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Activities - Winter

Lots of winter sport activities in the Vosges Mountains. At La Vieille Colonie you've come to the right place.  Six km up the mountain lies the family ski area Rouge Gazon (in total 10 km slopes: 4 green, 3 blue, 2 red and 1 black, 5 chair lifts).  Larger ski areas are 15 to 40 km away, (Ventron, Le Markstein, Gérardmer and le Bresse/Hohneck.

Alpine skiing: The ski areas around the Vosges Mountains are much more intimate than most of the larger French ski areas.  Fresh snow is not always guaranteed, but a lot of investment has gone into snow canons in the area and as a result skiing is now nearly always guaranteed.  The area is ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers with a variety of slopes. Snowboarding is also available at various locations. There are a few areas available that offer night skiing on floodlit slopes.  The newest rage in the area is skiing at daybreak and is available from 6.00am.

sneeuwschoenwandelen

Cross-country (ski de fond/langlauf): In the Vosges Mountains you will find a total of over 300km of readymade loipes (cross-country trails).  Nearly all loipes are suitable for the traditional step and skate moves, and there are leisurely trails which will take you over the crêtes (mountaintops) or, more strenuous routes with a lot of height difference for the real fanatics.

Snowshoe walking: You don’t need to take any lessons to walk on raquettes (snowshoes). You can enjoy the winter wonderland in all its glory whilst you are walking through the snow.  There is a variety of marked trails. It is also possible to do a trip with a mountain guide to remote places, inaccessible without guide.

Equipment rentals: You can hire skis, snowshoes and luges in the immediate surroundings.

Other winter activities: Other activities in wintertime include toboggan, dog sledging, snow cave climbing, glacier climbing.
And there are also the many picturesque villages of Alsace which are worth seeing. With their lavish Christmas decorations, villages and town centers take on a magical appearance during the winter months. Many places host traditional Christmas markets from mid-November until the end of December. as in Colmar, Kayserberg, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Turckheim etc.