Outdoor activities in les Plans d’Hotonnes

A privileged training place for biathletes, the stadium is accessible to all by reservation for the practice of wheel skiing, rollerblading and to learn about biathlon. It is also a place dedicated to adapted and handisport teams.

Initiation to biathlon for all:

All year round, follow in the footsteps of Olympic medalists from the Plateau such as Sandrine Bailly & Simon Desthieux by putting yourself in the shoes of a biathlete. Supervised by a certified instructor from skiing school des Plans d’Hotonnes, the initiation can be done in many possible sports: on skis in winter or on foot, in summer in sneakers (walking / jogging), rollerskis, rollerblading, but also cycling. The introduction to biathlon is a fun and friendly time accessible from 8 years (laser shooting).

Practice of rollerskiing / roller:

– The biathlon stadium is also open for the practice without shooting of rollerskiing, roller (subject to availability, reservation required). The skiing school also organises introductory and advanced wheel skiing all year round by reservation. Rental of equipment possible at the Servi’Nature store opposite the stadium.

Club practice, training camps and sports training:

– The biathlon stadium is a space dedicated to future athletes, and biathletes, for this reason, sportsmen and women will have a privileged place on the biathlon stadium of Les Plans d’Hotonnes on reservation.

Access to the shooting range:

– The shooting range of the Plans d’Hotonnes biathlon stadium is strictly subject to the biathlon regulations of the French Ski Federation.

Access to the stadium by reservation with the Syndicat Mixte du Plateau de Retord by email at clients@plateauderetord.fr

MTB base and multiday cycling on the Grande traversée du Jura.

The MTB base of Bugey has 22 loops with 7 different starting points from the Plateau de Retord to the Plateau d’Hauteville.
Discover the Plateau de Retord by mountain bike or eMTB through its 5 loops from 9 to 26 km starting from Les Plans d’Hotonnes. Mountain bike andeMTB rental is possible at Servi’Nature in Les Plans d’Hotonnes.

Grande Traversée du Jura is a MTB trail of about 400 km linking Mandeure to Culoz at the foot of the Grand Colombier.
Following the Jura mountains, the GTJ splits in Les Plans d’Hotonnes and offers two variants to its users to reach its southern end at the Culoz train station. It is possible to cross the Grand Colombier on a more direct trail with more elevation gain or to follow the Planachat ridges between Valromey and Plateau d’Hauteville on a slightly longer route.

Weekend Idea: both variants can be ridden on a 100 km loop.

Fun orienteering courses for families:
Because it’s not always easy to motivate kids to go hiking, Fun Orienteering Course are just the thing for you. Go all together on a quest to find the different control posts.

Hike to know more about local history:
The Maquis trail is a thematic trail on the footsteps of the first maquis of the Ain starting from the resort of Plans d’Hotonnes or the village of Hotonnes. Relive the history of the WW2 Resistance on Retord thanks to the information panels retracing the history of various points of interest found along the circuit.

Nature and sports hikes:
Recognized for their panoramas of Mont Blanc and the Alps chain the hikes of the Ronde des Plans and Tour de Retord offer you an excursion between the forests and ridges of this southern end of the Jura massif.

Guided hikes:
To live the experience even more intensely, themed outings are organized throughout the year.
– HistoireS de RésistanceS: commented hike of the Maquis trail, on the Plateau de Retord. (Only in French).
– Forest baths, orienteering initiations, Nordic walking… with Activ’Plein air.
– Trapper’s outings, nature games, memory hikes, wilderness survival.. with Montagne Aventure.
– Photo hikes, gourmet hikes, Retord heritage discovery hikes… with Montagne Expériences by ESF.
– Night hikes, sensory hikes, orientation initiations… with Impulsion.
– Alpine pasture hikes with At the rhythm of the herd.
– Cani-cross outings with Scintiller au fil des saisons.

A sport for everyone, Orienteering allows you to combine intellectual and physical activities. Alone or with the family, from children to veterans, everyone can enjoy walking in the middle of nature, or finding the markers as quickly as possible on an adapted course.

The permanent heritage courses of the Plans d’Hotonnes:
Go in search of the 11 easy level markers arranged along a circuit of 4.5 km. The 2 maps go with a fun questionnaire (only in French), a question about the resort of Plans d’Hotonnes and the Plateau de Retord is asked on each marker. The children’s course and the adult course are identical, only the questions change!

The Orienteering leisure area of the Plans d’Hotonnes:
Go in search of the markers of the permanent green and blue courses of the Orienteering leisure area of the Plans d’Hotonnes.

Training courses and training:
If you are a club and want to practice Orienteering on the OOcup 2018 and 2020 courses, you can find the OOcup map library and organize your club course on the Plateau de Retord by contacting the Ain departmental orienteering committee.
cd01courseorientation@gmail.com
+33 (0)7 89 45 60 10

Les Plans d’Hotonnes: base camp for discovering the Grand Colombier and all the local climbs.

Equipped with several cyclists welcome accommodations and a bike rental store, the resort of Les Plans d’Hotonnes is an ideal starting point for cyclists wishing to take on the Grand Colombier and enjoy on the small, low-traffic roads of Bugey. Often part of the Tour de France, should be on your to-do list of climbs: col de la Biche, col de Richemont, col de Cuvery, col de Bérentin , col de Belleroche, col de Cuvillat, col de la Rochette and many others near the Grand Colombier.

Rental of all-terrain electric scooters and Swincar:
Activity with guaranteed sensations, the practice of the all-terrain electric scooter is done in accompanied ride (minimum 4 people) or in all-terrain initiation, on closed and supervised circuit from 1m 40 (15 years).
Discover the swincar, all-terrain electric vehicle in accompanied ride or all-terrain initiation, on closed and supervised circuit. The Swincar is an activity adapted to people with reduced mobility, only if accompanied. The driver must be over 18 years old and hold a driver’s license.

Wellness area:
Norwegian bath, traditional sauna and massages await you! In the heart of the resort of Les Plans d’Hotonnes, you will have access to an open-air space, consisting of a refreshing 25-degree bath in summer or a 40-degree hot bath and a traditional sauna. You can also book foot or back reflexology massages, amma massages, shiatsu face massages and naturopathy advice. By reservation only, 24 hours in advance.

Eco-responsible local products store:
Alongside the rental part and the wellness area, enjoy a bar-restaurant part, a store of local products, crafts and souvenirs.