After missing out on snowshoeing in Arctic Norway last year, I jumped at the chance to finally try it out in Les Arc’s Mont Blanc forest. Known for being the world’s oldest snow sport, I was excited to learn that snowshoeing is gaining traction again and is currently the fastest growing winter sport!
My muscles were sore from skiing the previous day, but as I’d spent the morning relaxing in the pool I decided I needed to burn some calories! I wanted to sample
Our guide handed us our walking poles and snowshoes and explained how to attach them to our footwear. He provided hiking boots to those who hadn’t brought waterproof boots. However, I suggest bringing your own if you have them.
“What are the snowshoes like?” I asked
He described the snowshoes as huge flip flops. They would be impossible to run in and slow to turn in. Though I would find out more about that once I had them on!
My foot span felt like it had suddenly doubled in width and length! However, I was amazed at how quickly I got used to
Snowshoes to match my ski jacket
See the “flip flop” in action
After a few minutes, I had a rhythm and was making my way through the forest at my own pace. I loved the fact that the snowshoes were allowing me to go off-piste. Knowing full well that it would be a long while until my skiing skills were good enough for that!
It was an opportunity to enjoy the fresh mountain air, and to my astonishment, I found it quite a mindful experience. I got to wander the beautiful forests of Les Arcs with just the birds for company, whilst the guide taught me how to correctly hike up and down the mountains in the snowshoes. I learnt about the history of the region and the mountain

I was quickly experiencing how great a way this was to explore this wintry wilderness. Similar to hiking, it was providing me with the opportunity to clear my mind and connect with nature.
It was a beautiful and mild day, but the continuous uphill trekking meant it was easy to break a sweat in all the ski gear I was wearing. I ended up taking off my hat and gloves, and wished I only had one layer on!
After an hour and a half of hiking, we stopped for a break. To my surprise, the
How lucky were we! Totally surrounded by trees in Mont Blanc forest
We sat for fifteen minutes, enjoying our cake and mountain views. Not realising that I would soon be enjoying another afternoon tea in Les Arcs for The Great British Celebration!
It was starting to get darker and we had already spent two hours in the forest, so I asked how long the journey back would be. The guide answered: “not long, the car is only 100 metres from here”. I was bemused. We had been hiking uphill for quite some time so I wondered how the car (parked down by the road) could be so close. Suddenly, the guide grabbed his walking poles and quickly made his way down the huge slope we were perched on! I didn’t think it was possible, but I learnt firsthand just how well the snowshoes work on downhill slopes!

We hiked 70 metres down through the steep forest. Eventually, we reached a point when the guide asked us if we wanted to try an even quicker way down? Curiously, we agreed and ended up using the snowshoes as a sledge to zoom the rest of the way down on our bottoms!
Covered in snow it was difficult to wipe the smile off my face. I knew right then that I may have just triggered a new obsession! I can’t wait for my next winter wonderland trip to try snowshoeing out again. Would you try snowshoeing?
Curious about Les Arcs? Read more about why you should visit in Spring and learn about other non-ski activities on offer.

Save Snowshoeing in Les Arcs to your Pinterest Boards!
Disclaimer: I joined this snowshoeing tour as part of a press trip organised by Atout France and the Les Arcs tourism board. As always opinions are my own.
- 67Shares
67
I haven’t tried snowshoeing and hope to finally experience it when I travel to Australia this August. I’m glad I visited your page and learnt about lacing the snow shoes 🙂
Amazing! You’ll have a blast, hope you do get to try it, so much more of the terrain is accessible with them
This is the first time I am reading about Snowshoeing. I will surely try it when I visit a location where it is conducted. Les Arcs France’s beauty is enough to make anyone fall in love, I am sure the activity must have been rewarding too.
Yes it was wonderful to try it in Les Arcs as we had views of Mont Blanc along the way
Wow it sounds like quite the experience! My Mum has done a lot of snow shoeing after a ski injury, but I’ve never done it.
Oh you have to try it, I think it will surprise you
Pretty cool! Skiing and snowshoeing has always been in our must-do activities before we die. Unfortunately, we don’t have snow here in the Philippines. Hopefully, we can visit France and ski there; we hear they have great ski resorts. 🙂
Hope you do get to try it out, I’ve skied a few times in France now and the mountains are just amazing
Wow. I truly enjoyed reading your experience. I haven’t tried it, but I am definitely looking forward to doing it especially now that we are moving somewhere snowy!
Oh wow good luck with the move, you’ll be an expert in no time!
I am a footwear designer so you can understand why I am excited with your post! I have never heard of this sport before so now I’m so eager to try it! Thanks for the info!
You have to see a snow shoe in person, they are huge and the mechanism that you lift your foot with is like a flip flop! Definitely unique
This activity looks really fun. Really wanna travel to Les Arcs one day. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
It’s a wonderful resort with so many options to keep you busy in the snow!
I have never tried snowshoeing or even skiing 😛 I am from Poland so I love escaping winter as much as possible 😛 From the photos, though, it looks fun 😀
I understand I don’t like super cold places either that’s why I loved spring so much more
Wow would love to snowshoe in the Alps
It was my first experience but I hope not my last, it was genuinely beautiful