Want to swap skis for another winter activity? Prefer walking to sliding sports? Curious to explore the mountains from a different perspective? Try snowshoe hiking, an activity suitable for all levels, with a wide range of trails across the French mountain ranges.
Here’s more information on the best locations for snowshoe hikes and equipment rental for your snowshoe outings with Sport 2000.
Snowshoe Hiking: a Sporty and Scenic Activity
Snowshoe hiking is affordable: you only need to pay a few euros for equipment rental per day, and possibly purchase a pedestrian pass for ski lifts to reach certain starting points.
Sporty but not exclusive, it’s also a winter activity adaptable for everyone, thanks to the variety of trails: easy loops for families, longer routes, or steep ascents for experienced hikers.
This activity also offers the chance to slow down and enjoy snowy landscapes, animal tracks, mountain wildlife, etc. Following marked trails away from the busy ski slopes, snowshoeing allows you to experience a quieter, more authentic, and refreshing mountain.
The Best French Resorts for Snowshoe Hiking
Looking for marked trails or guides for off-trail snowshoe adventures? Here are some of the French ski resorts best known for hiking and snowshoe routes.
Les Saisies and its 65 km of trails (Northern Alps)
At Les Saisies in Savoie, there are 65 km of un-groomed marked trails designed for snowshoe walks.
In total, there are 7 different routes, including the Col de la Lézette trail (3 km – 100 m ascent) for a warm-up, the Forêt des Saisies for a half-day hike (6 km – 250 m ascent), and the Mont Bisanne ascent for advanced hikers seeking exceptional views (8 km – 500 m ascent).
The resort provides free shuttles to reach trailheads, and pedestrians can also use several ski lifts to reach higher starting points.
La Plagne Villages (Northern Alps)
Stunning scenery, varied trails, and departures from multiple villages make La Plagne a prime spot for snowshoe enthusiasts.
In Champagny-en-Vanoise, there are 10 routes of easy, moderate, or advanced difficulty. Hike through snowy forests, mountain villages, valleys, and alpine hamlets.
From La Plagne-Vallée, 9 trails are available, suitable for families and seasoned hikers alike, showcasing a variety of landscapes.
La Plagne Montalbert offers 7 hikes, including fun and family-friendly routes.
From Montchavin-Les Coches, 6 snowshoe trails lead to spots like the Plan Bois plateau with Mont-Blanc views, linking Montchavin and Les Coches.
Champsaur Valgaudemar (Southern Alps)
In the Hautes-Alpes, the Champsaur Valgaudemar valleys offer a wide range of marked trails.
At the Ancelle resort, there are 12 routes from 1.8 km to 11 km, departing from the Nordic site chalet, the snow front parking, Saint-Hilaire, and Moissière.
At Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, you’ll find one pedestrian trail and 3 snowshoe routes: 3 Serres loop for views, Plateau de Libouse to reach the mountain restaurant, and Bouscatu loop for a leisurely walk through snowy fields.
Nearby, Orcières-Merlette 1850 has challenging trails: Le Forest des Marches (6.5 km – 250 m ascent) offers panoramic views, and Découverte des Hameaux leads down to Orcières 1310 (7.8 km descent).
Les Rousses and nearby Nordic sites (Jura)
The Jura mountains are ideal for Nordic activities, including snowshoeing.
In Les Rousses and surrounding villages, 74 km of marked trails are available. Trails mainly depart from the Les Rousses resort (7 routes, 1 to 8 km), suitable for families or half-day sporty hikes.
Other departures include Lamoura (6 trails), Prémanon (one loop and one out-and-back), and Bois d’Amont (4 km loop and 10 km hike to Chalet Gaillard).
Font-Romeu (Pyrenees)
In the Pyrenees, Font-Romeu is ideal for easy and family-friendly snowshoe hikes.
Most trails from Font-Romeu are easy, with low elevation gain and about 1 hour of walking.
For more challenging routes, Eyne Cambre d’Aze offers two challenging trails with stunning viewpoints (Roques Blanques and Rec del Moli trails).
The northern Vallée du Galbe offers 4 trails from 2.2 to 6.8 km for all levels.
Sancy Massif (Massif Central)
For winter holidays in the Massif Central, the Sancy Massif is perfect for snowshoe walks or hikes.
Two main areas provide 80 km of marked and groomed trails, also accessible to pedestrians with proper hiking boots:
- Besse Super-Besse – 7 trails near Chapelle de Vassivière, Lac Pavin, and Puy de Chambourguet.
- La Bourboule area: Mont-Dore, Chastreix, and La Tour d’Auvergne – 12 trails of varying lengths through wooded paths and high-altitude plateaus.
Rent Snowshoes with Sport 2000
If you join a guided hike, the rental usually includes snowshoes and poles.
For independent hikes, rent or purchase your own gear through the Sport 2000 online rental site. Select your dates, resort, and store, then browse the “Cross-country and other sliding sports” category to find snowshoes and add them to your cart.
Rent Snowshoes with Sport 2000
If online rentals are unavailable, you can often rent directly in-store by the half-day, full day, several days, or even the whole week.
In-store, the team will advise you on choosing the right size, proper boots, and snowshoe techniques for ascending and descending. You can also request poles, essential for uphill climbs and controlling descents.