Snowshoe hiking
Take a walk close to nature, with snowshoes on your feet
A traditional winter activity par excellence, snowshoeing deserves its reputation as an unmissable classic. Much more accessible than ski touring, it offers nature walk enthusiasts an intimate experience of the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the ski area. A suspended moment during which we take the time to look and listen, rather than just see and hear.
During your snowshoe walks between forests and clearings, you will let your gaze wander into grandiose panoramas, and you will recognize mythical peaks.
Want to admire the Mont Blanc? You will love the snowshoe routes of the Chalets des Bauches, the Plateau de Plan Bois and Vanoise Express / Chanton.
Do the glaciers of Vanoise fascinate you? You will be amazed by the breathtaking view at the top of the route of La Rossa (Champagny-en-Vanoise).
The Montgésin Trail will offer you a magnificent view of the valley and the Lauzière massif, and will take you back in time with the Notre Dame des Neiges chapel (a pilgrimage site once very frequented by the inhabitants of the Tarentaise valley).
Thematic and fun snowshoe hikes to discover Savoie in a different way (fauna, flora, traditions…)
Are you fond of educational circuits? Do you think there’s nothing more frustrating than walking near points of interest without any explanation about them? You will love the thematic snowshoe hikes around Plagne Montalbert and Champagny-en-Vanoise!
- The Biodiversity Trail : an easy, flat snowshoe route, punctuated with educational panels on the theme of the biodiversity of the Montalbert forest.
- The Superga chapel : a short loop (30 min walk) during which you will learn more about this charming chapel perched on the heights of Longefoy, a replica of the famous sanctuary of Superga near Turin.
- The Bief Bovet : a long snowshoe hike (4h round trip) to discover the Bief Bovet, a traditional mountain irrigation canal hand-dug around 1240 that springs at an altitude of 1800 m.
- The Champagny-le-Haut orientation course : a fun snowshoeing route that will take you from marker to marker over 3.3 km, using a map that you will carefully stamp at each stage to win goodies!
Themed snowshoe walks are also organized every week by the mountain guides (AMM) : discovering the hamlets, observing mountain wildlife through a telescope, night outings with headlamps, local aperitifs… Remember to reserve your spot!
Ideas for snowshoe walks suitable for children
Snowshoes are not just for adults! Are your children used to hiking alongside you all summer? Let them discover the trails in their winter version, covered in a dazzling white coat. Be sure to equip them well (waterproof high-top hiking shoes), rent snowshoes in their size, and then let them get accustomed to these funny devices on easy and fun routes.
- The Enchanted Alpine Trail : a magical walk that will delight children with its characters from tales and legends (Merlin the Enchanter, goblins, elves, fairies, trolls…). The view from the small hamlet of Prajourdan is exceptional!
- The Biodiversity Trail : a very fun snowshoeing route, punctuated by educational workshops (games, puzzles, discovery and reflection exercises…) to learn more about the little creatures and the majestic animals that inhabit the surrounding forest.
- The Bois des Fornettes : a marked trail entirely downhill in the heart of the Montalbert forest, enchanting when the branches of the trees bend under the snow.
- La Pierra (starting from Montchavin) or Les Dôdes (starting from Champagny-en-Vanoise): two easy walks (green level) to get close to typically Savoyard alpine chalets and ruins, remnants of former mountain dwellings.
Familiarize yourself with your equipment on the groomed snowshoe trails
It's not always easy to walk with snowshoes the first time... Finding the optimal foot spacing, tightening the straps just enough not to lose a snowshoe along the way, putting a wedge to raise the heel in the climbs, etc.: all of this requires a bit of practice! For that, what could be better than a wide packed snowshoe trail? To find them, look for the snowshoeing pedestrian trails on the map of Plagne Montalbert, Montchavin-les-Coches and Champagny-en-Vanoise, as well as the cross-country ski trails (be careful not to walk on the tracks! Stay well to the side of the trail).
Venture onto the marked but un-groomed snowshoe trails
These snowshoe trails are a good compromise if you are looking for natural conditions (thus un-groomed paths), but prefer to wander independently without compromising on safety.
In total, more than twenty marked and secure snowshoeing trails await you at the start of Montalbert, Montchavin-les-Coches and Champagny-en-Vanoise. They are classified according to 4 levels of difficulty based on the length of the walk and the elevation gain: easy level (green), intermediate level (blue), advanced level (red), and expert level (black).
On these free access snowshoeing trails, you can't get lost! Just follow the signage in place. Note that some paths may be temporarily closed in case of heavy snowfall (or when snow is lacking at the beginning or end of the season).
Trust the mountain guides (AMM) to take you off the beaten path
Guided snowshoe hikes are a true augmented version of self-guided snowshoe hikes on marked trails. Your AMM, which you will soon call by its first name and will absolutely want to see again every winter, is a veritable expert in the mid-mountain. It's simple: he knows the terrain by heart! With him, you will learn to spot animal tracks, to distinguish a fir tree from a larch, to recognize this peak, this geological curiosity.
In the footsteps of your guide, you will go where others do not. You will walk where no one has walked before. In short: you will be in the know of the most beautiful secret routes, with complete confidence (he knows how to adapt the walk to the group's desires: easy, sporty, fun…) and in complete safety!
Let's take a walk in the woods (on snowshoes)
Get away from the ski area and enjoy a moment of calm in the heart of the forest, following the tracks of its four-legged inhabitants! Here are some ideas for snowshoe walks along forest trails:
- Route of the Bois des Fornettes, starting from Plagne Montalbert: a family walk entirely downhill (300 m of negative elevation for 4 km long) that connects the top of the Fornelet cable car (plan for a pedestrian pass) and the village of Montalbert.
- Itinerary Plan Bois les Coches by Parz Salvard, starting from Montchavin-les-Coches: a round trip walk of 6 km (which you can shorten by taking the Coches and then the Lac Noir gondolas with a pedestrian pass) that crosses a vast spruce forest as well as clearings and their little hills (small hamlets traditionally inhabited by shepherds and their herds).
- Itinerary from Châtelard starting from Champagny-en-Vanoise: a loop of 2.9 km with a positive elevation gain of 285 m (difficult level) that will take you between 2h30 and 3h depending on the variant you choose for the return. From Châtelard (1500 m altitude), the panorama over Champagny-le-Haut, Courchevel, and Pralognan la Vanoise is stunning.
A few ideas for easy snowshoe walks to get started
For your very first snowshoe hike, choose a route that is rather short and flat (thus with little positive and negative elevation gain). Put on your snowshoes in a packed area (easier to adjust the straps when you’re not sinking into the snow), then go for it!
- Snowshoe route "Le Bois des Fornettes" : for a lovely hike entirely downhill in the Montalbert forest;
- Snowshoe route "Dôdes" : an easy 2 km loop that will offer you an overlooking view of Champagny;
- Snowshoe route "La Pierra" : to enjoy a beautiful panorama of the valley and the peaks of Beaufortain with family.
Snowshoeing outings for all budgets
Snowshoeing is one of the most accessible winter activities! For a minimal outing budget, just consider the rental of equipment from a sports store. Access to marked trails is free (no access fee required). Just make sure to stay on trails that do not require using ski lifts (otherwise, consider getting a pedestrian pass).
Can you afford to spend a little more? Opt for group snowshoeing outings, which are very friendly, accompanied by a mountain guide (also called AMM). You won't regret this small expense!
Finally, if you are a snowshoeing enthusiast and want to discover a very specific area that is not included in the program, the best option is to hire a guide for a private outing (alone, as a couple, or in a small group: family, friends…). The outing will cost you more, but what a pleasure to embark on an adventure on “secret” routes, away from the regularly frequented trails! An exclusive experience to treat yourself to at least once in your life when you love peace and wide open spaces.
Where to rent equipment for your snowshoeing outing?
You will find snowshoes (and poles, even shoes) for rent in most sport shops in the resort. Good to know: the loan of snowshoes is sometimes included when you book a group or private outing with a mountain guide. Just remember to mention that you need to be equipped (since some hikers come with their own gear).
Clothing, shoes… How to equip yourself for a snowshoe walk?
To keep your feet dry and prevent snow from getting into your shoes, it is recommended to opt for waterproof hiking boots with high tops. Avoid low-cut shoes and bulky après-ski boots that you use to walk around the resort, as you risk getting wet feet and having difficulty putting on your snowshoes.
You will adapt your outfit to the snowshoe hike you have chosen: the longer and more athletic (with elevation gain) it is, the more you will need to dress according to the onion technique: with several thin and breathable layers that you can remove in case of overheating, and then put back on during the descent. Waterproof, warm but breathable hiking pants are highly appreciated by snowshoe enthusiasts (more than alpine ski pants, which are too warm). Forget about jeans, of course...
And in the backpack? A nice hot thermos, some snacks if you are going for several hours, a camera (or your smartphone), and why not a pair of binoculars to observe the animals!
You encounter an animal during your snowshoeing walk? Be discreet so as not to frighten it.
The snowshoeing trails, whether marked or unmarked, pass through forests and clearings inhabited by foxes, chamois, ibex... Spotting them in their realm is an exciting and moving experience for you! For them, this unexpected encounter can be a source of great stress; and of great fatigue if they try to escape while the snow is deep.
So be very discreet during your snowshoeing walks: observe from a distance, avoid sudden movements and loud voices when you spot an animal silhouette, prefer to observe from afar with binoculars, and do not try to approach.
Where can I find the snowshoe trails around La Plagne?
Most of the marked snowshoe trails (packed or not) are located in the areas of Plagne Montalbert, Montchavin-les-Coches, and Champagny-en-Vanoise.
For an overview of the walks, we recommend taking a look at the snowshoe trail maps for each area:
- Download the snowshoe trail map for Montalbert
- Download the snowshoe trail map for Montchavin-les-Coches
- Download the snowshoe trail map for Champagny-en-Vanoise.
You can also consult each snowshoeing itinerary sheet one by one to get detailed information about the level of the walk (easy, intermediate, difficult), its length (from 0.65 km to 8 km), its positive elevation gain (from 0 m to 520 m), and the estimated duration (from 25 minutes to 4 hours).
Want to push the exploration a little further? Call on a mountain guide (AMM) to safely guide you to wilder, unmarked areas!
How much time should you plan for a snowshoeing walk?
And what if you told us how much time you have ahead of you instead!
30 minutes? Opt for a snowshoe walk that packs a maximum of benefits into a minimum of time (like the loop of the Superga chapel, which combines a walk in the forest, a panorama of the Tarentaise valley, and a historical journey thanks to a series of educational panels).
2h45? Starting from Champagny-en-Vanoise, follow the left bank of the Doron from the hamlet of Le Bois to the hamlet of Le Laisonnay d’en Haut (Epena route). A simple round trip of 7 km, which you can shorten if needed by turning back before reaching Le Laisonnay d’en Haut.
4h? Set off to discover the Bief Bovet, a traditional irrigation canal that allows water to flow by gravity from the peaks to the pastures, meadows, and gardens.
A snowshoe walk easily fits into your holiday program, whether you are a skier or a non-skier (especially if you decide to explore the marked trails independently).
