Winter

Winter in Chapelle-des-Bois: ski from the door

At Les Hauts Bois, the route des Pâturages is the Nordic skiing street: the trail-head welcome chalet, equipment hire and the ski school are a few dozen metres from our chalets. The Chapelle-des-Bois Nordic area is the largest in the Val de Mouthe: nearly 130 km of trails groomed for classic and skating, 62 km of snowshoe routes, a floodlit trail in the evening and a free toboggan run.

≈130 kmof cross-country trails, 14 loops from 1.5 to 16 km
62 kmof marked snowshoe routes, 7 itineraries
€9.50adult day pass, €5 for children, free under 5
370 kmof connected trails with Pré Poncet and Mouthe

Cross-country skiing: trails and snow report

The essentials about the area, the official trail map and the day’s conditions.

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Snowshoeing: waymarked itineraries

Seven waymarked itineraries around the village, with the official map and snow report.

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Cross-country skiing: classic and skating

Fourteen loops from 1.5 to 16 km, from green for beginners to black for athletes, all groomed with double classic tracks and a skating lane. The area is linked by the Grande Traversée du Jura to Bellefontaine (9 km), Bois-d’Amont and Mouthe via Pré Poncet (21 km): together with the neighbouring areas, more than 370 km of marked trails.

The welcome chalet at the trail head sells passes and has a picnic room and tables. 2025-2026 pass: €9.50 per adult day, €5 for children aged 5 to 15, €25 for 3 days, €82 for the season in the sector. Free for children under 5.

Snowshoeing, sledging, walking

Seven marked snowshoe routes total 62 km, including the GTJ link to Bois-d’Amont (10.9 km) over the Risoux. Two multi-activity trails (11 km) welcome walkers, sledges and pulks. A floodlit trail allows evening skiing, and the village toboggan run is free for children.

Ski school, hire, biathlon

Glisses Nordiques, the village’s “100% Nordic” ski school (30 route des Pâturages), offers lessons and courses for adults and children in classic or skating, biathlon initiation and guided snowshoe outings. Mont Noir Sports (25 route des Pâturages) and Chalet Sport hire skis, snowshoes and sledges. The Chaux-Neuve ski jumps, 10 km away, have hosted the Nordic combined World Cup.

Dog sledding

Mushers from the Haut-Doubs offer taster rides, an introduction to driving a team and night outings in the Combe des Cives, right in Chapelle-des-Bois. An unforgettable activity for children; book ahead during school holidays.

Downhill skiing nearby

Bellefontaine (8 km): 4 drag lifts including a children’s lift, ideal for first turns.
Les Rousses (23 km): 50 km of pistes across 4 villages.
Métabief – Mont d’Or (30 km): 37 km of pistes between 900 and 1,430 m, the largest resort in the Doubs.

The big winter events

The Envolée Nordique, late January: the village’s own popular race since 1973, 42 or 21 km in teams of two, with the Nordic Trail the day before and the children’s Envolée des Moineaux.
The Transjurassienne, early February: France’s only Worldloppet stage and its biggest cross-country race; the historic Lamoura – Mouthe course passes the church tower of Chapelle-des-Bois.

Good to know

Nordic ski season: usually mid-December to late March, depending on snow. Check the ski area’s webcams and the snow bulletin before you leave.
Winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory from 1 November to 31 March (French Mountain Law).
Firewood for the chalet stoves is provided; each chalet has its own private sauna.