Briançonnais
Serre Chevalier, Montgenèvre and Nordic skiing in the Clarée valley.
ACTIVITY
Winter
Large linked ski areas, legendary off-piste terrain, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the sunshine: winter in the Hautes-Alpes takes many forms.
Four essentials at a glance
- Best time
- December to March; April for ski touring.
- Level
- From a first snowshoe outing to freeriding.
- Guidance
- Ski schools, guides and walking leaders for off-piste outings and touring.
- Key areas
- Briançonnais, Guillestrois & Queyras, Embrunais & Serre-Ponçon.
ACTIVITY
Why here
The department has large ski areas such as Serre Chevalier, Montgenèvre, linked to Italy, Vars and Risoul, and Les Orres, as well as La Grave, famous for its off-piste terrain.
The Queyras and Clarée valleys are known for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, often in bright sunshine. In the Alps, collective accommodation recorded 18.4 million overnight stays in winter 2025, including 34.6 % international visitors.Source: Insee Focus n° 352 (new tab)
Key figures
84.5 %
of winter visitors come for downhill skiing, 22 % for Nordic activities
Source: Hautes-Alpes Développement (hautes-alpes.net) (new tab)250 km
of pistes at Serre Chevalier
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)185 km
of pistes at La Forêt Blanche (Vars-Risoul), including 83 % above 2,000 m
Source: CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)255.5 km/h
World speed skiing record, Vars, 22 March 2023
Source: Eurosport (new tab)
When to go
- January : Favourable months
- February : Favourable months
- March : Favourable months
- April : Possible months
- May : Outside the stated periods
- June : Outside the stated periods
- July : Outside the stated periods
- August : Outside the stated periods
- September : Outside the stated periods
- October : Outside the stated periods
- November : Outside the stated periods
- December : Possible months
Favourable monthsPossible monthsOutside the stated periods
Dates for your diary
April 2027La Grave
Derby de la Meije
2 and 3 April 2027
Legendary freeride race since 1989.
Source: Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (new tab)WinterL'Argentière-la-Bessée
Ice Climbing Écrins
Every winter (2027 dates not yet published)
Around 500 participants in 2026.
Source: Vertige Media (new tab)
Our advice
- Outside the pistes, always consult the avalanche risk bulletin.
- Carry an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, and know how to use them.
- Use a guide for off-piste skiing at La Grave.
- For snowshoeing, choose a route suited to that day’s snow conditions.
A snowshoe outing with a difference
At Les Orres 1800, COEZIA offers an adventure game on snowshoes: life-sized puzzles and exploration in a snowy forest, in teams of 2 to 14 players.
Discover(opens in a new tab)The editorial selection
- Leisure activity
Coezia - Escape Game Nature
COEZIA runs outdoor escape games halfway between hiking and puzzles: in the forest at Embrun in summer and on snowshoes at Les Orres 1800 in winter. Four scenarios, including "La Quête de l'Oracle" and "Traque en Forêt", for families, friends, stag and hen parties and team building.
Embrunais & Serre-PonçonView entry - Leisure activity
Leila'Venture
From Molines-en-Queyras, dog sledding in winter; climbing, via ferrata and canicross hiking in summer. Family-friendly.
Guillestrois & QueyrasView entry - Leisure activity
Alpi Traineau
On the Rocherousse plateau (2,280 m, reached by lift) at Orcières Merlette: sled rides, dog-team driving lessons and sporty treks.
Champsaur & ValgaudemarView entry
Latest stories
Winter
Puy-Saint-Vincent: two days of north-facing skiing
At the top of the ski area, above 2,700 m, the pistes of Puy-Saint-Vincent drop due north towards the forest, facing the ridges of the Écrins National Park. The resort opens on 12 December 2026: now is the time to book a weekend to ski fast and long.
Winter
Snowshoeing: how to choose your route
Elevation gain, exposure, duration: our criteria for a great outing, from beginner to experienced.
Winter
Ski touring: getting started safely
Gear, guidance, reading the avalanche bulletin: the basics before your first outing.
Your questions
Practical guides
Spots by area
Guillestrois & Queyras
Vars and Risoul; Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the Queyras.
Embrunais & Serre-Ponçon
Les Orres, with views of the lake.
Écrins
Guided off-piste skiing at La Grave, and Puy-Saint-Vincent.
Champsaur & Valgaudemar
Orcières.
Buëch & Dévoluy
SuperDévoluy.
Key organisations
Météo-France (new tab)
Avalanche risk bulletin, to check before any off-piste outing
Sources
- Tourisme : chiffres clés (new tab) · Hautes-Alpes Développement (hautes-alpes.net)
- Serre Chevalier Vallée (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- La Forêt Blanche (new tab) · CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Simon Billy flashé à 255,5 km/h et empoche le record du monde (new tab) · Eurosport · 22/03/2023
- Derby de la Meije (new tab) · Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Ice Climbing Écrins 2026 (new tab) · Vertige Media · 04/03/2026
- Saison touristique d'hiver 2025 (new tab) · Insee Focus n° 352 · 29/04/2025
Figures checked on 19 October 2026. Event dates may change: check with the organisers.