Pontarlier epitomises the notion of a "mountain town". Located in the heart of the Jura Mountains, in the Doubs département, Pontarlier is a small town situated at an altitude of 900 m (making it one of the highest towns in France). It also boasts a ski area (3 Nordic sites) bordering Switzerland, less than 5 minutes from the town centre. A godsend if you're looking for a change of scenery while still benefiting from the city's services and advantages.
Pontarlier's Nordic areas boast over 133 km of cross-country ski trails, 37 km of snowshoe trails, 3 play areas and services at the foot of the slopes (restaurants, hire, etc.).
Find out more about the facilities on the sites below:
La Malmaison: the closest site to Pontarlier, with pistes for all levels, from the green, the easiest, to the black, for the most experienced. The site has 7 cross-country trails and 2 snowshoe trails. There's also a fun learning area, a toboggan run and a floodlit piste (Lionel Duxin piste: 2km every Tuesday and Thursday, 6.30pm-9pm).
Services on offer: hors sac room, sanitary facilities, sledges on loan, snowshoe hire.
Le Larmont / Gounefay: undoubtedly the most suitable for a family outing and the site that offers the most services, particularly with the Gounefay building, which offers a restaurant service and equipment hire. 5 cross-country ski trails and 4 snowshoe trails. Fun area (with conveyor belt), tobogganing/snowtubing runs.
Services on offer: hors sac room, toilets, equipment hire.
Granges Dessus: a little further from Pontarlier, the Granges Dessus site offers 5 cross-country trails, 3 snowshoe trails and a play area. From here, there is a link to Oye-et-Pallet and La Planée.
Verrières de Joux: a small Franco-Swiss site, which allows skiers to cross the border on skis and benefit from Franco-Swiss reciprocity. 2 slopes are available: one green and one blue.
Services on offer: hors sac room, toilets, equipment hire.
GTJ: les Seignes - Verrières de Joux: 17 km
Les Verrières - Métabief: 26 km
- French
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Wireless service
From 01/12/24 to 30/04/25 of 09:00 to 17:00
Date subject to change depending on snow conditions
Date subject to change depending on snow conditions
Prices :- Base rate : 7€
- Free (Snowshoeing session pass )
- Youth rate (Reduced cross-country ski pass (from 6 to 16 years old) ) : 4€
- Other rate (Single Wednesday rate (excluding school holidays in all zones) ) : 4€
- Student rate (Students with proof of enrolment) : 4€
- Other rate (Seniors: over 65) : 4€
- Other rate (People with disabilities) : 4€
- Other rate (Group: from 4 adults / 1 single payment) : 4€