Ice Climbing - Pays des Écrins - Office de Tourisme

The vertical adventure Frosted!

Want to try ice climbing? In the Pays des Écrins, you’ve come to the right place: it’s one of the world’s hotspots for ice climbing, with more than 200 routes within reach of crampons. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s always a line to draw… or to plant.

Thibaut BLAIS

Where to climb? The must-see spots

Vallon du Fournel: a real icy labyrinth, with 120 natural lines. Wild, silent, impressive.

Freissinières Valley: more accessible, ideal for rapid progress. Aesthetic lines, short approaches, and a pure mountain atmosphere.
Ice tower (Freissinières): artificial structure perfect for a supervised start, without stress. Reservation via the town hall.

Thibaut BLAIS

5 introductory waterfalls to try with a guide

Ice Tower (Freissinières)
Fracastorus (Freissinières)

Clapouse (Pelvoux)

Giant of Storms (L’Argentière-La Bessée)

Beating the Retreat (Fournel)

Equipment and safety

Helmet, harness, technical crampons, ice axes, pins, double rope… and avalanche transceiver kit for the approach. Check the weather conditions before you go: ice moves fast! For the first time, be supervised by a guide: you will see, it is as reassuring as it is effective.

Ice Climbing Écrins: every January in L’Argentière-La Bessée, the international ice climbing festival makes the territory vibrate. Supervised days, workshops, films, concerts, mulled wine… Everything is there.

Ready to break the ice? Book your session or course, and discover climbing in a frosted version.