Perched on a vast sunny plateau overlooking the Maurienne valley, the Grand Coin Nordic Area is a nature destination par excellence, offering two appealing faces throughout the seasons. In winter, it’s a white paradise for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing lovers, with dozens of kilometres of groomed trails through preserved, panoramic landscapes, between forests and alpine pastures. In summer, the Col du Chaussy site (1,533m) is a popular challenge for cyclists, notably for its spectacular Montvernier hairpin bends (on one of the access routes) and its role in the Tour de France. It’s also an excellent starting point for hikes offering breathtaking views over the surrounding massifs, in an authentic Savoyard mountain atmosphere.
Le Grand Coin
Overview
Le Grand Coin
📏 Altitude: 1350 m
⛷️ Cross-country skiing: 70 km
🌟 Resort style: Snow stadium
💰 From 8 €/day (2025-2026)
Overview of Le Grand Coin
The Grand Coin domain is not a single resort but an extensive natural territory between 1,350 and 1,650 m altitude (for the Nordic ski area), linking typical villages and hamlets such as Montaimont and Montpascal. The landscape is marked by vast open expanses, conifer forests and high pastures, constantly offering remarkable panoramas over the Maurienne valley, the Belledonne range or the Aiguilles d’Arves. The architecture is that of traditional mountain villages — chalets and farms dispersed, far from the urbanisation of large resorts. Two main Nordic lodges (at Bonvillard/Montaimont and at the Col du Chaussy/Montpascal) serve as welcome and activity departure points. On the Montpascal side, you are in rural mountain surroundings; on the Bonvillard side, close to the Saint-Francois-Longchamp resort with its 165 km of alpine skiing.
Our review — Le Grand Coin
2.8/5
Ski area — key figures — Le Grand Coin
- 🌟 Snow stadium (Savoie)
- 📏 1350 m Village altitude (1620 m Top altitude)
When to visit
Le Grand Coin in summer
In summer, the Grand Coin primarily attracts road cycling and walking enthusiasts, thanks to the Col du Chaussy. People come to climb this pass made famous by the Tour de France, notably via the spectacular 18 hairpin bends of Montvernier (if ascending from Pontamafrey) — a sporting challenge offering breath-taking landscapes. The pass is also a very popular starting point for hiking of all levels: from the easy family walk around the col to more ambitious ascents such as the Grand Coin summit (2,729 m) for a 360° panorama including Mont Blanc. It is an invitation to discover authentic Maurienne, between sport and contemplation.
🎯 Things to do in summer:
✅ Road cycling • ✅ Enduro MTB • ✅ Hiking
Le Grand Coin in winter
In winter, the Grand Coin is a top destination for Nordic activity enthusiasts seeking calm and quality. People come to enjoy a vast cross-country ski area (around 70 km of marked and maintained trails for both classic and skating technique) offering routes for all levels — from green beginner pistes to technical black loops — all in varied settings (forests, plateaus) with magnificent views. Snowshoeing is king, with numerous dedicated routes (around 60 km) allowing peaceful exploration of the winter nature. Activities such as laser biathlon and tobogganing (at the Col du Chaussy) are also available, completing a programme centred on gentle mountain immersion.
🎯 Things to do in winter:
✅ Cross-country skiing • ✅ Snowshoeing
Skiing
Below is an overview of the ski area accessible from Le Grand Coin: Le Grand Coin (nordique).
Cross-country ski area — Le Grand Coin
⛰️ Altitudes: 1280 m – 1630 m
🌲 Cross-country skiing: 70 km
💰 Day pass: 8 €
The Grand Coin Nordic ski area extends across around 70 km of groomed cross-country trails for both classic and skating technique, between 1,350 and 1,650 m altitude. It is labelled Nordic France for the quality of its services and environment. The ski area offers great diversity of routes: easy green trails near the welcome lodges (Bonvillard/Montaimont and Col du Chaussy/Montpascal) ideal for initiation, panoramic blue and red trails crossing forests and plateaus with superb views over the Aiguilles d’Arves and the Belledonne range, and more technical black trails for experienced skiers. The quality of the grooming and the beauty of the landscapes make it a very popular Nordic skiing destination.
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Ski pass prices — Le Grand Coin
Current lift pass prices for ski areas accessible from Le Grand Coin.
| Ski area | Day pass | 6-day pass | Season pass | Season (prices) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Grand Coin (nordique skiing) | 8 € | 37 € | N/A | 2025-2026 |
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