In this article we suggest how to organise your skiing holiday in Gérardmer. You can of course adapt these activities to suit your preferences, but this will give you an idea of all the things you can do in winter in the Hautes-Vosges.
Skiing in Gérardmer
The family resort of La Mauselaine boasts a beautiful ski area at an altitude of 850 – 1140 metres. You can ski on the heights of the pearl of the Vosges in a magnificent setting. Surrounded by fir trees, you can breathe in the scents of nature and enjoy the Grand Haut chairlift, which takes you quickly to the top of the pistes. These include the Chevreuils piste, the longest ski run in the Vosges (almost 3 km). We recommend you do them all, go to La Chaume Francis, climb to La Tête de Grouvelin, Gérardmer’s highest peak, and have fun on the boardercross or snowpark located respectfully on the sanglier and cabri pistes.
Gérardmer is the second-largest ski resort in the Vosges, with 21 runs, behind La Bresse Hohneck, which we’ll talk about below. La Mauselaine is recommended for families, with an on-site nursery, a ski school, activities for children, a secure toboggan run, a warming room, a snack bar, restaurants and shops offering ski, snowshoe and snowboard hire…
Skiing in Gérardmer means there’s something for everyone.
There are green runs for beginners and some great red and black runs, such as the Tétras, which you can see when you’re in town. You can take your car if you like, as La Mauselaine has a large free car park. The ski area offers night-time events and sledging evenings, which are a real treat. A must-do event during the Christmas and winter holidays is the torchlight parade with its superb fireworks display on the Gérardmer ski slopes.
Gérardmer is the ski resort we recommend for families. Book your ski passes and find out all about it on the gerardmer-ski.com website.
Cross-country skiing in the Bas-Rupts area
During your holiday in Gérardmer, you can discover the magnificent Bas-Rupts ski area, near La Mauselaine. Cross-country skiing in Gérardmer, in the forest, in the peace and quiet, so close and so far from everything at the same time, is a magical experience. You’ll sometimes feel like you’re somewhere else, skiing in Lapland. The Bas-Rupts cross-country ski runs are great for beginners and experienced cross-country skiers alike, with 7 beautiful runs ranging from 1.3 to 7 km.
If you can, we recommend that you go to Hautes-Vannes, Bioquès and Tourbière, which are all part of the Bas-Rupts Nordic ski area and will leave you breathless! The scenery is breathtaking, an absolute white paradise!
Discover Gérardmer
If you’re coming to Gérardmer for Christmas, you’ll have plenty to do, with lots of places to visit.
- The Christmas market;
- The skiers’ village;
- The many shops selling Vosges souvenirs and household linen;
- Bowling and cinema;
- Relax at the swimming pool;
- Why not see Le Saut des Cuves, an incredible waterfall just outside the town in the direction of Colmar.
- If you’d like to see what Gérardmer looks like from above, head for the Tour de Mérelle, which overlooks the lake and the whole of the pearl of the Vosges.
- Discover local specialities and eat a munstiflette in our Alsatian restaurant.
- Don’t leave without trying the real Munster cheese and Vosges sweets from the Géromoise confectionery.
- The Gérardmer Fantastic Film Festival if you’re skiing in the Vosges at the end of January.
Go snowshoeing at Hohneck
It would be a shame not to get away from it all and see the best the Vosges has to offer. So we’re going to move away from Gérardmer and head for the Route des Crêtes, about 20 minutes away by car. You can hire snowshoes in town at the Vosges Dans l’Vent shop, on Place des Déportés, or at Le Grand Haut ski hire, at La Mauselaine.
You’ll set off in the morning to make the most of your snowshoeing outing in the Vosges. Keep a close eye on the weather forecast, and preferably set off in fine weather, as conditions on the ridges are very difficult when it snows.
Here is our suggested snowshoe itinerary:
- Follow the signs for Colmar – before La Schlucht, turn right onto the Route des Crêtes, and drive for 2 km until you reach the Domaine des Trois Fours.
- Walk through the forest towards the Hohneck via the Martinswand cliffs.
- Enjoy the view, the impressive ledges and the magnificent scenery.
- Head for the Hohneck, the second highest peak in the Vosges.
- Grab your camera or phone and capture what you see. You might even see the Alps if the weather is clear.
- Return along the same path.
For your snowshoe walk from Trois Fours to Hohneck, allow 2 to 3 hours round trip, depending on your pace and the number of stops. Take water and snacks with you. Dress warmly and cover your head and face, especially if it’s windy. If the sun is out and there’s no wind, then you’re in luck and your snowshoe outing on the Hohneck will be magical.
Skiing at La Bresse Hohneck, the largest resort in the Vosges
It is the largest ski resort in the Vosges and also the highest, with its red Kastelberg piste. From the top of the Kastelberg, you have an exceptional view of Le Hohneck, Le Grand Ballon, Le Rothenbachkopf and Le Rainkopf, as well as Lac de La Lande.
You’re in for a great day’s skiing at La Bresse Hohneck with its 34 pistes, its Oupaland for youngsters and the Waouland boardercross. And there’s the most popular slope, the Bourvil, where you can go tobogganing on certain evenings during the holidays.
This is a large ski area, which means there are lots of people. You can ski at La Bresse Hohneck at night and in the morning. There are also school runs and facilities for families to eat and drink.
You can also go snowshoeing at nearby Lac de Lispach, in the ski resort of the same name.
That’s it, we hope this article helps you organise your ski holiday in Gérardmer, your winter holiday in the Vosges or a weekend getaway in the snow. We look forward to welcoming you the week of Christmas or New Year, in December, January, February and March for the pleasures of skiing and beautiful snow-covered landscapes. With a bit of luck, Lake Gérardmer will be frozen over, but that doesn’t happen every year.
See you soon in Gérardmer for an unforgettable skiing holiday.
