🌞🏔️ Summer season 2026 opening: July 4th – August 29th! 🚵♂️🌄
Discover the very essence of hiking in the French Alps with Méribel, a veritable paradise for lovers of the great outdoors and adventure!
The resort offers you a boundless playground with over 200 km of marked paths, where there’s something for everyone, whatever their level or desire.
Imagine exploring lush green valleys and discovering breathtaking panoramas. Méribel is the ideal place to experience moments of wonder in the midst of nature, where you’ll be surrounded by beauty at every step.
Among Méribel’s natural treasures, you won’t want to miss the Plan de Tueda nature reserve, a real gem in the heart of the Vanoise National Park. Let yourself be transported into an unspoilt world, where the flora and fauna unfold in all their splendour. Every moment spent in this reserve will offer you unique encounters with nature.
And to complete your adventure, Méribel is also home to 3 welcoming refuges, ready to offer you well-deserved moments of rest. Whether you choose the Saut, Christ or Traye refuge, you’ll be warmly welcomed in an authentic setting where you can relax and socialise.
Explore the most beautiful landscapes in the French Alps when you hike in Méribel. Each step takes you into the heart of unspoilt nature, offering breathtaking views and total immersion in a unique mountain setting:
Whether you’re with family, friends, as a couple or on your own, hiking in Méribel is an invitation to contemplate, discover and challenge yourself.
A national park celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023!
Hiking in the Vanoise National Park at Méribel is an exceptional nature experience. The varied and exciting trails will delight hikers, who will have the chance to encounter a wealth of flora and fauna, and understand ecology and glaciology thanks to the mountain guides.
Hike through the Tueda nature reserve, explore Robert Perret’s cheese dairy above Lake Tueda and taste the famous Beaufort des Alpages.
Vanoise National Park staff will be sharing their expertise during themed outings on the forest, nature reserve and mountain pastures. Food lovers can take part in outings on edible and medicinal plants, with a tasting session for each plant.
Immerse yourself in the history of the valley on the “Tell me your story” outing, which will take you on a tour of emblematic sites such as the sawmill, the mill, the church and the chapels.
Nature lovers will also be able to spot marmots on a special outing.
Finally, let yourself be tempted by a unique experience with the night-time outing, where you can enjoy a meal in a chalet before returning under the stars with your headlamp.
In a nutshell: hiking in the Vanoise National Park at Méribel promises exciting discoveries and unforgettable memories for all mountain lovers.
To guide you in your choice of hikes, the Méribel Tourist Office has compiled a wide range of hiking itineraries, classified into four levels of difficulty: green, blue, red and black. The signposted trails will allow you to venture safely through the magnificent landscapes of the Alps.
However, if you have any doubts about the difficulty of a trail, or if you’d like some personal advice, don’t hesitate to visit the Tourist Office, where our team will be happy to provide you with detailed information and sound recommendations.
Take advantage of our expertise to enjoy great hiking experiences in the Méribel mountains.
Other themed trails to discover in
If you want to enjoy hiking in the Alps with complete peace of mind, there’s nothing like being accompanied by experienced professionals.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, a keen walker or simply a curious stroller, hiring a mountain guide will ensure your safety and comfort throughout your explorations.
Local guides know the trails, panoramic views and breathtaking landscapes of the Alps inside out. Their expertise will enable you to discover exceptional itineraries, adapted to your level and expectations. They will also share with you anecdotes about the fauna, flora and history of the region.
To help you choose which hikes to take, the Méribel Tourist Office has published a comprehensive hiking guide (on sale at the Tourist Office), containing the best recommendations for planning your hikes and exploring part of the Alps with complete confidence.
The XXL playground that Méribel offers is ideal for dogs to roam.
Between easy itineraries for a little health walk and steep paths for dogs who are used to hiking, you can choose where you want to go.
Be careful: some places are forbidden to dogs like the Vanoise National Park.
As well as hiking, Méribel also offers a wide range of outdoor activities for thrill-seekers. Trail running enthusiasts will be delighted with more than 150 km of waymarked trails, crossing varied landscapes between forests, lakes and peaks.
The resort has 9 trail routes to suit all levels, offering mountainous, technical, aerial and wild routes.
For lovers of climbing and vertical adventure, don’t miss the Via Ferrata de la Dent du Burgin, the highest Via Ferrata in the French Alps. Nestling at an altitude of 2700 metres, this Via Ferrata offers splendid panoramic views and thrilling sensations. The route takes place entirely on the ridge of the Dent du Burgin, offering vertiginous and impressive passages.
Each season has its own character here. Spring brings wildflower meadows and snowmelt streams, though some higher trails can stay muddy or snow-covered into June. Summer, from July to August, is peak season, with every trail open and long daylight hours to explore further afield. Autumn is quieter and arguably the most beautiful: the larch trees turn gold, the trails empty out, and wildlife becomes easier to spot as it prepares for winter.
A few simple principles apply everywhere: stick to marked trails, take ALL your rubbish back down with you (including food waste), and give wildlife and grazing livestock plenty of space. For the full list of good practices, see our article.
Three refuges are within reach on foot. The Refuge du Saut, at 2,140m, is about two hours from Méribel-Mottaret via Lac de Tuéda. The Refuge du Plan des Mains is another option, a little further into the valley. And the Refuge de la Traye and the Refuge du Christ, above Les Allues near the Col de la Lune, is roughly a 1h30 walk from Méribel Centre.
For families, the walk around Lac de Tuéda is hard to beat: flat, shaded, and short enough for little legs, with a nature reserve to explore along the way. It’s also the starting point for several longer hikes, so older children can be tempted a little further if the mood takes them.
Dogs are welcome on some trails around Méribel, but not all of them as most trails are inside the Vanoise National Park where dogs are not allowed at all. In the Réserve Naturelle de Tuéda, you can walk with your dog on a leash too.
For more details, see our guide to hiking in Méribel with your dog.
A few basics go a long way: sturdy footwear, layers for changing mountain weather, plenty of water, and sun protection, since UV is stronger at altitude even on cloudy days. Stick to well-marked trails, check the forecast before setting off, and let someone know your route if you’re heading out for a full day.
The Vanoise National Park is home to around 1,800 ibex, the largest population in France, so your odds are good once you’re inside the park. The trail from Lac de Tuéda up to the Plagne plateau is a solid bet, as is the higher route via the Pas du Lac gondola towards the Aiguille du Fruit ridge. Marmots are easier still, listen for their sharp, shrill whistle nearly anywhere on the mountainside.
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