Backcountry Skiing in La Grave: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

Home to just 500 full-time residents in the summer, La Grave comes alive when the snow begins to fall. As January rolls around, enthusiast backcountry skiers flock to the tow in order to explore some of the incredible backcountry terrains found here.

Among the most popular activities for off-piste enthusiasts is the Haute Route des Ecrins. This week-long ski touring adventure takes you hut-to-hut through the heart of the stunning Ecrins massif. Complete with a challenging ascent and thrilling descent of Dome des Ecrins along with many others, the less traditional Haute Route is no less of an adventure.

Heading up onto the slopes of the mighty La Meije is another excellent option. The peak boasts several routes that take skiers down its slopes and back to La Grave as well as longer and more challenging routes for those looking for another type of ski touring adventure. Heading out for a day of freeriding down the couloirs is the perfect way to put your skills and nous to the test.

Stunning scenery

Sitting in the shadow of mighty La Meije, La Grave boasts plenty of incredible mountain scenery. Complete with glaciated mountain peaks and thick evergreen forests, there is plenty of natural beauty to keep you in awe as you head through the pristine snow covered slopes of the popular resort town.

Something for everyone

Whether you plan on heading out on your first backcountry skiing expedition or you’re a seasoned pro, La Grave has something great in store for you. From beginners getting a taste for the backcountry in nearby Serre Chevalier – learning the necessary skills to head off-piste – to advanced ski tourers striking out on the Haute Route des Ecrins, there is the perfect route for every type of skier here.

Fantastic freeriding

For those thrillseekers looking to get their adrenaline pumping, La Grave is the perfect place to be. The cable car from the town leads up onto the La Meije massif and provides two trilling 2,000 vertical meter descents back into town. Get off-piste in a hurry and careen back down to the lovely resort through pristine powder.

During the winter, average daily temperatures in La Grave hover between 0 ºC and -5 ºC (32 ºF to 23 ºF). Winter is also one of the wettest times of the year with an average of about 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain per month.

Any trip to La Grave likely begins with a flight into Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS). From here, La Grave is two hours away by car. La Grave can also be reached by a combination of train and bus in about three hours.

French

+33

Euro

January to April