Walking and trail running - Pays des Écrins

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Snowshoes Simple, beautiful, effective!

You don’t need skis to enjoy winter. In the Pays des Écrins, snowshoeing offers you a moment of calm, nature and great landscapes. Accessible, silent, rejuvenating: just put on the snowshoes and walk. You’ll see, it feels good.

Where to go snowshoeing?

Narreyroux Valley (Puy Saint Vincent)
6 km round trip, +300 m. A forest path climbs gently to the high-altitude chalets and the petrified waterfall. Ideal for a family outing or a meeting with the chamois.
Freissinières Valley
Soft and marked terrain between frozen torrents, larches and snow-covered roofs. A beautiful nature immersion, perfect for a stress-free start.
Plateau des Têtes & col de la Pousterle
Departure from Prey-d’Aval. XXL panorama of the Ailefroide, orientation table, and possible descent… in sledding. Playful and spectacular.
Dormillouse
A more sustained route: 500 m of D+ by the old mule track, towards a hamlet out of time. Snow, silence, and inn at the top.

All snowshoeing routes

Our advice

To evolve serenely on our snowy trails, equip yourself with snowshoes adapted to your weight and the type of snow, with poles with large baskets, gaiters and light down jacket. Off-piste, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe are mandatory; Always check the weather and the condition of the snowpack, and give up if necessary. Take advantage of our supervised outings – naturalistic, sunset or night walks – and rent snowshoes, safety kits, headlamps or sleds in Vallouise, Freissinières and Dormillouse. Use the Ski Bus shuttle to reach the departures and enjoy a gourmet stop before leaving.

Snowtrail: running on snow, enjoying winter

Here, you don’t need skis to enjoy the snow. Snowtrail running is running in the mountains, on groomed trails, through larches, snowy plains and ridges. In the Pays des Écrins, four marked routes await you, whether you are an occasional jogger or a relentless trail runner.

Where to run in snow trail?

Les Têtes – Puy Saint Vincent: 7.9 km and +322 m, technical and panoramic. Singles up to 2,026 m.
Pré Loubet – Puy Saint Vincent: 5 km and +181 m, loop in the forest easy+, accessible and fun.
Le Plan – Freissinières: 4.6 km and +56 m, flat, sunny, view of the ice falls.
La Plaine – Vallouise: 1.8 km and +11 m, discovery circuit, perfect for warming up or running with the family.

All routes are marked Snow Trail (blue snowflake on a white background) and visible on the On Piste app for offline GPS guidance.

All Snow Trail routes

Our advice

To take full advantage of our high-altitude trails, opt for efficient cleats and prefer a breathable three-layer outfit, complemented by light gloves and a headlamp for your night outings. Bring light poles according to your comfort, as well as a small bag and, before each departure, check the weather and snow conditions.

In the Pays des Écrins, live unique adventures: join our weekly supervised night trail outing in Puy, test yourself in the snow under the stars, or rent all the necessary equipment in Vallouise, Puy and L’Argentière. And to perfect your recovery, relax in our sauna or take part in a post-run yoga session, depending on your desires.