In 1979, the first mountain leaders joined Megève’s guides office, with hiking on the programme. From 1990, snowshoeing became the flagship activity of their winter. Today, on the La Livraz plateau, the resort’s Nordic site, walking paths and cross-country trails start from the same reception chalet. Between the firs of Cote 2000, the Mont d’Arbois golf course and the Arly plain, Megève offers plenty of scope for skiing and walking well away from the lifts. Here is where to go, what is free and what costs, and how to arrange things from the chalet.
Nordic skiing in practice
- Nordic domain: approximately 45km of trails according to Megève Tourisme, from 1095m to 1490m altitude, groomed for both classic and skate skiing.
- Three sites: La Livraz, for a fee; the Golf piste at Mont d’Arbois and the Arly plain, with free access.
- Hours: 9am to 4.30pm, then until 5pm from the February half-term holidays, depending on snow cover. Last winter, the domain opened on 20 December 2025 and closed on 3 April 2026; the 2026-2027 dates have not yet been published.
- Pass: mandatory at La Livraz, on sale at the reception chalet or online. The Nordic Pass 74 is valid at 25 Nordic domains in Haute-Savoie, including Megève.
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La Livraz, the heart of Nordic skiing in Megève
The La Livraz domain extends south of the village, on the road to Cote 2000, between meadows and spruce forest. The official plan for the 2025-2026 season maps seven pistes there, from easiest to most challenging: La Livraz (1km, green), Le Lait (2.7km, blue), Le Maz (1.7km, red), Planellet (6.4km, red), then three black runs, Cote 2000 (5.4km), Javen (6.2km) and Planay (6.5km). The plan also marks the small Javen lake, at the far end of the domain.
The site has all the hallmarks of a stadium: a 10m and 50m biathlon shooting range, a Nordic park for children, a waxing room, a snack room for picnicking and a toboggan run. The reception chalet sells passes and advises on the day’s trail conditions.
AEC tip. For a first time or a return to the sport, link La Livraz then Le Lait: two short, flowing loops that allow you to find your feet before tackling Planellet. The black runs of Cote 2000 and Javen climb steeply: save them for a morning of cold snow, when the skiing is fast.
The free pistes of Mont d’Arbois and the Arly plain
At Mont d’Arbois, the Golf piste (2.2km, blue) winds across the snow-covered golf course, with free access. A connecting route extends it towards Le Bettex and the Croix plateau, towards Saint-Gervais. In the valley, the Arly plain offers two free loops: Odier, blue, for an easy hour of skiing, and Vauvray, red, more demanding.
Snowshoeing: groomed trails and marked routes
Snowshoeing is practised in Megève in two ways. The simplest is to follow the groomed walking paths, wide and safe, which the commune maintains throughout winter: from La Livraz, these free paths fan out towards Le Planay, Le Planellet, Javen and the Cote 2000. Two snowshoe routes are marked there, including the Leutellet trail (2.6km). Other paths link Mont d’Arbois to the village centre via the Calvary, or Le Maz to Javen lake. Megève Tourisme publishes each winter the map of walking paths and Nordic sites.
For pristine snow, head up towards Jaillet, on the Portes du Mont-Blanc domain, which marks its own routes. The most accessible, L’Élise Allais, starts from the Frasses car park without a lift: 2.5km and around forty minutes. With the Jaillet cable car, the upper Jaillet route takes you to the Jaillet pass and back in 2 hours (6km round trip); you can also reach the pass from Christomet (2.4km). Two steeper routes, La Charlotte and Pierrot du Col, are reserved for experienced walkers. From Combloux, a 4km snowshoe link reaches the Jaillet cable car in 1 hour 45 minutes.
To use the lifts on foot, Megève offers a pedestrian pass, Évasion Piéton, available by the day and in non-consecutive days.
Guided outings, biathlon and night skiing
The Megève guides office leads snowshoe outings for half or full days, for families, and evenings with headlamps, with dinner at a restaurant, or for a torchlit walk. Outings are led by qualified mountain guides.
For skiing, Megève’s ESF gives private lessons in classic or skate skiing at La Livraz, alone or in a small group of the same level, up to 5 people. It also introduces biathlon: air rifle at 10m from age 7, 50m shooting reserved for those with experience. At Mont d’Arbois, a laser biathlon introduction, on foot and without skis, takes place on weekends during school holidays, from noon to 2pm.
On several evenings each winter, the La Livraz Night Events open the La Livraz and Le Lait pistes from 5pm: cross-country skiing with headlamps, laser biathlon and tobogganing on lit slopes.
Further afield in the Arly Valley
Long-distance skiers will push on to Les Saisies, at 1650m, which boasts 120km of groomed and marked trails. The site hosted the cross-country skiing and biathlon events of the Albertville Winter Olympics in 1992, and its biathlon stadium was renovated for the 2024-2025 winter. Closer by, Praz-sur-Arly maintains the Cassioz loop, 5km with free access.
Equipment
Sports shops in the village hire cross-country skis, boots and snowshoes by the day or week. The ESF notes that there is no hire on the La Livraz site: it is better to equip yourself before heading up, except on nights with events.
Where to stay
For Nordic skiing, the location of your chalet matters as much as for alpine skiing. The Cote 2000 road area puts La Livraz within a few minutes, away from the bustle of the centre. Mont d’Arbois places the Golf piste and the paths down to the village at the foot of the chalet. The village centre is at the start of the Calvary path, which climbs to Mont d’Arbois. For alpine skiing, see our page on Megève’s ski domain, and for the rest of the resort, our guide What to do in Megève in winter. Our agents will guide you according to your group and your pace: find our chalets and apartments in Megève.
A skating track still smooth in the early morning, the silence of Javen forest, then a hot chocolate on your return, skis against the chalet wall: that is another way to experience winter in Megève.
Frequently asked questions
Is cross-country skiing chargeable in Megève?
Yes, at the La Livraz domain, where a Nordic pass is mandatory, on sale at the reception chalet or online. The Golf piste at Mont d’Arbois and the Odier and Vauvray pistes in the Arly plain have free access.
Where can you snowshoe in Megève?
On the free groomed walking paths that start from La Livraz and its two marked snowshoe routes, between Mont d’Arbois and the village via the Calvary, and towards Jaillet, on the marked routes of Portes du Mont-Blanc, including L’Élise Allais, accessible on foot from the Frasses car park.
Do you need a pass for snowshoeing?
No for the walking paths and routes accessible on foot, which are free. You do however need a lift pass for routes starting from the top of the Jaillet cable car; Megève offers the Évasion Piéton pass for this.
When does Megève’s Nordic domain open?
Opening depends on snow cover. Last winter, the domain opened on 20 December 2025 and closed on 3 April 2026, from 9am to 4.30pm then until 5pm from the February half-term holidays. The 2026-2027 dates have not yet been published.
What is the altitude of the Nordic domain?
Megève’s cross-country trails range from 1095m to 1490m altitude, most of them on the La Livraz plateau, south of the village on the road to Cote 2000.
Can you do biathlon in Megève?
Yes. The ESF introduces biathlon at La Livraz, with air rifle at 10m from age 7 and at 50m for those with experience. At Mont d’Arbois, a laser biathlon introduction, on foot, takes place on weekends during school holidays from noon to 2pm.
Is there night-time cross-country skiing?
Yes, on several evenings each winter during La Livraz Night Events: from 5pm, the La Livraz and Le Lait pistes are open for headlamp skiing, with laser biathlon and tobogganing on lit slopes.
