In Ancelle, alpine and Nordic skiing meet scenic landscapes and historic sites. The Rouanne Valley brings several of these themes together: the Nordic ski area’s cross-country trails lead into the valley, which also offers hiking opportunities and seasonal activities. When planning your trip, your choice depends on what you want to focus on—winter sports, nature or culture.
Alpine Ski Area and Nordic Trails
The alpine ski area of Ancelle extends across two snow fronts: Les Taillas and Chatégré. It offers more than 26 tree-lined ski runs, 30 kilometres of pistes in total and 12 ski lifts. The Nordic ski area covers around 20 kilometres and accommodates both classic cross-country skiing and skating. When planning your winter stay, you can therefore choose between alpine runs and the two cross-country techniques. Snowshoeing and dog-sled excursions are also offered as activities in the Nordic ski area. Operations, opening status and snow conditions vary by season; check these details before travelling.
The Rouanne Valley in Different Seasons
The Rouanne Valley can be reached from Ancelle or from the Rouanne Haute car park. The Nordic ski area’s trails lead into the valley, whose natural landscape is surrounded by larch and fir trees. The municipality of Ancelle also includes bocage landscapes, numerous wetlands, alpine meadows and wooded mountain slopes. These landscape features offer different ways to enjoy nature, and the Rouanne Valley is not limited to just one activity.
The valley offers hiking opportunities, with mountain biking also available in summer. Winter activities include snowshoeing, ski touring and cross-country skiing. You can also choose the time of year to suit the activities you have planned.
More Activities in the Mountain Area
Canyoning is possible in the Rouanne Valley; a guide is strongly recommended. The valley’s via ferrata offers three levels of difficulty. These two activities offer different experiences, so when planning you can weigh up canyoning against a route with designated difficulty levels. The three levels describe how the via ferrata is structured, not your personal suitability for it.
Paragliding is another possible activity: flights launch from Cuchon, usually in the late afternoon or evening. However, weather conditions are the deciding factor, so the usual time of day does not mean flights run at a fixed time. If you are considering a flight, plan around the current weather conditions.
A Chapel, a Mill and a Long History of Settlement
The archaeological site of St-Philippe near Ancelle provides evidence of human settlement over almost 6,000 years—from the Neolithic period, beginning around 5500 BC, to modern times. The Chapel of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens in the hamlet of Les Matherons offers a specific historical reference point: it dates from 1803. The Moulin Bresson was built onto an existing sawmill, which had been constructed around 1836. Together, these details illustrate different time scales: a long period of settlement on the one hand, and named buildings and an approximately dated sawmill on the other.
For culinary discoveries, local markets, inns and restaurants offer traditional dishes, cheese and cured meats from the valley. If these stops suit your trip, check market dates and the offerings of individual establishments in advance.
Plan Your Stay
To help choose when to travel, compare the seasonal options: alongside the alpine and Nordic ski areas, the Rouanne Valley offers summer mountain biking and hiking opportunities. Winter activities in the valley provide another option. Plan around the activities you actually want to enjoy, and check operating and opening status before travelling for seasonal activities.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: L'epine, Crots, Sigoyer, Saint-Léger-Les-Mélèzes, Montmaur, Poligny, Saint-Chaffrey, Furmeyer.
Return to the main travel overview: Hautes-Alpes.
