Ski touring is deeply rooted in the mountain culture of the Pyrenees.
Faced with growing public interest, several stations now offer secure access to marked routes.
Ideal conditions for initiation which complement an often grandiose natural setting and a warm south-western welcome.
Our selection of itineraries in the Pyrénées-Orientales and Hautes-Pyrénées.
Read alsoOur 2022 ranking of French ski resorts
Cambre d'Aze (Cambre d'Aze massif, Pyrénées-Orientales)
Number of marked routes: 3
At the heart of the Regional Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees nestles a remarkable glacial cirque.
Le Cambre d'Aze and its two villages, Eyne and Saint-Pierre-dels-Forcats share the natural area with its beautiful mountain pine forests sheltered from the wind.
With its 22 kilometers of alpine ski slopes, the closest family resort to Perpignan (1h15) is also a popular destination for ski touring enthusiasts.
With its circus, its beautiful ridge and its many corridors, the Cambre d'Aze is a real gem for experienced skiers and climbers.
With this sport and nature addition, the microstation has developed three splendid secure routes accessible to neophytes.
From the top of these routes, hikers will be able to enjoy the view of the Canigou, the beautiful Spanish peaks, and of the sea.
OUR SELECTION
Les Colls (distance: 3 km; elevation gain: 300 m)
From the kindergarten in the village of Eyne, this route through the forest on the western slope presents no technical difficulty, but a nice drop in a wild and preserved setting and a splendid panorama on arrival.
El Riu (distance 3.8km; elevation gain 310m)
Starting from the other village, Saint-Pierre dels Forcats, this east-facing route shares with the snowshoe trail.
It allows you to reach Pla du Cambre and offers a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea!
The K'maz (distance 4.1km; elevation gain: 1000m)
From Saint Pierre dels Forcats, this "Vertical kilometer" already requires a good physical background.
It provides access to the very top of the domain, at an altitude of 2650m.
The last 500 meters of elevation are on a completely open area.
Those who wish (and who are equipped and accompanied by a guide) will push a few hundred meters further to the stele located at the top of the Cambre d'Aze, in a wild high mountain atmosphere.
Practical guide: tourist
office, tel.
: 04 68 04 25 25;
www.cambre-d-aze.com (list of ski schools and tour guides available on the site)
Read alsoSki touring: the guide to getting started
Font-Romeu (Carlit massif, Pyrénées-Orientales)
The ski touring routes allow you to enjoy a splendid Franco-Spanish panorama.
Dynafit
Number of marked routes: 3
On the vast plateau of Cerdagne, the resort, always generously sunny, already ensures the panorama. Between France and Spain, the view is indeed breathtaking on the peaks that flirt with 3000, such as the Pic Carlit (highest point of the Pyrénées-Orientales with 2921 m) or the Col rouge. So that apprentice ski tourers can take advantage of these assets, Font-Romeu has taken this trend in hand, which has also earned it the France Montagne trophy for the best discovery offer in autumn 2019. Three groomed and marked routes , supplemented by a discovery service from the ESF and a brand new specific pass are therefore available to the public. In the preserved nature of the Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees, these courses offer a progressive approach to practice.
The Neofit (distance 2.67: km; elevation gain: 163 m)
Ideal for beginners, this route starts at the Plateau de la Calme at an altitude of 2050 m and runs along the two green slopes with rather low slopes (Mouillères and Retour Airelles) to reach the Roc de la Calme, the highest point of the resort, with a 360° panorama.
The return can be done by 3 red runs or a green run, depending on the level of the skiers.
The Dynatour (distance 7.9: km; elevation gain: 434 m)
A longer outing from the Col del Pam which begins with a crossing in the forest by taking the GR10 towards the lake of Pradeilles, to then reach the same summit, the Roc de la Calme, but via the other side of the mountain .
The Night fit (distance: 1 km; elevation gain: 163 m)
This experience is lived, as its name suggests, at night when the slopes close until 9 p.m.
From the Calme plateau, it joins the Roc directly and is experienced as a sprint by the experts who sometimes take less than 15 minutes to reach the summit.
The descent takes place via the slalom stadium (red run).
Practical booklet:
fixed price €16 per day with, in normal times, access to the Roc, Calme Nord and Aveillans chairlifts for quick access to the heights, at the foot of the routes.
Ski area information: www.altiservice.com;
supervision: ESF Font Romeu: www.esf-font-romeu.com;
as well as many other guide and instructor service providers;
tourist office: tel.
: 04 68 30 68 30;
www.font-romeu.fr
Read alsoIn the heart of the Pyrenees, five winter experiences in a grandiose and preserved nature
Puigmal Pyrénées-Cerdagne (Puigmal massif, Pyrénées-Orientales)
This area abandoned the practice of alpine skiing in 2013, turning to “four seasons” activities.
In winter, Nordic activities and cross-country skiing (5 itineraries) are on the program.
CDC Pyrenees-Cerdagne
Number of marked routes: 5
After having been a ski resort until 2013, this area located on the Franco-Spanish border has been completely redesigned and started its second life last winter with a model focused on the 4 seasons.
A reconversion, the first of its kind in the Pyrenees, which tends to combine environment, art of living and sport with, for this last theme, plenty of room for outdoor activities.
Thus, from trail running to mountain biking, of course including snowshoeing and ski touring, Puigmal Pyrénées-Cerdagne allows the general public free access to outdoor sports.
Nestled on the high plateaus, in the hollow of an immense forest and overlooked by its cross-border summit at an altitude of 2,910 m, the “Ski de Rando” area thus offers five marked and secure routes.
These are supplemented by proposals for
OUR SELECTION
La Tranquille (distance: 2.4 km; elevation gain: 164 m)
This short route, which is carried out out and back in the heart of the Cotzé forest in out and back, is ideal for a first approach to ski touring.
The Way of Wisdom (distance: 4.8 km; elevation gain: 345 m)
A course on a gentle and regular slope, and without technical difficulty to the summit of the Cotzé sector at 2212 m.
The arrival offers a view of the Carlit massif, the highest point in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
The forest without pitfalls (distance: 7 km; elevation gain: 482 m)
A climb in the forest and under an old ski lift before moving on the ridges and admiring the 360° panorama.
The descent is via an old blue run.
The steep (distance: 5.9 km; elevation gain: 425 m)
As its name suggests, this route is for hikers with a minimum of experience.
The finish is at the top of the Cotzé sector and the descent can also be done by the blue run, or via the ascent route.
Practical notebook:
Practical information and itineraries, dates and registration for initiation courses: www.espace-skiderando.com;
information point and equipment rental by reservation: UDSIS reception center in Cotzé: tel.
: 04 68 04 09 00;
Pyrénées Cerdagnes Community Tourist Office: tel.
: 04 68 04 15 47;
e-mail: tourisme@pyrenees-cerdagne.com.
Read alsoPyrenees: five Nordic sites less than two hours from the ocean
Gavarnie (Mont-Perdu massif, Hautes-Pyrénées)
The site offers a dream setting, and several “ski touring” routes for all levels.
Ger Gan
Number of marked routes: 3
Known for its Circus, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gavarnie is the cradle of Pyreneanism and inevitably a hotspot for cross-country skiing.
Culminating at more than 3000 meters above sea level, this majestic site of glacial origin is an invitation to a getaway in the heart of nature.
To approach the practice of ski touring in complete safety, the ski area has therefore also provided itself with three marked trails.
If the first 500 meters of elevation gain can be done in normal times with the chairlift to the Pic des Tentes at 2322 m, just to keep energy, once on the marked routes, the high mountain atmosphere is very real, the view on the famous breathtaking ice waterfalls… Enough to gain confidence before considering, well accompanied, the mythical Brèche de Roland at an altitude of 2806 m.
Le Labas Blanc (distance: 2.5 km; elevation gain 210 m)
At the top of the eponymous chairlift, which can be accessed with a hiker's pass, the Hermines green run gives quick access to the start of the route.
A small scoop steadily uphill allows you to reach the Col des Tentes in just over an hour, and enjoy the view of the north face of the Taillon.
Les Bronzés (distance: 4 km; elevation gain 400 m)
The start takes place this time at the foot of the station to join the first route to the same Col des Tentes.
On the first part, valleys, flat areas and small slopes follow one another ideally to perfect the technique, or even try a first conversion.
Le Mourgat (distance: 1.2 km; elevation gain: 250 m)
A shorter course, but also steeper, which allows you to gain confidence.
The more sustained slopes call for conversions and, in the event of hard snow, setting up the blades is a good exercise!
On arrival, the view of the Cirque de Gavarnie makes you forget the effort made.
Practical booklet:
“Access Pic des Tentes” hiker’s pass: €8.50;
Initiations and supervision: ESF: tel.: 05 62 92 40;
www.esf-gavarnie.fr;
guide office: tel.
: 06 83 31 08 16, email: guidesgavarniegedre@gmail.com;
ski resort: www.ski-gavarnie.com tel.
: 05 62 92 43 91;
tourist agency of the valleys of Gavarnie: tel.
: 05 62 97 00 25;
www.valleesdegavarnie.com
Read alsoCross-country skiing: from the Pyrenees to the Jura, our 10 favorite resorts in France
Hautacam (Montaigu massif; Hautes-Pyrénées)
Oriented towards leisure, the resort of Hautacam offers very accessible marked trails, here at the top of the slopes.
Bruno Valcke HPTE
Number of marked routes: 4
This family resort which overlooks Argelès-Gazost fully assumes the fact of presenting itself as “a snow amusement park”.
But the tobogganing on rails and the vast play areas for children are authentically complemented by the wooded and wild sector of Naouit, for more experienced skiers.
Large natural spaces with at the top, the view of its quality neighbors... Enough to make you want great skiing.
But before embarking opposite on the five high-mountain routes of the Pic du Midi, or setting off to attack the mythical Brèche de Rolland in Gavarnie, the four routes of Hautacam will allow you to get to know the skin of seal in a pleasant, accessible and safe environment.
OUR SELECTION
The Tetra (distance: 1.1km; elevation gain: 170m)
This ideal route for getting started starts at the bottom of the Myrtilles green run in the Naouit sector.
A slightly inclined climb takes new hikers into the forest before bringing them out to a panoramic view of the circus below.
The return is via the blue Fox run.
The Tetra 2 (distance: 1.2 km; elevation gain: 190 m)
In the same sector, the second route starts before the end of the Myrtilles piste to plunge directly into the forest, with a slope that requires some conversions.
Higher up, the view of Lake Isaby and the Pyrenees chain is a great reward.
The Tetra 3 (distance: 1.3 km; elevation gain: 220 m)
The level increases slightly on this course which runs along the red Sangliers trail from afar.
The inclination is a little stronger, the conversions more numerous, but it remains very accessible and it is always possible to find the track in case of renunciation...!
The arrival, common to the Tetra 2, is also the highest point of the resort.
Practical guide:
ski resort: tel.
: 05 62 97 10 16;
www.hautacam.com;
tourist agency of the valleys of Gavarnie: tel.
: 05 62 97 00 25;
www.valléesdegavarnie.com
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Published in January 2021, this article is subject to an update.
