After forty winters of welcoming skiers and families to its trails, the Haut Saugeais Blanc Nordic area in the French Jura has announced its closure. The news has shocked local cross country ski enthusiasts. Based near Pontarlier close to the Franco-Swiss border, the site had become a modest but cherished destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and convivial gatherings at the La Perdrix lodge. With around 25 km of groomed trails and a connection to the Grande Traversée du Jura, it played a central role in the region’s winter life.
Unlike many other closures across Europe, this decision was not driven by climate change or lack of snow. Instead, the association running the site points to escalating conflicts with certain landowners and local authorities. A handful of property owners refused access to key trail sections, making three-quarters of the domain unusable. What began as tensions over local governance—particularly following the creation of a new commune—turned into threats, blockages, and a toxic environment where volunteers, staff, and visitors could no longer be guaranteed safety. Despite appeals for mediation, institutional support was insufficient to resolve the disputes.
The shutdown carries heavy consequences. Three seasonal jobs are lost, local businesses will feel the absence of winter visitors, and residents lose a social and recreational hub that had been part of the community for four decades. For the Haut-Doubs, where cross-country skiing is both a sport and a way of life, the closure marks more than the end of a ski site: it is a rupture in local identity, a reminder that access to nature often depends as much on human agreements as on natural conditions.
https://www.haut-saugeais-blanc.fr/