A limestone citadel, the Vercors massif is divided between two departments, Isère and Drôme.
Two neighboring territories with different and marked cultures which can be read in the landscape of this mountainous plateau dominated by the Grand-Veymont (2341 m), and set away from the chain of the Alps.
From Isère, to the north, the Vercors has kept an alpine face.
Steep cliffs, bordered by a thick forest, which plunge into the valleys of the Rhône and Isère.
These are the “Four Mountains” which bring together the villages of Villard-de-Lans, Corrençon-en-Vercors, Lans-en-Vercors, Autrans and Méaudre.
From the Drôme to the south, the Vercors has retained a more southern and wild identity where the flora and fauna have been protected from human activities.
These are the Hauts Plateaux.
These two facets have made it a popular destination for downhill skiing and privileged for Nordic activities (cross-country skiing and snowshoeing), with as many family and sports routes.
Read also: Cross-country skiing: the top 10 resorts in France
Nordic area of
Autrans - Méaudre (Isère)
In the plain which connects the two villages of Autrans and Méaudre.
Vincent Juraszek
Hidden behind the ridges of the Molière, which overlook the city of Grenoble, Autrans and Méaudre seem to live away from the hustle and bustle of the world.
These two villages, separated by 5 km, have always taken care to keep their authenticity.
The common area, which hosted the Nordic skiing events during the Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble in 1968, capitalized on this heritage to become a benchmark in France.
The Autrans-Méaudre resort offers 115 km of prepared and marked skating and alternative trails, between plains, ridges and forests.
Rail tobogganing (Autrans) and zip lining (Méaudre) are also possible.
The cross-country ski trail to do:
starting from the Gève plateau on the heights of Autrans, the “Panoramique” (red; 25 km round trip) offers a view of the whole of the Massif de Belledonne and the Chartreuse - the two other mountain ranges which surround Grenoble - from the Molière plateau.
On sunny days, Mont-Blanc is revealed to cross-country skiers.
Snowshoeing to do:
of the 90 km of trails on offer, the “Gros Martel” (4.5 km), from Narces to Méaudre, is an immersion in the heart of the Vercors forest.
Located at 1556 m, the "Gros Martel" offers a 360 ° view of the north of the massif.
Price:
the price of an adult day pass is 10 euros.
A snowshoe trail map is available at a price of 3 euros.
Snowshoe hikes are free.
Site: https://autrans-meaudre.com
Read also: Snowshoeing: our selection of new routes
Nordic area of L
ans-en-Vercors (Isère)
The resort offers 31 km of snowshoe trails, here in the valleys at the foot of Pic Saint-Michel.
www.photo-sorin.com
Lans-en-Vercors is, from Grenoble, and with Saint-Nizier, one of the two gateways to the northern part of the Massif du Vercors.
It is the crossroads of the Four Mountains.
Bordered by the toothless peaks of the Vercors, the village opens onto a wide plain which closes 10 km further on, in Villard-de-Lans.
Nordic activities are practiced on the heights of the resort in the heart of the Lans Mountains on the Allières plateau where 35 km of trails are laid out.
This is where the "Vertige des Cimes" (accessible by ski lifts which are closed today, or pedibus), a footbridge which overhangs 300 m of space, was installed.
The Aigle Leisure Park, located in the heart of the village, is a space dedicated to beginners and tobogganing.
The practice of ice climbing (40 € per session, supervision and equipment provided; information: 06 61 03 58 87) is also possible within the park.
The cross-country ski trail to do
: departing from the Auberge des Allières, located 1.5 km from the Lans mountain snow stadium, the red trail (8 km) navigates between clearings and undergrowth in a setting alpine with the Pic Saint-Michel as a backdrop and its 1966 m.
The Nordic area of Lans-en-Vercors, here on the Allières plateau, bordered by the peaks.
Vincent Juraszek
Snowshoeing to do
: from the Montagnes de Lans snow stadium, Les Ramées (7 km), in an intimate and wild setting, offers a multitude of views over the Lans plain which forms the junction between Lans- en-Vercors in Villard-de-Lans.
Price:
the price of an adult day pass is 8.25 euros.
A snowshoe trail map is available at the price of 1 euro.
Snowshoe hikes are free.
Site: https://www.lansenvercors.com
Read also: From Vercors to Chamonix, our favorite restaurants in the Alps
Nordic area of Villard-de-Lans / Corrençon-en-Vercors (Isère)
The Nordic area of Haut Vercors, here on the Corrençon side, is the wildest in the massif.
In the background to the right, the biathlon shooting range, where Martin Fourcade was practicing in particular.
Carole Savary
Villard-de-Lans and Corrençon-en-Vercors are two villages with strong identities.
Villard-de-Lans and its lively pedestrian streets is the capital of the Four Mountains and the center of attraction of the Vercors.
The last village before the Hauts Plateaux, Corrençon-en-Vercors is more discreet.
Placed on the northern borders of the Hauts Plateaux, the Nordic Area of Haut Vercors (110 km of slopes) is divided between these two resorts.
Of the “Four Mountains”, it remains the wildest and most secret Nordic area.
For lovers of all kinds of snow sports and families, the Luge Park on the Hill of Baths (accompanied children from 2 years old; prices online), located near the center of Villard-de-Lans, has a garden of 'children and toboggan runs.
The cross-country ski trail to do:
starting from Corrençon-en-Vercors or Bois Barbus in Villard-de-Lans, the “Royale” (red, 26 km round trip) is one of the routes that will allow you to discover the Vercors at best, by offering a wild foray into the Hauts Plateaux.
Snowshoeing to do
: the blue run, "l'Auberge le Clariant" (5.9 km), in Corrençon-en-Vercors, is a family walk in a unique and wild landscape at the foot of the Grande Moucherolle (2284 m), highest peak of the "Four Mountains"
Price:
the price of an adult day pass is 10 euros.
Snowshoe hikes are free.
Site: https://www.villarddelans.com
Read the file: Skiing: resorts, slopes, accommodation ... guides and advice
Nordic area of Font d'Urle - Chaud Clapier (Drôme)
This alpine plateau offers 115 km of marked trails, and its gentle geography lends itself to snowshoeing.
Cyril Crespeau
Close to the Rhône valley, Font d'Urle is an alpine plateau in Vercors Drômois.
In winter, it is a resort shared between alpine skiing and Nordic activities.
Located near Vassieux-en-Vercors, a Mecca of the Resistance, the Nordic area offers an area as vast as those of its neighbors of the “Four Mountains” with 115 km of tracks laid out in alternative or skating style.
Due to the geography of the massif, the resort is particularly suitable for snowshoeing.
The cross-country ski trail to do:
the “Lièvre Blanc” (black; 16.6 km loop) offers a first discovery of the area in a typical Drôme landscape with a trail that weaves its way through the heart of centuries-old forests and between glades that you only discover at the last moment.
The snowshoe hike to do:
the “Randonnée” (9.5 km), starting from Vassieux-en-Vercors, is a hike for experienced walkers.
It allows a real immersion in the landscapes of the Vercors.
Price:
the price of an adult day pass is 9.50 euros.
Snowshoe hikes are free.
Site: https://www.ladromemontagne.fr/fr/toutes-les-stations/font-d-urle-chaud-clapier/font-d-urle-presentation.htm
The Vercors, practical notebook
How to get to the Vercors massif?
By train
: Valence (Drôme) and Grenoble (Isère) are the two main TGV stations which give access to the Vercors massif.
Allow three hours for the journey from Paris.
Then it's time for the bus.
Information from Grenoble bus station and Valence TGV.
By plane
: Grenoble - Saint-Geoirs and Lyon - Saint-Exupéry are the two closest airports to Vercors.
By car
: the massif is easily accessible even if the road to climb into the “fortress” is steep.
The Vercors has two main entrance gates.
One is located north of the Grenoble metropolitan area at the crossroads of the A51, A48 and A41 motorways.
The second is located near Valence (Drôme) and is accessible from the A7 and A49 motorways.
Nordic activity prices in the Vercors: to know
For each domain, it is possible to purchase a fee for stays lasting between 2 and 7 days.
For any purchase of a 5, 6 and 7 day fee on the Nordic areas of the Villard-de-Lans - Corrençon-en-Vercors, Autrans - Méaudre and Lans-en-Vercors resorts, there is a "4 Montagnes" option. which gives access to all of these areas for an additional 10 euros.
Useful sites
https://www.vercors-drome.com/fr/https://www.parc-du-vercors.fr
http://www.accompagnateur-vercors.com
