The top 10 outdoor activities for summer/winter
The top 10 outdoor activities for summer/winter
Activities for all tastes
Discover our “Top 10 summer/winter outdoor activities” in the heart of the Pays des Écrins, where each season is lived in style! From via ferrata to trail trails, downhill skiing and ski touring, this article guides you to the must-do experiences to push your limits and create unforgettable memories, no matter the schedule. Ready to explore the 10 nuggets that punctuate the adventure in all seasons? You can’t miss it!
ramble
Breathe in the invigorating air of the Alpine valleys, let yourself be surprised by striking panoramas, walk between hamlets and high mountains: hiking in the Pays des Écrins is a sensory experience to the rhythm of nature and history.
The Pays des Écrins, the gateway to the Écrins National Park, offers 350 km of marked trails, between authentic villages, isolated mountain pastures, glacial lakes and emblematic peaks. From the Tour of the Pays des Écrins over 3 or 6 days on the move to day trips (tour of the lakes, Ailefroide loop, Dormillouse…), each itinerary invites you to discover the raw and contrasting landscapes of the territory.
The trails, accessible to all levels, allow you to immerse yourself in the local natural and cultural heritage in a preserved mountain setting. You will walk along torrents, cliffs, larch forests, and admire glaciers and peaks such as the Barre des Écrins.
escalation
Perched at 1,500 m, the hamlet of Ailefroide in the Vallouise valley is recognised as the second largest mountaineering and climbing site in France, after Chamonix. It offers more than 800 routes from 3a to 8a, large granite walls of 200 to 400 m and bouldering sector in a preserved natural setting at the foot of Mont Pelvoux.
But the climbing adventure does not stop there: other remarkable cliffs such as the limestone of Fournel and Ponteil offer varied, technical and panoramic routes, ideal for progressing or discovering multi-pitch climbing in a high-altitude atmosphere.
Mountain bike
The territory offers more than 236 km of FFC-labelled mountain bike routes spread over all the municipalities, with varied circuits from cross-country to committed courses, supervised by instructors or independently. Mountains, forests, alpine pastures and glacial panoramas follow one another with each pedal stroke. In addition, on the Puy Saint Vincent Bike Park, mountain bikers of all levels can enjoy 8 downhill trails, from the green to the black Tamarack, accessible thanks to the resort’s ski lifts (altitude 1,400-1,600 m) throughout the summer season.
Waters
From spring to autumn, the Pays des Écrins becomes an adventure playground for lovers of white water sports. Rafting, kayaking, white water swimming or canyoning can be practiced in the four corners of the territory: the Durance, the Gyronde, the Onde, the Gyr and the Biaysse. From narrow gorges to large waves, each river reveals its character, in a raw and mineral setting. Between shards of turquoise water, steep walls and an alpine atmosphere, the rivers of the Écrins promise a concentrate of nature and adrenaline.
PARAGLIDER
Imagine: you take off from the heights of Vallouise or the resort of Pelvoux-Vallouise, and suddenly you fly over the Écrins massif and its glaciers at an altitude of more than 4,000 m…
An aerial experience you won’t soon forget!
Introduction to glacier walking
Immerse yourself in the heart of the high mountains: walk on a glacier, feel the contrast between the live ice and the air of the peaks, explore a fragile and fascinating universe. This accessible activity allows a gradual and striking immersion in the glacial universe. A sensory initiation that leaves a lasting impression, to be experienced absolutely in the Pays des Écrins.
SKI
In Puy Saint Vincent, you can ski between 1,400 m and 2,700 m above sea level on 75 km of slopes, with more than half of the area above 2,000 m, guaranteeing often natural snow and an area rich in activities in a family and panoramic atmosphere.
The resort of Pelvoux-Vallouise, on the other hand, stands out for its 25 km of slopes nestled between 1,230 m and 2,240 m, at the gateway to the Écrins National Park, offering calm, authenticity and direct proximity to the high mountains, perfect for families or those looking for nature skiing away from the crowds.
snowshoes
When the paths disappear under the snow, the valleys of the Pays des Écrins can be discovered in a different way, with snowshoes on your feet. Whether in the forest of Vallouise, on the ridges of Puy Saint Vincent or in the secret valleys of Freissinières or Fournel, gentle roaming becomes an enchantment. Each step immerses you in a hushed universe, punctuated by the crunching of the snow and the breath of the wind. Between chamois tracks, grazing light and absolute silence, snowshoeing offers an intimate connection to winter, far from the hustle and bustle of the slopes.
ICE CLIMBING
Climb on icy formations sculpted by winter supervised by a mountain guide: a vertical, spectacular and unique adventure!
Dog sledding
In the heart of winter, the Pays des Écrins invites you to live a timeless adventure in dog sledding. In Puy Saint Vincent, Pelvoux-Vallouise or in the preserved valley of Freissinières, let yourself slide to the rhythm of the huskies, between silent forests and snowy panoramas. This unique sensory experience combines complicity with the dogs, immersion in nature and total disconnection. The crunching of skates on the snow, the momentum of the pack, the cold breath on the face… everything evokes the wide open spaces of the Far North, within sledging distance. All levels and all ages: a winter dream to be lived absolutely!
