Chamonix Cross Country Skiing Areas

'Classic' Style

Get back to nature and explore tranquil cross-country trails at your own pace. There are two different techniques – classic and skating. Classic is the easiest for beginners; you simply place your skis in two parallel groves, push off and glide around the trails. Skating is more energetic and a slightly harder skill to grasp; you push your feet out to either side as though you are ice skating and use your poles simultaneously to gain momentum.

You can hire the comfortable boots and lightweight skis and poles fairly inexpensively from most sports shops and book a group or private lesson to learn the basics from most ski schools or private instructors. For those used to downhill skis, at first you feel precariously balanced and downhill sections are definitely more exciting on narrow skis with no edges! The skis are lighter and slimmer than downhill skis and the boots are much softer and more comfortable.

The tranquility of cross country (also known as Nordic) skiing is perfect for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet, or finds the downhill pistes too crowded or too steep. It is a great form of aerobic exercise and one can be as energetic or slow as one likes, while the relaxed pace makes it a more tranquil way to enjoy the surroundings!.

'Skating' Style

Once you have grasped the essentials, head off for the 58km of prepared cross country trails that criss cross the valley; situated in Les Houches, Bois de Bouchet (Chamonix), Les Praz, Argentiere and Vallorcine.

Both the classic and skating forms of the sport are accommodated, usually side by side on specially prepared pistes. These trails all operate on a one-way system (for obvious reasons!) and you are required to purchase a special pass to access them before setting out. Passes can be bought from the cross country ski lodges at the beginning of the trails and they will be checked en route. The pistes are open from 9am - 5pm each day (snow cover permitting) and are maintained each evening. Walkers (and dogs) are requested to keep to the yellow marked pedestrian trails (which are free access) and not stray onto the marked ski trails.

• Les Houches - There is a short (2.6km) trail by the lake at Les Chavants, which is free to use and marked as a green piste. For longer, harder trails you need to take the Prarion gondola up to the main ski area, where you will find blue pistes at 1000m starting from just after Le Prarion lift (6km), and others at 1800m (10km). Cross-country skiers only need purchase a pedestrian pass to access the lift.
• Chamonix - Trails start from the Foyer du Fond, situated on the main road to Les Praz/Argentiere (opposite the MBC bar) from where piste passes may be purchased (see below for prices). There is a 3km circular green route through the woods of the Bois du Bouchet, which links on to a further 17kms of more demanding blue and red graded trails that lead to Les Bois and back. There are some beautiful trails through the trees and alongside the river.
• Les Praz - Starting from near the Flegere lifts try the long green circuit (6km) around the golf-course. Free of charge and you can either take the train or park at Flegere. The restaurant at the golf course, La Cabane, is also a lovely place to stop for lunch.
• Argentiere - The trails begin in Les Grassonets before you reach Argentiere itself (on your left on the way up the valley after the long avalanche protection tunnel). Look out for the tennis/squash courts. Near the starting point the trails are fairly flat greens or blues (6km) although if you carry on through to Argentiere there are steeper sections, classified red (10km). Pop into La Cremerie du Glacier along the way and reward yourself with a cheese-laden lunch or hot drink!
• Vallorcine - The meeting point is by the Tourist Office in the centre of the village or at Le Buet, the village before Vallorcine. There are around 10km of trails through picturesque woodland and along the banks of the river “Eau Noire”. They are mainly blue and red classified pistes so suit beginner or intermediate skiers. If snow conditions permit, there is also a beautiful trail that will take you as far as the Col des Montets.

Just outside the valley you can also go to Les Contamines, Les Saisies and Val Ferret (in Italy, via the Mont Blanc Tunnel).