In Laye, a ski area and snow-covered hiking areas meet forest trails and historic sites. There are also other activities and a range of cheese products. When choosing a destination, it is therefore helpful to first decide what matters most to you: winter sports, trails through the forest, or the history of the Resistance in Champsaur-Valgaudemar?

Ski area and snow-covered trails

The Laye ski area has around ten kilometres of pistes served by five drag lifts. Piste and lift information may be updated by the operator; check the latest information before your visit.

The resort’s snow-covered areas are also suitable for snowshoeing and mountain hiking. This means there are activities on foot to choose from alongside the pistes. If you are planning a winter-focused stay, you can decide whether skiing or hiking in the snow should take priority.

Forest trails and route details

The Sentier de la Cuque is a family trail through the Bois-Vert state forest. Around twelve information panels introduce visitors to the distinctive features and beauty of the Champsaur forest. The forest is more than just the setting for the trail: its characteristics and landscape are also part of the walk.

The first stage of the Grand tour des Ecrins offers a different perspective on the routes. A narrow singletrack runs from the Lauzon forest road towards the Laye ski resort; the route bypasses the resort. This distinction is important for navigation: the trail leads towards the resort, but the stage does not pass through it. The Sentier de la Cuque, in contrast, is specifically described as a trail through Bois-Vert.

A memorial site in Champsaur

The Monument de la Résistance du Champsaur-Valgaudemar stands on a grassy rise beside the Route Napoléon. Four men died at the monument on 17 July 1944, fighting for freedom. In 1944, the Resistance group had prepared an ambush near the remains of Laye’s castle tower. These places and details give the visit a specific historical context, distinct from the nature and leisure activities on offer.

Activities and cheese in Laye

Jungle Laye combines several types of leisure activities: paintball, airsoft and laser tag are available. There is also the 1,000-metre-long “Saut de Tarzan de l'Extrême” zip line. The offering also includes eleven courses and 240 activity stations, accessible from age three. When choosing between activities, you can compare the courses and stations with the games and action activities listed above.

The Laiterie du Col Bayard has a restaurant serving numerous cheese menus, a shop selling regional products and an exhibition about cheese-making. Dining, regional products and insights into production are thus three distinct aspects of what it offers. For travellers who want to focus on cheese as well as trails and activities, this is another specific point of interest.

Find hotels to suit your reason for travelling

If you are looking for hotels in Laye, first decide what you want your stay to focus on: the ski area and snow-covered trails, a hike in Bois-Vert, the historic memorial site or the leisure activities.

Discover more destinations: Savines-Le-Lac, La Freissinouse, Baratier, Ribiers, Aspremont, Eygliers, Molines-En-Queyras, Saint-Crépin.

View the broader travel guide: Hautes-Alpes.