We've long believed that the Aosta Valley has significant potential for cross-country skiing. We recently tested the Flassin track, in Saint Rhèmy, and we describe the area in this article.

Flassin, Saint Rhèmy, Val d'Aosta: cross-country skiing

We've been skiing along the cross-country ski tracks of the Aosta Valley for some time. In recent years, we've particularly enjoyed the stunning Saint Barthelemy and Val Ferret areas. Having learned that the Flassin track would be open on Saturday, November 29, 2025, thanks to good snowfall during the week, we went to explore the trails, immediately venting our desire to get back on the snow and start the 2025/26 winter ski season.

The resort is relatively easy to reach.

Take the A5 motorway and exit at Aosta Centro. Then take the wide state road 27 that climbs to the tunnel and the Great St. Bernard Pass. Shortly after Saint Oyen, you leave the main road and take Rue de la Montèe (signs for Foyer de Fond), then Rue de Flassin, to reach the cross-country skiing center a few kilometers after the turnoff. You could actually start skiing from Etroubles, parking at the Vourpellières car park near the main road. However, this is the lowest point of the ski area, so from here you can only start skiing via an uphill route, which is sometimes quite steep.

Around the cross-country ski center (see the start of our ski trip on the map below), there are large parking lots with plenty of spaces. In fact, the area is also quite popular with off-piste alpine skiers, so during our trip there, the parking lots were quite full.

At the cross-country ski center (1,440 meters above sea level), there is a ski rental/school with restrooms and changing rooms, and nearby is the ticket office where you can buy tickets (€ 8 for a day ticket, in 2025). A few more and clear signs wouldn't hurt. There isn't currently a ski waxing room available.

At the ticket office, they couldn't provide us with a map of the tracks. However, at the cross-country ski center, there is a large sign showing the trails (see photo below). You can also refer to our GPS track, which we will now describe.

The tracks run along a stretch of the valley with an east-west orientation, which, in midwinter, remains mostly in the shade. Therefore, the snow is guaranteed to remain in good condition until spring. The cross-country skiing center, however, is located in a more open part of the valley, and therefore also sunny, at least until around 1:00 PM in midwinter. Below is a list of the available trails, offering difficulty levels for both the most experienced and demanding skiers and those with less technical or fitness level.

Great St. Bernard High Route Track Details

Great St. Bernard High Valley Trail 18.3 km – difficult
Gorrey Trail 2.3 km – easy
Pré Neuf Trail 6.7 km – intermediate
Cerisey Trail 3.7 km – easy
Flotte Trail 5.3 km – intermediate
Citrin Trail 8.5 km – difficult
Barral Trail 9.7 km – difficult

It should be noted, however, that the easiest and flattest trails (blue tracks), or at least those with limited elevation changes, are those around the cross-country center (Cerisey track), which are fairly limited in length. The other trails further from the center, however, are quite challenging, though not extreme, with steep climbs and descents and some challenging downhill turns. In short, these trails are mostly quite technical (black and red), and therefore the area is perhaps not the most suitable for beginners.

From the cross-country center, we first set out to explore the slopes westward (toward Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, Crevacol). Then, returning to the cross-country center, we enjoyed the long, adrenaline-fueled descent to Etroubles, before returning to the starting point via a long, and at times strenuous, uphill track (but it should also be noted that it was our first ski day of the season).

More specifically, we warmed up first by skiing the "Plan de Cerisey" track (we ignored the right turn—near a small bridge—towards the Barral run). Planning to descend to Etroubles, we left the "Plan de Cerisey" track below Saint Leonard, using a small bridge to cross to the other side of the stream. Beyond this point, the track continues towards Crevacol, with black runs (Citrin and Flotte tracks). I must say that there are many junctions between the runs, allowing you to create your own ski route, depending on your training and desired difficulty level.

Returning to the cross-country ski center, we took the turn marked "Salitone nel Bosco" (black run — see our route after 2.6 km), a rather steep uphill route that takes you up onto the mountain slope above the cross-country ski center plateau, before descending back towards it, with a fairly steep descent featuring some challenging turns.

After a short flat stretch, we then began the long (about 2.5 km) and fast descent to Etroubles, which doesn't have any particularly challenging sections (red run). If you head down this descent, however, be aware that you'll pay for the fun with a steady climb that requires some patience (and some short, rather steep sections). Etroubles (1,270 meters above sea level) is reached by descending along the left bank of the Artanavaz stream, which you cross near the village to take the uphill route, also about 2.5 km long, along the right bank (be careful of some unprotected sections, high up and alongside the stream).

The conditions of the slopes were quite good, and we can't help but appreciate the fact that the managers groomed them right away, opening the trails at the end of November, ahead of many other, much more renowned resorts. In some sections, we were a bit perplexed by the presence of the classic technique rails right in the middle of the track, rather than on the sides (which we would prefer since we use the skating technique which need wider tracks).

Unfortunately, here too we noticed a few footprints and holes left by pedestrians, and unfortunately also the signs of a snowmobile... When we return here, we'll also explore the upper sections of the slopes (Citrin and Flotte). If you have any comments or suggestions, please post them below.

Enjoy your skiing. Fabio

Click here, for the slideshow of our ski day.