Savoie · Haute-Savoie · Isère · Northern Alps

Cross-country skiing in the French Alps: areas and trail km

Cross-country (nordic) skiing is done on groomed trails, often between 1,000 and 2,000 m. This page compares ten nordic areas of the northern French Alps: the kilometres of trails announced by their official websites, altitude, what sets each apart, announced opening dates and the link to the trail status.

In short. The ten nordic areas compared here announce from 25 km (Les Contamines-Montjoie) to 150 km of trails (Savoie Grand Revard, around La Féclaz); Les Saisies, Autrans-Méaudre and Bessans each announce 120 km. The trails are skied in classic or skating style, and access to groomed trails is usually paid through a trail fee, often called a Nordic Pass or nordic ski pass. Opening dates are announced by the areas and depend on snow: the status of the day is read on each area’s website, not on a webcam.

Cross-country trails: status of the day

AlpeSnow has no opening status for nordic trails. Each area publishes its own, with its date: check it before you set off. The announced kilometres are not the kilometres groomed today.

Savoie Grand Revard: trail status Les Saisies: trail status Autrans-Méaudre: trail status Bessans: trail status Aussois: trail status Val Cenis: trail status Les Contamines-Montjoie: trail status Le Grand-Bornand: trail status Praz de Lys – Sommand: trail status Haute-Savoie Nordic: trail status

Sources checked on 13 October 2026.

A day at your own pace

Classic or skating: two techniques

According to Haute-Savoie Nordic, classic cross-country skiing is done in the tracks (the “rails”) cut into the snow, with parallel skis and the “alternating step”; skating is done outside the tracks, with a skater’s stride: the leg push is lateral and the ski is always moving. Both can suit beginners; according to the same source, someone who has never skied will probably be more comfortable in classic, which feels more secure, while skating suits someone who is already a little sporty. Most of the areas on this page say they groom their trails for both techniques (“alternatif” means classic here).

Haute-Savoie Nordic: the techniques (in French)

The Nordic Pass: paying for groomed trails

Haute-Savoie Nordic defines it this way: “the pass is a trail-access fee: the Nordic Pass”. The money is used to maintain the trails, build areas for beginners, ensure safety and offer services such as night skiing. It comes as a day, weekly and season pass. The Haute-Savoie Nordic Pass “le 74” lets you ski on the 25 nordic areas of Haute-Savoie; the National Nordic Pass covers the areas that belong to Nordic France (all except Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Elsewhere, each area sells its own passes online or at its nordic lodge. Prices change every season: AlpeSnow does not publish them.

Haute-Savoie Nordic: the Nordic Pass (in French)

Ten nordic areas, with their kilometres

The kilometres are those announced by each area’s official website, read on 13 October 2026; they change from one season to the next and from one source to another. The altitude is the one the source gives; failing that, the altitude of the resort village in our catalogue. The forecast for a village is on its resort page.

Savoie Grand Revard (La Féclaz) · 150 km

The Chambéry tourist office announces 150 km of trails, with three entrances: La Féclaz, Le Revard and Saint-François-de-Sales. The trails are groomed for skating and classic; the village of La Féclaz is at 1,360 m in our catalogue. A feature it mentions: “owl evenings” on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5 pm to 8:30 pm, from the December school holidays, on trails marked with owls (a head torch is recommended).

Les Saisies · 120 km

The official website announces 120 km of trails for a resort at 1,650 m. What sets it apart: in 1992 the resort hosted the cross-country skiing and biathlon events of the Albertville Olympic Games. The “Stade Nordique” trail is announced open continuously from 11 November 2026 thanks to snowfarming (snow kept from one winter to the next).

Aussois (Monolithe area) · 39 km

39 km of skating and alternating trails, between 1,500 m and 1,600 m, between Aussois and Val Cenis-Sardières. The area takes its name from a 93 m rock needle standing in the forest. The plateau around the nordic chalet suits children and beginners, the forest more experienced skiers; laser biathlon introductions are available by appointment. Opening announced from 19 December 2026 to 14 March 2027, depending on snow.

Val Cenis (Val d’Ambin and Monolithe) · 29 km

Val Cenis has two nordic areas. The Val d’Ambin (Bramans), between 1,230 m and 1,800 m, announces 29 km of trails (a 1 km green, a 10 km blue, a 5 km red and a 13 km black) and describes itself as “free for everyone” (“gratuit pour tous”); opening announced from 19 December 2026 to 12 March 2027. The other is the Monolithe area at Val Cenis-Sardières, shared with Aussois (39 km, counted once).

Bessans · 120 km

The resort’s website announces 120 km of groomed skating and alternating trails, on a high plateau at 1,750 m, including 13 runs from green to black, around an international biathlon stadium (introductions all season, by reservation). Opening announced from 31 October 2026 to 4 April 2027, thanks to the plateau’s position and snowfarming. A trade-press article from December 2020 gave 133 km; the current official page says 120 km, the figure used here.

Les Contamines-Montjoie · 25 km

25 km of marked, groomed and set trails, around Notre-Dame de la Gorge, with an approved biathlon range (introductions supervised by the ESF ski school) and a 2 km floodlit trail every Wednesday from 6 pm to 8:30 pm, free access. Official opening announced on 19 December 2026, with a possible partial opening on 5–6 and 12–13 December depending on snow.

Le Grand-Bornand · 74.5 km

74.5 km of trails in 12 loops of 1 to 15 km, from the village to the Bouchet valley, with 3 biathlon ranges (including the Sylvie Becaert stadium, approved by the IBU) and 3 entrances: the village, Les Plans and Lormay (Auberge Nordique). A link joins the area to Les Confins, at La Clusaz. The village hosts biathlon World Cup events (7 IBU World Cup rounds held, according to the tourist office). The resort village is at 1,000 m in our catalogue.

La Clusaz (Les Confins and Beauregard) · 53 km + 38 km

The resort announces two plateaus: Les Confins, at 1,450 m, with 53 km of trails including a 7 km link to the Le Grand-Bornand area (opening announced for late November, depending on snow), and Beauregard, at 1,600 m, with 38 km and 9 runs (opening from the first snowfalls). Beauregard is reached by the village gondola, which is not included in the cross-country pass.

Praz de Lys – Sommand · 60 km

The website announces 60 km of cross-country trails, labelled Haute-Savoie Nordic: 3 green, 4 blue, 3 red and 1 black. It also offers a “Fitness and well-being” trail and evening night-skiing sessions. The village of Praz de Lys is at 1,500 m in our catalogue.

Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors · 120 km

The only area on this page in Isère: 120 km of groomed, secured trails set for classic and skating, between plains and forests, ridges and panoramic views. The Gève area, at Autrans, is nicknamed “little Scandinavia” for its scenery; its Panoramique trail (25 km) leads to the Plénouze and La Molière ridges, around 1,600 m. A biathlon stadium bears David Moretti’s name. The Autrans–Méaudre link across the plain depends on snow. Official season launch announced for 12 December 2026, with an earlier opening possible depending on the weather.

All ski resorts

Which area suits what you are looking for?

Most kilometres: Savoie Grand Revard (150 km), then Les Saisies, Bessans and Autrans-Méaudre (120 km each), Le Grand-Bornand (74.5 km), Praz de Lys – Sommand (60 km) and La Clusaz (53 km at Les Confins, 38 km at Beauregard). Biathlon: Bessans (international stadium), Le Grand-Bornand (3 ranges), Les Contamines-Montjoie (approved range) and Autrans-Méaudre, with introductions at Aussois and Val Cenis. Evening skiing: Les Contamines-Montjoie (Wednesdays), Savoie Grand Revard (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Praz de Lys – Sommand; in Haute-Savoie, the “le 74” Nordic Pass gives access to the night sessions of the département’s nordic areas. Trails without a pass: the Val d’Ambin, at Val Cenis, describes itself as “free for everyone”.

Announced openings for winter 2026-2027

In order of announced dates: Bessans on 31 October 2026; the “Stade Nordique” trail at Les Saisies on 11 November 2026; Autrans-Méaudre on 12 December 2026 (official launch); Les Contamines-Montjoie, Aussois and Val Cenis on 19 December 2026. Les Confins (La Clusaz) announce late November, depending on snow; Savoie Grand Revard, Le Grand-Bornand and Praz de Lys – Sommand give no date on the pages consulted. These are dates announced by the areas, subject to snow: they do not confirm any opening. Alpine ski resort dates are in the opening calendar.

2026-27 opening dates

Haute-Savoie: 25 nordic areas

Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc Tourisme says Haute-Savoie Nordic brings together 25 nordic areas and 26 cross-country lodges, with more than 800 km of marked trails for skating or classic. Beyond the areas on this page, the Glières plateau is one of them: “more than 30 km of groomed trails” at 1,435 m for Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc Tourisme, 29 km on the Faucigny Glières tourist office listing. Two official figures for one plateau: the sources do not explain the difference.

Finding out whether the trails are open

The announced kilometres are those of the whole area, not the ones groomed today. The trail status (open, closed, groomed) is published, with its date, by each area; Haute-Savoie Nordic gathers the status of its areas. The links are at the bottom of this page. A webcam or a forecast confirms neither that a trail is open nor that it has been groomed.

Weather and snow before you go

The forecast for each resort is on its page (La Féclaz, Les Saisies, Autrans-Méaudre, Le Grand-Bornand, La Clusaz…), at the altitude of the village; nordic trails are often higher or lower. The snow forecast by massif is a model total, not the depth of snow on the ground: it does not say whether a trail is groomed.

Snow forecast by massif

Your questions

Before you go

Where can I go cross-country skiing in the northern French Alps?

This page compares 10 areas: Savoie Grand Revard (150 km), Les Saisies (120 km), Aussois (39 km), Val Cenis (29 km at the Val d’Ambin), Bessans (120 km), Les Contamines-Montjoie (25 km), Le Grand-Bornand (74.5 km), La Clusaz (53 km at Les Confins), Praz de Lys – Sommand (60 km) and Autrans-Méaudre (120 km). The figures are those of the official websites, read on 13 October 2026.

What is the largest nordic ski area in the northern Alps?

Among the 10 areas compared, Savoie Grand Revard announces the most trails (150 km, according to the Chambéry tourist office), ahead of Les Saisies, Bessans and Autrans-Méaudre (120 km each). This ranking covers the areas on this page, not every nordic area in the Alps.

Do I need a pass to cross-country ski?

To ski on the groomed trails of a nordic area you pay a trail fee: Haute-Savoie Nordic describes it as “a trail-access fee: the Nordic Pass”, sold as a day, weekly or season pass. Some areas have free trails, such as the Val d’Ambin at Val Cenis. Prices change every season: check the area’s website.

Classic or skating: which should a beginner choose?

Haute-Savoie Nordic says both can suit beginners, but someone who has never skied will probably be more comfortable in classic, which is more secure, while skating suits someone who is already a little sporty. The areas’ instructors offer lessons in both.

When do the nordic areas open in 2026-2027?

Announced dates run from 31 October 2026 (Bessans) to 19 December 2026 (Les Contamines-Montjoie, Aussois, Val Cenis). They depend on snow and may change: check the area’s website before you set off.

Does this page say whether the cross-country trails are open?

No. It gives the kilometres and dates announced by the areas, not their status of the day. To know whether a trail is open and groomed, check the area’s trail-status page and its update date: the links are at the bottom of the page.

Sources and method

Text of this page last revised on 13 October 2026. This date says nothing about how recent the images or data are: the webcams are supplied by the credited operators and their timestamp shows when the image was taken; model forecasts and official reports are separate pieces of information, each with its own time.