Hiking
A 350 km (217 miles) trail network / 160 theme hikes and circuits to suit everyone. Some of us prefer staying low, walk the valley bottom and enjoy the scent of the pine forest, others will prefer a higher grounds and enjoy beautiful panoramas, whereas the most active will take pride in collecting vertical gain records. The hiking range is very varied and the choice will depend on the mood of the day. Regulation/restricted access ⚠️ Beware : some hiking trails may be not possible at the beginning of the season ( sometimes untill mid-july) due to the snow above 2000 m. Check the conditions before leaving.
Day-hikes
- Balcony trails
- Lakes
- Glaciers
- Mountain pastures
- Mountain hut
- Good practises
BALCONY TRAILS
Petits balcons trails present very little difficulty. Mostly in the forest, they are at a near valley-bottom altitude (1200m/3’960; 1300m/ 4’290).They are accessible them from pretty much anywhere, and an ideal choice on rainy days.
- “Petit Balcon sud “goes from les Houches to Argentière, following the southern aspect of the valley.
- “Petit Balcon nord” runs up the valley from the hamlet of Les Bois to the village of Le Tour, along the northern aspect of the valley.
- Grand balcons trails are moderate panoramic trails, accessible from the top of the lifts at mid altitude (tree line)
- “Grand balcon nord” starts from the mid station of Aiguille du Midi and goes across the mountain to the Montenvers site: 2h30/3h00.
- “Grand balcon sud” is across the valley and goes from Flégère gondola to Planpraz gondola. 2h00 / 2h30
The walking times indicated correspond to one way. They are calculated on a basis of 300m/hour.
You will find a taste of these walks on the website of the Chamonix Valley Tourist Office and a detailed description of these routes, among others, in the guide “Sentiers du Mont-Blanc”
ALPINE LAKES
On the sunny southern aspect of the Chamonix valley in the Aiguilles Rouges and Carlaveyron preserved areasLac Cornu –Lacs Noirs – Lac Blanc – Lacs des Cheserys - lac du Brévent
Average hiking time is between 2h to 4h/5h, is shorter if using the lifts to access the trail.
On the cooler northern aspect of the valley
Lac Bleu can be reached from the Plan de l’Aiguille in 30 min, or 3h30/4h from the valley bottom.
In the Fiz mountain range
Starting from Servoz : lac Vert (1h15/1h30 )- lac de Pormenaz (3h00) - lac d'Anterne (4h30)
The walking times indicated correspond to one way. They are calculated on a basis of 300m/hour.
You will find a taste of these walks on the website of the Chamonix Valley Tourist Office and a detailed description of these routes, among others, in the guide “Sentiers du Mont-Blanc”
GETTING CLOSE TO GLACIERS
- Montenvers – Mer de Glace: from Chamonix via les Mottets or via Caillet: 2h30. From Montenvers train cog top station : 1h00 to reach sight seeing "Signal Forbes"
- Argentière glacier – Point de vue : from Argentière : 3h30/4 h00.
Summer 2024: Resort completely closed due to work.
- Refuge Albert 1er / Le Tour glacier: from the the top of Autannes chairlift : 2h00/2h30
- Bossons glacier (left side): from les Bossons : le chalet du Glacier 1h30 - le chalet des Pyramides +1h30 (summer 2024 : chalet is closed) - la Jonction + 2h20
- Bossons Glacier (right side) : from les Bossons : le chalet du Cerro (closed on summer 2024) 1h00 + 10 to 20 mn to reach the different sight seeings.
The walking times indicated correspond to one way. They are calculated on a basis of 300m/hour.
You will find a taste of these walks on the website of the Chamonix Valley Tourist Office and a detailed description of these routes, among others, in the guide “Sentiers du Mont-Blanc”
RECHARGE IN THE ALPINE PASTURES
- Blaitière pasture: from Chamonix: 2h45
- Charousse pasture: from Les Houches: 1h30 - from côte des Chavants : 45mn
- Chailloux pasture : from les Houches (Merlet or la Flatière): 2h00 / 2h30
- Balme pasture : from the top of Vallorcine gondola : 2h00
- Loriaz pasture: from the village of Le Buet: 2h15
- Pormenaz pasture: from Servoz (le Mont) en 3h00
- Pendant pasture : from the village of the Lavancher : 2h00
- Péclerey mountain : from the village of le Tour : 1h30
The walking times indicated correspond to one way. They are calculated on a basis of 300m/hour.
You will find a taste of these walks on the website of the Chamonix Valley Tourist Office and a detailed description of these routes, among others, in the guide “Sentiers du Mont-Blanc”
OVERNIGHT IN A MID MOUNTAIN HUT
A waymarked and well-maintained trail network makes access to mid-mountain huts easy. Using the lift reduces hiking time in some cases.Summer 2024: Lognan - Grands Montets gondolas and area are completely closed
Huts provide blankets. Visitors must bring an individual sleeping sheet. Booking is mandatory.
- On the Aiguilles Rouges southern aspect: Bellachat (closed on summer 2024) – Flégère and Lac Blanc huts.
- On the northern aspect of the Mont Blanc range: Plan de l’Aiguille hut and hôtel du Montenvers
- Valley upper end: : Lognan hut from Argentière village only – Albert 1er hut from le Tour village - Lac Blanc hut from col des Montets – Pierre à Bérard and Loriaz huts from the village of Le Buet.
- Several huts on the Fiz mountain range: Varan (closed on summer 2024) – Plate – Sales – Anterne Wills – Moede Anterne from Servoz or Passy – Plaine Joux
HIKING AND BEST PRACTISE
Summer is (finally) here and hikers are flocking to the valley's footpaths! Here's a reminder of some useful advice and good practice to ensure that everything goes smoothly for you and your environment!
As with any mountain outing, preparation is essential! You need to choose a hike that's suited to your level (and that of your group) and to the conditions (terrain and weather), so as to avoid ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time!
- As a reminder, the weather is important... and changing! You can go from "wow, it's really sunny today" to "damn, it's freezing and you can't see a thing! Visibility, wind, temperature and precipitation are all factors that need to be analysed in advance of your outing. Pay particular attention to the risk of thunderstorms!
For a good overview of the weather around the Mont Blanc massif, you can consult the following websites, among others: Météo France, Chamonix-météo, Méteosuisse, Meteo blue. We list them here
- What type of terrain will we encounter? Here too, things can change! In the valley, it often feels like summer has already set in, but it can be a different story 1000 m above. The path you took the previous year may be covered in snow. Check with La Chamoniarde, for example, to find out where the snow limit is and whether the planned hike is practicable.
- Is the planned outing suited to my current physical and technical condition (and that of my team)?
- Equipment in addition to good mountain boots and technical clothing, your equipment must be adapted to your outing: is there still snow on the route? do I need crampons and poles to cross the névés/steep snowy slopes? and of course, you need to take something to protect yourself from the cold, wind, rain and sun. Food and drink too! I also take a small first-aid kit, a headlamp and a charged mobile phone!
- When you plan your outing, on a map for example, everything seems close at hand. In the mountains, it's important to take into account the difference in altitude and the technical nature of the route.
- If you want to sleep in a refuge, remember to book in advance! Also remember to cancel/notify the refuge in good time if you are not coming. Respect the arrival time at the refuge. There is only one dinner service!
- If you plan to take the ski lifts, check the timetables. Your hike can take on a whole new dimension if the lifts are closed!
- Prohibitions and orders: maintenance/upgrading work is constant on mountain paths, so check the list of current prohibitions and orders here to make sure your route is open.
- If you're hiking alone (which, let's not forget, is never a very safe thing to do), remember to let someone close to you know what you intend to do (route, planned start and finish times).
- If your day's outing seems ambitious in terms of weather, timing and physical conditions, remember to have a plan B.
- If you plan to bivouac (tolerated in the Chamonix valley from sunset to sunrise), in the Aiguilles Rouges it is compulsory to declare yourself here. Take the time to read the other sections to find out about all the aspects you need to take into account: impact on and respect for biodiversity, good practice and bookings.
D-Day
- The weather is not an exact science. Is it as forecast the day before?
- Be careful on tricky sections and remember to turn back in good time (don't overestimate yourself)!
- If you're in a group, adapt your walking pace to the least experienced person.
- In the mountains, be cordial and say hello (even to mountain bikers)! Wait patiently if the people in front of you are slower.
- Leave as little trace as possible (remember to burn your paper or take it back to the valley).
- All (ALL) of your rubbish must be brought back to the valley and disposed of in the rubbish bin.
- Never make a fire!
- Respect the flora and fauna:
o Stay on marked paths (don't cut corners)
o Keep your pets on a lead (and pick up after them! )
o Don't swim in mountain lakes
o Don't pick anything along the way.
- If your walk takes you through mountain pastures, there may be a herd of sheep and patous. The right reactions here
- In the event of an accident, dial 112 in France and Italy - 144 in Switzerland! Find outherehow to make the right call!
- In the event of a storm
o Go downhill to avoid the highest points.
o Don't stay under an isolated tree.
o Stay away from water (water conducts electricity).
o Put down all metal objects such as walking sticks and move away from them.
o Look for a sheltered spot. Failing that, isolate yourself from the ground by squatting on the bag, knees bent - feet together - arms around the knees - head resting on the knees.
o In a group, leave some distance between each person without losing sight of each other.
o Stay calm and patient!
Family hikes
HIKES TO CREMERIES AND REFRESHMENT HUTS
Hiking to “Crèmeries” and refreshment huts in the Chamonix valley is easy, with hardly a very small vertical gain, which makes it ideal for families.
Hiking with a dog
- Conservation areas
- Lifts
- Mountain huts
CONSERVATION AREAS
Dogs are not allowed into the following conservation areas:
- Aiguilles Rouges
- Carlaveyron
- Vallon de Bérard (tolerated kept on on a leash untill the refuge)
- Passy
- de Sixt
- Fer à Cheval
Hikers are allowed to bring their dog along in the Contamines conservation area, as long as it is held on a leash.
Conservation areas are well marked on IGN maps and other hiking maps. The presence of dogs is accepted on the Italian and Swiss sections of Tour du Mont Blanc, as long as the dog is muzzled and on a leash. Local authorities may ask hikers to present a vaccination certification for their pet. Working dogs are tolerated everywhere on a lead.
LIFTS
Dogs on a leash are allowed on the following lifts:- Chamonix – Planpraz gondola
- Brévent cable car
- Praz -Flégère gondola
- Charamillon gondola
- Montenvers cog train
- Plan Joran gondola
- Bellevue cable car – Prarion gondola
- Tramway du Mont-Blanc cog train
- Bosson chairlift
Dogs are not allowed in the following lifts:
- Plan de l’Aiguille and Aiguille du Midi cable cars
- Aiguille du Midi – Helbronner gondola
- Flégère – Index chairlift
- Col de Balme chairlift
MOUNTAIN HUTS
We strongly recommend visitors to contact hut keepers directly to find out if they allow the presence of 4-legged pets.
Questions / Answers
When is the best period to hike around Chamonix?
To hike in the Chamonix valley it is best to come during the summer period or more extensively from the middle or the end of June to October. In June, it is not uncommon to find substantial remaining snow fields above tree line (7000ft). Lifts run from mid-June to mid-September. They are a good way to considerably reduce vertical gain and therefore hiking times. Most of the lifts close down near the middle of September. In order to have a good view of the surrounding summits, it is necessary to hike above valley floor and reach tree line, an average vertical gain of 2 800 ft ( 800 to 900m).
Do I really need a map ?
Naturally, hiking doesn’t mean wandering outdoor blindnessly. Even if trails are well marked, we strongly advise you to carry and use a trail map or guidebook. Besides topographic maps, which can be difficult to read, local trail maps and simplified guidebooks are available. They are a simple and appropriate source of information for classic hikes available in the area.
What is the best period to see mountain lakes ?
In the area, most of the lakes are found above 7 600ft (2300 m). As a general rule, mountain lakes are still under snow and ice in June and July. They only start thawing from mid-July until mid-October.
Can I drink water from mountain creeks ?
Water from the Mont-Blanc range is crystalline, which spares its creeks from contamination. However before drinking water from creeks and streams, you should look around to check for pastoral and other signs of human activity, which may have an impact on the surrounding water sources. So out of caution systematically use a filtration system.
Do I need booking to overnight in a hut ?
Booking huts is in most cases mandatory. In winter and outside hut catering periods (hut keepers provide food and lodging service from mid-June to mid/end September), CAF (French Alpine Club) huts provide access to a restricted section of the building, providing hikiers with a shelter and blankets. Private huts are ofter closed out of summer months. There is no hut accessible for shelter in the Aiguilles Rouges.
How are hiking times estimated ?
On most of the trails there are signs and markings that indicate direction and respectively hiking times. Hiking times are based on elevation gain, not distances. Basically, an hour hiking allows to gain 1 000ft (300m), cover a flat distance of 2.5miles (4 km) and descend 1 500ft (400/500m) on average. One must also take age, group size and fitness level into consideration in order to calculate hiking times.
Is hiking adapted to all children ages ?
Hiking is an activity adapted to children as long as adults can assess their physical capacity. Under 3 years old young children should be carried in a comfortable and well- adjusted children hiking backpack. Toddlers aged 2 and 3 are able to walk a short distance on an easy trail. Children aged 4 to 7 can achieve longer distances (hiking 2 to 3 hours with a 1 700ft (500/700m) elevation gain. In spite of this they are not able to evaluate their own needs (hunger/thirst) or fatigue. From 8 years old up, endurance increases clearly and hiking times can be extended. “Peformance” can vary from one child to another, according to morphology and training. In all cases, parents should take frequent drinking brakes and carry plenty of snacks. The Chamonix valley offers a large hiking choice for the entire family.
What are the rules I should follow when entering a mountain wildlife sanctuary ?
The following rules apply to human behavior in natural protected areas found in the Mont-Blanc area (Carlaveyron, Aiguilles Rouges, Passy, Vallon de Bérard) and in the French national park :
It is forbidden to pick flowers and/or collect fossils,
Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash,
It is forbidden to camp and to make a campfire (only bivouacs, overnight camping is allowed),
Waste and other garbage must be carried back down.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited for outdoor leisure activities. Only access to pasture, forest or refuge maintenance are allowed.
It is forbidden to flights below 1 000ft (300 meters of the ground is prohibited, even 1000 meters for Bérard valley.
What should I do in stormy weather ?
Ideally you should anticipate the storm by checking the weather forecast before setting off for the hike. Leaving early or finding shelter when the storm arrives is strongly recommended. We suggest you keep an eye on the threatening clouds during your hike, and do not hesitate to turn around. If you still find yourself exposed, stay calm, avoid running, stay away from metallic items or higher places, and avoid the shelter of isolated trees. If you are in a group, you should keep apart from one another, crouch low with your feet close together in order to minimize ground contact. Avoid exposed areas (ridges, crests, isolated trees) or leaning against rocks. Sitting on your backpack provides good isolation from the ground. Avoid using your phone.
Is it possible to use trails for snowshoeing in winter ?
In summer time the Chamonix valley is undoubtedly the ideal place to hike. In winter though, things are significantly different ! Above Chamonix, mountain sides slope down onto the valley in numerous narrow gullies and steep slopes. This specific geographic feature increases avalanche hazards, hence allowing snowshoeing in few carefully selected areas.
Are all lifts accessible to children ?
Cable cars are definitely not recommended for young children to use. A very fast ascent may cause damage to their eardrum. In addition the lift operating company (Compagnie du Mont Blanc) prohibits access to some of the lifts to children under 3 years old. The lift operator can provide further useful information with regards to this matter. Both Montenvers and Tramway du Mont Blanc (to Bellevueonly) cog trains are suitable for very young children (1 year- olds and up). However at higher elevation the Nid d’Aigle (2372 m) is not accessible to children under 2. In any case, we also recommend you seek medical advice from your doctor.
What time should I start a hike ?
Generally speaking, hiking is best done in the morning, during the coolest hours of the day. It is a great way to make the most of your hike, with plenty of time to enjoy breaks, to face and deal with eventual problems such as weather changes or lost items etc.
What is the difference between a refuge or hut and a “buvette” ?
“Buvettes”are refreshment bars offering meals and drinks only. They can also serve evening meals under reservation. Mountain huts provide the same service plus accommodation.
How can I contact mountain rescue if necessary ?
The emergency number to call is 112, which will transfer you to the competent rescue service. If there is no cell-phone network, we suggest you walk around until you find mobile coverage. Do not hesitate to dial 112 even if your telephone shows no signal.
Is there public transportation access to hiking trails ?
Tourism accommodation provide visitors with a “Guest Card” (“Carte d’hôte”) which gives free access to train running up and down the Chamonix valley. It is an ideal way to get to most hiking circuits.
Can I camp in the alpine ?
Setting up a camping site anywhere in the mountains is forbidden. However staying overnight under a tent is tolerated from sunset to sunrise. This is what we call a “bivouac”. Camp fires are forbidden.