A cross-country crossing of the Crest Road
Boost your spirits in the fresh air with this sport open to both beginners and experts, for an outing to enjoy at your own pace!
Keep fit in winterTake up cross-country skiing!
Cross-country skiing is one of the Nordic activities on offer in the Vosges Mountains. A sport with plenty of health benefits, skiers smoothly stride along groomed and marked trails. As for me, I decide to head to the Markstein to test a cross-country skiing outing.
Here's a top tip!
Want to take full advantage of the invigorating snowy mountain landscapes?
Markstein, Lac Blanc, Trois-Fours, Ballon d’Alsace, La Bresse-Lispach, Gérardmer, Xonrupt-Longemer, or Le Valtin.
There's no need to choose! The Vosges Mountains Nordic pass “Massif des Vosges” gives you unlimited access to all areas, all season long!
Are you bursting to hit the trails as soon as you arrive?
We've thought of everything. You can purchase your Vosges Mountains Nordic pass online starting at the end of October.
With just a few clicks, you can arrive with your pass in hand.
Classic style or skate skiing?
The equipment rental companh in the resort recommends that I start with the classic style.
Similar to walking, classic style cross-country skiing is the most natural for beginners. The skis stay parallel, and you stride forward using your poles while alternately pushing on one foot and then the other.
Skate skiing on the other hand is more technical with a side-to-side skating motion. The kilometres can fly by with this intense pace.
There are 10 circuits for all levels in this Nordic area, and I opt for the one that follows the Peak Road. Closed to car traffic in winter, this tourist route passes by the Grand Ballon, the highest point of the Vosges Mountains.
The equipment is very light and easy to carry on foot! The ski boots are comfortable enough to wear all day long. The skis slide along in the white tracks, giving me the time to take in the incredible landscapes. Don’t forget to breathe!
The weather is beautiful, and I stride through a wonderous setting of clear skies and sparkling snow! I leave all my worries behind in the calm landscapes: the rounded peaks of the Vosges Mountains on the horizon, the valleys below, and a few farms scattered peacefully in the wide-open spaces.
A treat after all that effort
After a few kilometres, I spot the farmhouse inn that I've booked, and I speed up for the home stretch. The great outdoors sure whet your appetite!
After a delicious and hearty Marcaire meal, I strap on my skis again to go explore. I sit down for dessert inside a bubble in front of the Wolf Hotel and Restaurant that my friends recommended.
It's time to go back... in the return shuttle I feel good after this great breath of air. My body worked well and my mind is already thinking about the next escapade... Why not at the Lac-Blanc (Kaysersberg valley) or at the Trois Fours (Munster valley) ?
Discover our top tips for a cross-country skiing outing:
Cross-country skiing online
Plan ahead and buy your cross-country ski pass on www.nordic.alsace for access to all the trails of the Vosges Mountains all season long. The "Massif des Vosges" Nordic pass gives you unlimited access for the whole season to the following Nordic sites: Markstein, Lac Blanc, Trois-Fours, Ballon d'Alsace, La Bresse-Lispach, Gérardmer, Xonrupt-Longemer, and Le Valtin.
More info: www.nordic.alsace
Getting around is easy with the snow shuttle!
The Discovery Ski Pass:
With this pass, you can also access participating cross-country skiing areas.
More info: www.massif-des-vosges.com/skipass.htm
Nordic activities also include
-Cross-country skiing (classic style or skate skiing)
-Ski touring
-Biathlon
-Ski jump
-Nordic combined