BIVOUAC
CAMPING OR BIVOUACKING IN THE CHAMONIX VALLEY AND MONT BLANC MASSIF
Camping and Bivouacking
Unauthorised camping and bivouacking are prohibited by municipal decree throughout the Chamonix valley.An exception is made for “bivouacs" at high altitude which are allowed for one night from sunset to sunrise.
Bivouacs are prohibited in certain well-defined areas:
• Lac Blanc
• Montagne de Chailloux (from the mountain pasture to the top of the aiguillette des Posettes)
• Blaitière mountain pastures
• Within the boundaries of the “APHN” (an area around the summit of Mont Blanc from the col du Mont Lachat to the Mont Blanc du Tacul rimaye).
Refuges
Bivouacking next to refuges is not generally tolerated. The guardians will usually ask you to move away from the hut. Find out more/introduce yourself!Whether in the high or “moyenne" mountains, we all live in a fragile natural environment. To limit the impact of our visits and continue to enjoy this freedom, let's take some simple steps:
• Be discreet
• No fires allowed
• Take down all your rubbish and leave no trace of your presence (including toilet paper).
BIVOUACKING IN THE AIGUILLES ROUGES NATURE RESERVE
Since the summer of 2023, you have been required to declare yourself on the Chamonix app or here before camping in one of the nature reserves in the Aiguilles Rouges massif (Carlaveyron - Aiguilles Rouges - Vallon de Bérard).
This declaration indicates the areas that are tolerated for bivouacking between 7pm and 9am and informs hikers about appropriate behaviour to preserve the natural heritage.
This approach is not intended to be coercive. Its purpose is to analyse the number of people using the area and to work towards a balance between man and nature, in order to ensure that bivouacs continue to be practised in the long term.
We need your help.