Outdoor
Glières Plateau
A matter of cross-country skiingLocated just thirty-five minutes from Annecy, at 1450 meters elevation, Glières Plateau, a symbol of the French Resistance, is the most popular Nordic ski area among the twenty-four places to cross-country ski in the Haute-Savoie.
For the athletic and/or pensive individual who loves to spend time in the great outdoors in the winter, Glières Plateau offers a calm and peaceful natural environment with incredible panoramic views of the Aravis Mountains, Bornes Mountains, and Pays de Fillière Valley.
Cross-country ski to stay in great shape
Cross-country skiing is the main winter sport on the plateau, with more 29 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails (for classic and skating technique), as well as several kilometers of marked pedestrian paths. This safe, very accessible activity increases cardiovascular health and performance, clears the mind and spirit, and works every muscle in the body… even those you didn’t know you had!
© Monica Dalmasso
Nordic nights every Thursday
Every Thursday, at the end of the day, at a time when most Nordic ski areas close for the evening, Glières Plateau offers you the chance to ski under a star-filled sky. With your headlamp to guide you, take the time to enjoy this truly magical winter experience. From 18:00 to 20:30, cross-country ski along the ten kilometers of groomed, marked, and patrolled trails that crisscross the plateau.
Rates for ski area access on Thursday nights:
€5 per adult – Free for kids under 15 years old. Free for Nordic Pass Glières or Nordic Pass Haute-Savoie.
See you on Thursdays from 6 to 8.30pm, from 5 January to 23 March 2023.
Info: Nordic Center information +33 (0)4 50 22 45 63
If needed, you can rent your equipment at “Location des Glières.”
1 equipment rental offered for 1 Thursday night in the season, with the shop’s subscriber card.
Info: Location des Glières FOL74 +33 (0)4 50 22 44 81
© Haute-Savoie Nordic – Domaine nordique des Glières / Nordic nights
Trail & Skate
This winter, the Glières ESI ski school plans to organize the sixth edition of this fun and athletic nighttime event, where wearing a costume is not only welcomed, but encouraged. The two-person relay race combines trail running on snow (three times around a 2.7km loop) and skate skiing (three times around a 3km loop).
See you on Friday 3 March 2023.
Info: ESI des Glières +33 (0)6 30 81 67 21
Take the bus to Glières Plateau
A seasonal bus between Annecy and Glières Plateau operates from mid-December to the end of March.
Snow farming
Since 2018, Glières Plateau has been farming snow. This environmentally-friendly procedure, commonly used in Scandinavian countries, preserves one year’s snowpack for the following winter to ensure early-season skiing. At the end of the winter, in strategic locations protected from the sun and wind, snow is piled into huge mounds and covered in sawdust. This guarantees an early-season start for hardcore Nordic skiers who just can’t wait.
Copyright:
- © Gilles Piel / Nordic skiing in front of the Glières monument
Journalist: Aude Pollet-Thiollier
Translation: Darin Reisman