for a challenge accessible to all, the Trois Gouilles trail is for you. Translate that as "little lakes" in Savoyard, and you've got an itinerary as charming as it is delicious. Start your winter epic at Vieux Servoz, 820 m above sea level, for a 3-hour snowshoe hike. 🚶♂️❄️
This isn't just a hike, it's an adventure through Gouille Noire, Gouille de Bë and Gouille de Pré Guy. A real trapper's trail that takes you through the most diverse forest in the Chamonix Valley, with a 250-meter vertical drop that keeps you moving without realizing it.
Follow the markers like a pro, let the magic of the snow guide you, and discover a winter wonderland that will make you forget all about Christmas songs for a while. This is much more than just a snowshoe hike, it's a plunge into the Chamonix Valley, where every step is a discovery, and every view is a gift of winter. ❄️🌲
👉 Rent your snowshoes directly in Chamonix
But if this list is long and beautiful, you should know that there are many more! You can also discover the Auvergne, at Super Besse, or Mont Dore, but also the Vercors, with Autrans in particular 🏔 !