Trails in Haute-Savoie

Department of the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Haute Savoie borders Switzerland and Italy on its eastern confines. The departments of Ain and Savoie are the other entities adjacent to the 7-4, so you can say that Haute Savoie is well surrounded. Alps to the South and Jura to the North, Haute-Savoie lives up to its name and will offer you many heights ⛰, including the Mont Blanc 🗻 (4809 meters, the highest peak in Western Europe) of course! Be sure to dress warmly 🥶, the climate is mountainous there. In winter, this territory hosts a good number of vacationers fans of skiing ⛷ or snowshoes 🏸 (well, the kind you put on your feet), and in summer hikers 🚶🏻‍♂ gather there. The number of spots 😍 is just amazing, you will find your happiness, whether you like the crowd or not. Elevation enthusiasts will be quite delighted. Keep your eyes wide open, in the magnificent natural settings you will witness chamois, ibexes, and birds of prey in their habitat! Annecy is the flagship city of the department. Before or after your escap(l)ade, the city awaits you, adorned with its castle 🏰 and its majestic lake. The lake offers a variety of activities. Lovers of nature and history can already mark in their roadmap the Plateau des Glières, historically linked to the resistance. Another renowned nature spot, Lake Geneva offers its shores to all walkers and runners! Montreux and Geneva are not far... We can't count the winter sports resorts in Haute Savoie. Only big names: La Clusaz, Morzine-Avoriaz, Chamonix, Megève, Grand Bornand… The Tine Gorges, located near the aptly named Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, are also worth seeing. Note that the department is popular among climbing fans 🧗🏼. A via ferrata is a great way to discover this sport, and there’s something for all ages… 

After so many visits, it's time to look at the trail running calendar in Haute Savoie, isn't it?! You will find far more trail runs in Haute Savoie than road races... Do we need to mention again the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, aka UTMB? The French race 🇫🇷 is one of the most famous trails in the world 🌎, and people jostle to run it despite its difficulty. Never say never, quickly put on your sneakers 👟 and hit the mountain trails to train for your chance. The Trail des Aiguilles Rouges, another mythical event, starts in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. The Trail Blanc du Semnoz, an opportunity to participate in a night run, all in a winter wonderland setting. If you've never participated in a snow trail, head to Annecy next winter. What starts in Morzine and ends in Avoriaz, two high places of winter sports? The Trail des Hauts Forts, and its mythical Contrabandiers Relay. Lake Geneva will wink at you 😉 during your run, not a bad charm 😄. Now back to Annecy for some heavy stuff: the GreenWeez Maxi-Race and its multiple races! Nearly 10 distances planned, you will surely find your happiness... So, 10 km or 100 km? Or the 100% female race?

Haute-Savoie packs a punch 🌳.