Hi all,

I am staying in Vaud region for few months and would like to hike and bike. So please recommend good hiking (meaning mountain hiking) and mountain biking locations during this winter. I don't have full hiking gear for heavy snow but there must be some passable hiking trails now.

Thanks for help,
Goran

Mountain Biking is quite risky on that season (slippy roots, slippy stones, etc...)

http://www.trail.ch/mtb-tour.htm

http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=1832660

I used to snow-mtn. bike back home (outskirts of Boston ) and it was great fun ... slick rocks, slick roots you get used to but here, up in the Jura I would think depth of snow would be more of an issue now.

that and cross - country skiers trying to stab you with their poles.

perhaps snow shoeing? We have a metre of snow in our garden in St cergue and have had for some time now.
The odd trail from the pass at la givrine is groomed for walkers but these type of trails are few and far between in the Jura at any rate

thanks all for the answers. I've checked the links and not so much useful info there for this region.

snowshoeing is a great way to do it in winter, instead of hiking. I would really like to do it but have no equipment and I am not keen on buying as I don't know how long I will stay here.

today I will try to go hiking and get back with the result soon.

BR
Goran

Re snowshoe walking - In quite a few places where there are marked trails (maybe other places too) one can hire snowshoes (and I presume poles too) for a reasonable price.

If you have solid hiking boots and are suitably dressed for more or less vigorous winter hiking (not too many too heavy clothes) you can decide when you get wherever you are going. Snow gaiters help if few people have done the route before you and the snow is deep.

Great fun!

Googling 'Schneeschuhe mieten' or 'hiring snowshoes Switzerland' will give you some destinations which offer them.

thanks for the info for renting.

I was on Saturday on mountain hiking. I followed snowshoe footsteps and for 1:30h I was able to go uphill than it was impossible so I went back. But it was fun. At start of this tour there was a house with map and info desk but closed, so I presume it is not open during winter.

Les Paccots is close to Lausanne and has several marked snowshoe trails and a snowshoe rental.