Snowshoe Hike on the Glières Plateau: Where Wilderness Meets History
A guided winter tour of an iconic site in Haute-Savoie
The Glières Plateau is a landmark in French history. During the winter of 1944, many members of the Resistance gathered there to await Allied airdrops of weapons, making this site a powerful symbol of the Resistance during World War II.
From a natural perspective, the Glières Plateau is a vast expanse located at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters. It is characterized by wide stretches of snow-covered meadows dotted with spruce forests, offering open, wild landscapes that sometimes evoke the vast expanses of the North.
An ideal setting for snowshoeing around Annecy
The plateau’s natural bowl-shaped configuration ensures excellent snow retention throughout the winter. This means that, most of the time, visitors can enjoy high-quality snow, ideal for snowshoeing.
Far from the major downhill ski resorts, this area remains unspoiled and offers a calm, authentic atmosphere. The main winter activity on the plateau is cross-country skiing, which leaves vast areas available for snowshoeing, particularly off the beaten path.
The Glières Plateau is thus particularly well-suited for guided snowshoe excursions around Lake Annecy: gentle terrain, varied landscapes, and numerous route options for all skill levels.
Observe wildlife and learn to read tracks in the snow
During these snowshoe hikes, you’ll have a good chance of spotting animal tracks in the snow. Your mountain guide will teach you how to identify them and better understand wildlife in winter.
Roe deer, foxes, mountain hares, and black grouse regularly leave their tracks on the plateau. And with a little luck, some more subtle tracks might even reveal the presence of a rarer animal… like a wolf.
Snowshoeing in a Place Steeped in History
Snowshoeing Around Annecy: Discover the Glières Plateau
Vast, wild, and unspoiled, the Glières Plateau offers numerous snowshoeing routes less than an hour from Lake Annecy. This high-altitude natural site is particularly prized for its vast snow-covered expanses, its Nordic atmosphere, and the quality of its snow cover throughout the winter.
Whether for a leisurely exploration or a more challenging hike, the Glières Plateau is an ideal setting for snowshoeing.
Half-Day Snowshoe Hikes (about 3 hours)
For a first-time experience or a short outing, we’ll explore the spruce forests and vast clearings near the Col des Glières. Several areas are perfectly suited for this type of outing:
- the Mouilles area
- the Dran plain
- the Frêtes mountain
These routes offer a gentle immersion in a preserved natural environment, accessible to a wide range of people.
Full-Day Snowshoe Hikes (4 to 7 hours of walking)
On a full-day hike, there are numerous route options that allow you to explore varied and more rugged landscapes.
The Chalet des Auges trail is a classic intermediate-level route. It leads to a superb viewpoint overlooking the Aravis range with Mont Blanc as a backdrop, offering a remarkable panorama of the Alps.
For more athletic hikers, the Grand Boucle des Glières loop, passing through Champ Laitier and the Col de Spée, offers a longer and more challenging route in an authentic mountain setting.
Finally, the Ablon Valley, dominated by limestone cliffs renowned for rock climbing, offers a more secluded and intimate route, located away from the areas frequented by cross-country skiers.
What skill level is required for a snowshoe hike around Annecy?
Snowshoe hikes on the Glières Plateau are accessible to a wide range of participants, from beginners to experienced hikers. The required skill level depends mainly on the duration of the hike, the elevation gain, and snow conditions.
The mountain guide always adapts the route based on:
- the group’s skill level
- weather conditions
- the condition of the snowpack
- the goals of the outing
- The goal always remains the same: to ensure your safety while allowing everyone to fully enjoy the experience.
Information & Pricing
Access to the Glières Plateau
You can reach the plateau by car or by public transportation using Line G2 of the local transit network, as part of the Mobil’Hiver winter transportation program. This is a convenient way to reduce the environmental impact of your trips.
Activity Schedule:
Morning: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Full Day: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
These are approximate times; we adapt to the participants and weather conditions.
Price starting at: €21 per person for a full group (12 participants)
The price includes
Guidance from a state-certified mountain guide.
Rental of snowshoes and poles.
The price does not include
Transportation to the trailhead.
Anything not listed under “What’s Included.”
F.A.Q
Is the Glières Plateau suitable for beginners at snowshoeing?
Yes, the Glières Plateau is suitable for beginners, especially on half-day outings around the Col des Glières, Les Mouilles, or the Plaine de Dran. The gentle terrain and open setting allow for a gradual introduction to snowshoeing.
Why hire a mountain guide in Les Glières?
A mountain guide chooses the route based on actual conditions: snow quality, weather, visibility, the group’s skill level, and safety. The guide also provides insights into the natural environment, animal tracks, the history of the Glières Plateau, and the unique characteristics of the mountain in winter.
What can you see on a snowshoe hike on the Glières Plateau?
Depending on the route and the weather, you can explore vast snow-covered expanses, spruce forests, clearings, alpine chalets, and beautiful panoramic views of the Bornes, the Aravis, and sometimes Mont Blanc. The plateau is also a great place to look for animal tracks in the snow.
Is the Glières Plateau close to Annecy?
Yes, the Plateau des Glières is one of the top snowshoe hiking destinations around Annecy. It is located in Haute-Savoie, in the Bornes Mountains, and is a popular winter destination known for its Nordic atmosphere and wide-open spaces.
What equipment should I bring for the outing?
You should bring warm, waterproof clothing (such as ski gear or winter hiking pants), high-top, waterproof hiking boots, gloves, and a hat.
Why choose the Glières Plateau for a snowshoe hike?
The Glières Plateau is a must-visit destination for snowshoeing in Haute-Savoie. Its altitude, gentle terrain, and vast open spaces make it particularly well-suited for winter activities. In winter, the plateau takes on a Nordic atmosphere, with its large snow-covered meadows, spruce forests, and secluded chalets.
It’s also an appealing area for those seeking a snowshoe outing around Annecy in a wilder setting than traditional ski resorts. Here, the atmosphere is calmer and more natural, and snowshoeing allows you to gradually move away from crowded areas.
For first-time explorers, the Col des Glières, Les Mouilles, and Plaine de Dran areas offer accessible routes. The terrain is gentle, the landscapes varied, and the activity is suitable for a wide range of people: beginners, families, groups of friends, or occasional hikers.
For a more challenging hike, the Chalets des Auges represent one of the plateau’s great classics. This route takes you up to higher elevations and, when the weather is favorable, offers a superb panoramic view of the Aravis Range and Mont Blanc. More athletic hikers can also consider longer loop trails toward Champ Laitier, the Col de Spée, or the Vallon d’Ablon.
The Glières Plateau is also a place of remembrance. Its history, linked to the Resistance during World War II, lends a special depth to the outing. Without turning the hike into a historical tour, this aspect helps visitors better understand the place’s identity and its importance to Haute-Savoie.
A guided snowshoe hike in Glières is also an opportunity to observe nature in winter. Tracks in the snow often reveal an unseen aspect of wildlife: deer, foxes, mountain hares, mountain birds, and sometimes more subtle clues. The mountain guide helps you interpret these signs and understand how animals adapt to winter conditions.
In winter, the choice of route is never random. The weather, snow conditions, visibility, temperature, and terrain all directly influence the outing. Having a professional guide allows the hike to be tailored so you can fully enjoy the plateau, with safety and shared enjoyment as top priorities.
