Snowshoeing in the Alps, from the chalet door to the forest
How snowshoes work, what to wear, when a marked trail is enough and when you need a guide, how to read the avalanche bulletin, and where we send guests in Zermatt, St. Moritz, Verbier and Courchevel.
Snowshoeing is walking on snow with wide frames strapped to your boots, so that you stay on top of soft snow instead of sinking into it. If you can walk for two or three hours on a hill path, you can snowshoe: there is no technique to learn before the first outing, and most beginners find their stride within the first few minutes. In the Alps, you either follow a marked snowshoe trail on your own or go further with a qualified guide.
That simplicity is why snowshoeing suits two kinds of guest equally. Non-skiers get a real mountain day rather than a walk round the village, and skiers get a rest day that still feels like the mountain: quiet forest, animal tracks, a picnic in a clearing, and legs that are tired in a different way. If half your group does not ski at all, our guide to ski holidays for non skiers covers the rest of the week; this page is about the snowshoe outing itself.
What matters is choosing the right terrain for the day. A marked trail, opened by the resort and shown on the official winter map, needs no special knowledge. Fresh snow in open terrain, away from those trails, is a different activity with a real avalanche risk, and the official advice is clear about who should go there and with whom. We explain both below.
Snowshoeing safety, from official sources
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
The Swiss avalanche bulletin uses five danger levels: low, moderate, considerable, high and very high. Around 50% of avalanche fatalities occur at level 3 (considerable) and around 30% at level 2 (moderate).
Source: WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLFFrom level 3 (considerable), the SLF advises inexperienced people to stay on open ski runs and trails; at level 5 it advises against any winter sport beyond them.
Source: slf.chIn winter the Swiss bulletin is published daily at 5 pm for the following 24 hours, with an 8 am update, mainly when the evening bulletin shows level 3 or higher somewhere in Switzerland.
Source: slf.chZermatt Tourism asks walkers to stay on the marked winter trails (purple signposts), to check at the lift stations whether a trail is open when there is avalanche risk, and never to enter a glacier area or leave the marked paths without a mountain guide.
Source: zermatt.swissZermatt Tourism makes RECCO reflectors available at its office, and points out that a reflector does not replace an avalanche transceiver.
Source: zermatt.swissVerbier’s tourist office asks walkers to stay on marked paths to protect wildlife; the protected wildlife zones are mapped on the official tranquillity zones website.
Source: verbier.chHow snowshoes work, and how to walk in them
A snowshoe spreads your weight over a much larger surface than a boot sole, which is what keeps you from sinking. Modern walking snowshoes have three parts worth knowing: a binding that straps over your own boot, a pivot so that your heel lifts as it would in a normal step, and metal teeth (a crampon) under the ball of the foot for grip on firm or icy snow. Most also have a heel raiser, a small bar you flip up on a steep climb so that your calves are not working at full stretch.
Snow shoeing is harder than walking on a path but far easier than it looks. The difficulty comes from the snow, not the technique: on a groomed trail it feels like a brisk hill walk, while breaking a track through deep fresh snow is genuinely tiring. A good guide changes the leader every few minutes for that reason.
- Fit the bindings indoors
Put the snowshoes on in the ski room the evening before, with the boots you will wear. Straps adjust far more easily in the warm than with cold fingers at the trailhead.
- Walk with your feet slightly apart
Take normal steps, a little wider than usual so the frames do not catch each other. There is no need to lift your knees high or to shuffle.
- Uphill: kick in and use the heel raiser
On a climb, press the front of the snowshoe into the slope so the crampon bites, and flip up the heel raiser when the gradient steepens. Shorten your poles slightly.
- Downhill: heels first, knees soft
Lean slightly back, keep your knees bent and put your weight on your heels so the rear of the frame takes the load. Lengthen your poles.
- Across a slope: stamp a ledge
Traversing is the least comfortable move. Push the uphill edge of each snowshoe into the snow to make a small step, and keep your weight on the uphill side.
- Turning: wide and slow
Turn in a wide arc with small steps rather than pivoting on the spot, which is how beginners tread on their own frames.
What to wear and carry, and snowshoe rental
You do not need to buy anything. Snowshoe rental is easy in every resort where we have chalets: the tourist offices of Zermatt, St. Moritz and Verbier all point to local sports shops that hire snowshoes and poles, and a guided outing normally includes them. Your advisor can arrange the hire with the rest of your equipment so it is ready when you arrive. What you bring yourself is the clothing.
- Boots: waterproof winter walking boots with a firm sole and ankle support. Ski boots do not fit snowshoe bindings, and town boots let the snow in.
- Layers, not bulk: a thin base layer, a fleece and a waterproof shell. You warm up fast on the climb and cool down fast at the top, so dress to be slightly cold at the start.
- Gaiters or waterproof trousers: fresh snow comes up to the calf, and gaiters keep it out of your boots.
- Poles: not compulsory on a flat trail, but they help with balance, climbing and getting back up after a fall. Adjustable poles with large snow baskets are best.
- Hands and head: gloves plus a spare pair, a hat and a buff. Wet gloves are the most common reason a first outing ends early.
- Eyes and skin: category 3 or 4 sunglasses and high-factor sun cream, even on a grey morning; snow and altitude reflect far more light than you expect.
- In the rucksack: water (a flask of something hot is better), a snack, a charged phone, and a map of the official trails downloaded in advance.
Marked trail or guided outing: how to decide
The real choice is not between easy and difficult snowshoeing, but between terrain the resort has marked and opened, and terrain where you make your own safety decisions. This table is how we advise guests.
| Option | Who it suits | Terrain | What you need | How we arrange it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marked snowshoe trail, on your own | Beginners, families, a skier’s rest day | Signposted routes on the resort’s official winter map, opened and closed according to conditions | Rented snowshoes and poles, the trail map, a check that the trail is open | We book the hire, suggest a route for your level and a chauffeur to the start |
| Guided outing on or near the trails | First-timers who want company and stories about the forest and wildlife | Forest and meadow routes chosen on the day by the guide | Warm clothing; the guide usually brings snowshoes and poles | We book a qualified mountain leader for your group, privately, on the day you choose |
| Off-trail with a mountain guide | Fit walkers who want fresh snow, a summit or a glacier setting | Open terrain outside the marked network, where avalanche risk is real | Transceiver, shovel and probe (the guide provides and explains them), and a guide qualified for glacier terrain if needed | We book a certified mountain guide and plan the day around the avalanche bulletin |
| Ski touring instead | Confident skiers who like the climb as much as the descent | Uphill on skins, then downhill on skis | Touring skis, skins, avalanche kit and a guide | See our guide to ski touring from a chalet |
Trail openings change with the snow and the avalanche situation; check with the tourist office or the lift company on the day, or ask us.
Our favourite snowshoeing settings, resort by resort
Each resort has its own character on snowshoes. These are the settings we suggest most often, all taken from the official tourist office information, with the chalet that suits each one best.
| Resort | The setting | An outing we like | Closest fit among our chalets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courchevel | Forest and snowy meadows between the villages, with 9 snowshoe itineraries graded green to black | The Corbière descent through snowy meadows to the oldest tree in the Forêt de Courchevel, a silver fir; or the Chemin des Chevreuils balcony path from Courchevel La Tania to Courchevel Le Praz | Chalet Oris, Courchevel, at the edge of the forest |
| Zermatt | A network of marked winter trails on purple signposts, with the Matterhorn in view | A marked trail from the official winter trail map, chosen on the day for snow conditions; glacier settings only with a mountain guide | Chalet Zeyr, Zermatt, two minutes’ walk from the Sunnegga funicular |
| St. Moritz | Around 150 km of trails across the Engadin, shared between winter walkers and snowshoers | The marked circular route from the Muottas Muragl top station; quieter trails around Pontresina | Chalet Nore, St. Moritz, in the heart of the town |
| Verbier | Walking routes above the village with wide viewpoints at La Chaux and Les Planards, and wildlife protection zones to respect | A guided outing with a mountain leader after fresh snow; otherwise the eight marked winter walks, which need no special equipment | Chalet Auron, Verbier, overlooking a small mountain lake |
Sources: courchevel.com, zermatt.swiss, stmoritz.ch, verbier.ch. Lift tickets for pedestrians and guided outings are priced on the official websites or on request.
Snowshoeing safely: the checks before you leave
Snowshoers are sometimes more exposed than skiers, because snowshoes let you walk easily into terrain that looks gentle but sits under a steep slope. The rule we give every guest is simple: on your own, stay on the marked and open trails; anywhere else, go with a guide and decide according to the official avalanche bulletin, not the blue sky.
- Read the bulletin the evening before
In Switzerland, the SLF bulletin comes out at 5 pm for the next day, on its website and its official app. For Courchevel, the French avalanche bulletin for the massif is published by Météo-France. Note the danger level and the slopes it warns about.
- Check the trail is open that morning
Trails can close after snowfall or wind. In Zermatt, the status is shown at the lift stations; elsewhere, the tourist office or the lift company website has it.
- Leave early, turn back on time
Winter days are short, the snow softens in the afternoon sun and the cold returns quickly after it. Agree a turn-back time before you set off, and keep to it.
- Tell someone your route
Leave your route and expected return time with the chalet team or with us, and keep your phone warm in an inside pocket so the battery lasts.
- Respect wildlife zones
In winter, wild animals live on their fat reserves, and every time they are startled into flight they burn energy they cannot replace. Stay on the trails, keep dogs on a lead where asked, and avoid the protected zones marked on the official maps.
A snowshoe day from one of our chalets
Here is how a typical outing runs when Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad organise it. The evening before, we confirm the guide, the route and the meeting time, and the hired snowshoes are waiting in the ski room. In the morning the chauffeur takes you to the trailhead or the lift, so the walk starts where the snow is best rather than at the chalet door.
Most guided outings last a morning or a full day with a picnic or a mountain restaurant at the turning point; we can book the table if the route passes one. Back at the chalet, boots go straight into the heated boot storage of the ski room (Chalet Zeyr, Zermatt, and Chalet Gus, St. Moritz, both have one), and the afternoon belongs to the pool, the sauna and afternoon tea. If the children want something more exciting the next day, our page on dog sledding in the Alps covers the outings we book for families.
Chalets for a snowshoeing holiday
Chosen for quick access to the forest or to the lifts that open the trails, and for a ski room that dries boots overnight.
The chalets side by side
Oris sits at the edge of the forest in Courchevel 1850, Flys in a quiet corner of Courchevel Village about 100 metres from the pistes, and Auron above a small lake in Verbier.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet OrisCourchevel | 12 | 6 | 7 | 518 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
| Chalet FlysCourchevel | 15 | 8 | 9 | 680 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
| Chalet ZeyrZermatt | 12 | 6 | 7 | 565 m² | Sauna, Massage Room, Jacuzzi, Gym, Elevator |
| Chalet NoreSt. Moritz | 15 | 6 | 7 | 467 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
| Chalet GusSt. Moritz | 20 | 9 | 9 | 930 m² | Indoor Pool, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
| Chalet AuronVerbier | 14 | 7 | 8 | 1,150 m² | Indoor Pool, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
Snowshoeing: your questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamHow hard is snowshoeing?
On a groomed or well-trodden trail, snowshoeing feels like a brisk hill walk, and anyone who walks regularly can do it from the first outing. It becomes demanding in deep fresh snow, when you break your own track, and on long climbs. Choose the route for the slowest member of the group, and let a guide set the pace if you are unsure.
Do you need poles for snowshoeing?
Not strictly, but they make it easier. Poles help your balance on uneven snow, take some of the effort on climbs and descents, and let you get back up after a fall. Adjustable poles with large snow baskets are the best choice; they are usually rented with the snowshoes or supplied by the guide.
What to wear snowshoeing?
Waterproof winter walking boots, a thin base layer, a fleece and a waterproof shell, plus gaiters or waterproof trousers. Add gloves with a spare pair, a hat, good sunglasses and sun cream. Dress to feel slightly cool when you set off: you warm up quickly once you start climbing.
How do snowshoes attach to boots?
Your boot sits on a binding in the middle of the frame, held by straps or a ratchet over the toe and around the heel. The front of the binding pivots, so your heel lifts with each step. Adjust the straps to your boots before the outing, and check them again after the first few minutes of walking.
Do you need snowshoes for winter hiking?
Not on groomed winter walking paths: in Verbier, for example, the marked winter walks can be done without special equipment, though poles or crampons may be advised depending on conditions. Snowshoes become useful as soon as the snow is deep or fresh, on dedicated snowshoe trails and in the forest.
Do snowshoes work in deep snow?
Yes, that is what they are for, although you will still sink a little in very light powder. Larger frames float better, which is why the right size depends on your weight with your rucksack. Deep fresh snow is also when avalanche risk rises, so outside the marked trails, go with a guide.
You may also like
Plan a winter week on foot and on skis
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad who in your group would like to snowshoe, how fit they feel and which resort tempts you. They will suggest the chalet, book the guide and the hire, and plan the day around the weather. Message us on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 98 05 43 or write to contact@lutetia-group.com; we usually reply within the day.