Enjoying the snow in Ariège : the best places and resorts

Do you fancy a winter break in Ariège and wondering where to enjoy the snow ? Between Couserans and Haute-Ariège, many snow-covered areas welcome you to the heart of the Pyrenees and offer all kinds of family, fun and sporting activities : hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and many other sports or entertainment unusual... The Toulouse Pyrenees Guide provides you with an overview of the winter sports resorts of Ariège.

Cover photo: © Paxson Woelber / Unsplash

sponsored content

Haute-Ariège winter sports resorts

The winter sports resorts of Haute-Ariège are located on the Pyrenees chain. It takes about an hour to get there from Foix and two hours from Toulouse by car.

• The closest is the Goulier Neige station, on the Montcalm. It is also the smallest of the Pyrenees. It is therefore very friendly, family and intimate. However, you will find trails for all levels and in the absence of ski lifts, some are reserved for snowshoeing. Quiet, with possibilities for lessons and a tobogganing area with carpet, this station is ideal for a family, with beginner children.

• Next to Tarascon-sur-Ariège, the Monts d'Olmes resort is larger. Families will enjoy the toboggan run. You can also take snowshoe walks, especially towards the Fagebelle pond or to admire a natural curiosity : an icy pond (fr) !

• The station of Beille is especially famous for its exceptional environment. The plateau is a remarkable natural space, which attracts wild fauna typical of the Pyrenees. To fully enjoy it, in addition to skiing, you can practice snowshoeing, sledding, Nordic walking...

• Ax-3-domains is a high mountain domain, where you can test very trendy sports : freestyle, boardercross, snowpark, mountain biking on snow, snake slides, initiation to mountaineering... or fun activities such as building a mountain bike igloo.

• The Nordic area of Chioula is very close to that of Ax-3-domains and offers complementary activities, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Nordic walking...

• The Ascou-Pailhères resort claims to be an authentic, warm and traditional resort, and the promise is well fulfilled! There you will find toboggan runs.

• The Mijanès-Donezan resort offers many activities : Nordic area and other activities such as walks with sled dogs, snakegliss...

• Near Saint-Girons, in the resort of Guzet, you cannot be bored. Alpine, Nordic, cross-country skiing, snowpark, freeride, slalom stadium, beginner's area, kidpark and snow garden… There is something for everyone and you can satisfy all your sporting desires.

If you just want to walk on a pretty white carpet, from the first snowflakes, go to Aulus-les-Bains. It is pleasant to hike in the heart of its snow-covered forest.

sponsored content

  

Enjoy the snow differently, walking and fun activities on the program? Photos : @ Highland Expeditions & Toa Heftiba / Unsplash

Our tips, addresses and advice to organize your stay

From the start of the winter season, we advise you to consult the websites of the Tourist Offices to check the conditions of access and the practical information of the stations, especially with regard to the evolution of health measures.

The resorts provide you with equipment rental and routes to discover the region by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, etc. Find out about the weather and snow conditions before setting off and follow the marked routes.  

As for accommodation, it is the domains of Ax-3-Domaines, Guzet and Monts-d'Olmes which offer you traditional wooden chalets, typical and rustic, to experience a real immersion in the mountain atmosphere.

Between Toulouse and the Pyrenees, gastronomy is in the spotlight, with gourmet specialties, friendly and so comforting in winter. Here is our article to give you good ideas of typical dishes of this Pyrenean cuisine (fr) to taste by the fire! And if you want to get more into the heart of the matter, we will take you to eat at the foot of the slopes...

Good, invigorating mountain cuisine © SOLLUB / Adobe Stock

According to the years :  

• To get to the mountains, bus trips are organized, including the Sky'zy bus (fr) from Toulouse to Peyragudes, or the N'Py community skibus (fr) which connects Peyragudes from Toulouse, Pau, Tarbes, Lourdes and other major cities ; the skirail (fr) between Toulouse and the resort of Guzet…
• Some stations also offer shuttle services to the nearest towns, such as Ax-les-Thermes and Beille, but there are also shuttles between stations, for example : the Guzybus (fr) between Guzet and Prat Mataou.
• You can also try carpooling. There are platforms dedicated to skiing : Ski carts (fr).

sponsored content

There is no age to love snow! Enjoy the beautiful precipitation with the children. Photo @ Michal Janek / Unsplash

This walk through the ski resorts of the Ariège Pyrenees is coming to an end, but we hope you have made you want to try out new activities and spend another ski holiday in Ariège.

Did you like our article? Find more on our Blog.

Follow us on the Facebook page of the Toulouse Pyrenees Guide and on Instagram @guidetoulousepyrenees

Back to "Sport"