Hiking Chamonix: My six favourites
As I was living in Chamonix for close to a year I managed to see and do a fair bit. Not only did I have many amazing moments in the mountains but I also got to enjoy the unparalleled scenery that hiking Chamonix provide. Here are just a few of my personal favourites:
Montenvers Mer de Glacé:
Three days into being in Chamonix we hiked Montenvers Mer de Glacé. This was the best introduction to hiking the valley! Start easy from the base of the Les Planards ski area which you can conveniently walk to from town centre. With this walk you are provided great views of Chamonix and the mountain ranges.
In terms of difficulty I would class it as a medium. But with gaining 850 meters to a total of 1913 meters it isn’t easy either! However, in saying that the pathways are quite wide and alternatively, you can hike up and take the train down or visa versa. Just a warning that you need a reasonable amount of fitness to do the loop as it’s approximately 5 hours.
The glacier itself is stunning and the longest in France. There’s also the Ice Caves to explore and the ability to descend down to stand on the glacier but you need the right gear for that. Along with a cafe where you are able to enjoy a bevy after your long hike or comfortable train ride, you can also stay at the Hotel du Montenvers. It overlooks Mer de Glacé and as you can imagine costs a pretty penny, but hey, the option is there!
Even though this is only a day hike make sure to carry and wear the essentials. Above all, take a water bottle, sunscreen and hat. If you’re not keen on eating at the cafe remember to take lunch and snacks.
The hike to Montenvers was my first hike in Chamonix and over a year later it is still very memorable. I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon!
Cascade du Dard:
Cascade du Dard is one of the easier Chamonix hikes with the start of the trail accessible from town centre. I did this walk a few times and no matter when you go it is a nice stroll through the forest.
The 45 minute walk takes you underneath the Aiguille du Midi, over bridges and gives you glimpses of the mountains. Once at the top there is a friendly refuge (open during summer) and just past this Cascade du Dard. Sitting at 1233 meters the 20 meter high waterfall let’s off a refreshing breeze so just to note, not the best place to swim. Even in summer months the water is freezing!
This is a nice, casual walk that I would recommend to anyone, friends and families alike. In summer it’s a great place to sit and grab a drink in the sunshine.
Chalet des Pyramides:
While in Chamonix I did the hike to Chalet de Pyramides twice. Some may say I cheated a little (both times) as there is an option of taking the lift part way. Which I totally took.. Of course. Even-so the hike will take roughly two hours from here to arrive at the chalet, depending on your fitness and pace.
There are some eye-catching scenes along the way as the main attraction of the Bosson Glacier comes into view. Having the valley spread out below also doesn’t dampen the happy vibes that you’ll get walking this trail.
This track also continues onto La Jonction where you can see the glacier split. I unfortunately didn’t get time for this as it takes an additional few hours but heard amazing things about it! Definitely a must-do but as you are hiking to roughly 2500 meters above sea level the correct amount of fitness is a must!
This hike, especially if heading to La Junction will take a full day. Both days at Chalet de Pyramides were spectacular so would 100% recommend giving it a go while visiting Chamonix.
Lac Blanc:
There are multiple ways of getting up to Lac Blanc. With some trail closures over the summer and wanting the quickest route the best direction was Col de Montets.
Lac Blanc, or in English, White Lake, took us three and a half hours to (we had plenty of stops). Without stops (even-though I’d have no idea how you couldn’t – sweat central) it takes about two and a half. This was by no means easy (for us) as it sits at 2352 meters above sea level and requires climbing 890 meters. It involves ladders, ropes and walking on the fringe of cliffs. Sounds a lot scarier than it was but there were a few people I talked to that felt a little on edge (literally), myself included.
Once there though, WOAH. Such a beautiful view of the mountain ranges that Chamonix is known for including the most famous Mont-Blanc massif and the view of Lac Blanc just adds to that insane vista.
You definitely can do the hike in one day, it will be long and depending on what time of year the track and Lac Blanc will be busy! The lake starts getting quiet around 5 – 6PM in the summer. This means aside from you and whoever else is camping (we counted 13 other tents), it is very peaceful. If you have an option I would suggest to stay overnight to enjoy the place and view without the crowds. Sunrise there is also absolutely stunning and well worth the slight back pain you’ll experience in the morning.
A few tips: Here you will find that there is the Lac Blanc Refuge that sells water, food, etc but if you’re wanting to make a stop here for lunch or just to buy a glass of juice make sure you have cash as they don’t accept card. This is the same with most other refuges in the mountains. They also have a toilet which they leave open overnight for anyone pitching a tent – much better than having to find a spot to pop a squat. Also, tents cannot be put up until 7PM and have to be taken down before 9AM otherwise they can flick you a fine.
This was our first overnight stay in the mountains and not going to lie, it was a bit rough. We figured this may be due to the altitude, among a couple of other minor things. And it meant that we were making the two hour return back down to Chamonix very tired. However, once home the mix of accomplishment, freedom and those views I had on that mountain made it all worth it.
Alpages de Chailloux:
This was one of my most difficult but rewarding hikes to date. Everything about it was incredible! Even though it was challenging to do this hike at the end of April, it was the best time to go as the snow made this panoramic view the most unreal sight I have ever seen!
There are few ways to get to Alpages de Chailloux but we started in Les Houches. Taking the directions headed for Chris-Roi (Statue of Christ the King) you will find this monument standing at 1196 meters. With an elevation gain of 296 meters and roughly 45 minutes from Les Houches centre, it was the easy part! After that, for the next three hours we went through such a diverse trail of road, forest and mountain edges. We managed to do the ascent and descent in one day, soaking in some iiiiiincredible views.
From Alpages de Chailloux you can ascend even further to Aiguillette des Houches. This then takes you to the Natural Reserve of Carlaveyron. I wish we would have been able to make it here but for me the view from Alpages de Chailloux was more than enough as you could see both Mont-Blanc massif and the Bossons Glacier.
To make this hike easier, summer would be the best time to go as there won’t be snow and ice but like I mentioned earlier and as you can see yourself, this view was pretty damn magnificent.
Lac Vert (Green Lake):
Lac Vert, sitting at an altitude of 1200 meters is a lake you must visit when in Chamonix. It’s crazy, clear waters, accompanied by backdrop of mountains is a perfect spot to spend a summers day.
Due to not having a car (Lac Vert is easily reachable by driving in the summer) we used the train and walking to get there. From Chamonix centre, it’s as simple as taking the train to Servoz, disembarking at its last stop at walking through the town. There are a few signs that helped point the way but Google Maps we also found helpful.
From here it’s a walk through the countryside, a nice contrast from some of the other walks in the valley. We found it much more peaceful as there were not-only less people but a lot more wildlife. With cows and horses it left us feeling a little nostalgic as it hit close to home.
You’ll notice when you get close to the lake as you will get to a fork in the path. One will take you up and to the right which looks more like a hiking path and to the left is a gravel road. We went up the right and came back down the left but I would suggest to go left both ways. The right, even during summer was a bit slippery and steep. The right on the other hand with being a gravel road isn’t as much of a climb, just zigzagging and provides you much nicer views.
In addition, make sure if you arrive before lunch to bring a picnic, it’s a stunning place to sit and enjoy with a sammie in hand.
Hints and tips:
– Always do a little research on any of the Chamonix hikes that you are planning on doing. Obviously during summer time there is a lot more hikes to do with less snow. Weather is a massive factor here so make sure you’re being safe!
– If you have any questions check with the High Mountain Office (Office de Haute Montagne). They will be able to tell you what trails are open and safe to hike. In addition The Office of Tourism (Office de Tourisme) in Chamonix centre is helpful for any general questions. They also have hiking and trail maps.
– For more information on the best route to take and directions click here.
– Make sure you get acclimatised before you do any of the walks that require you to hike to a high altitude.
– Start on the trails early! Going morning means there will be less of a crowd during popular summer months which is always a good thing!
If you’re planning a trip to Chamonix, hiking should absolutely be on your bucket-list! With it being one of my highlights of living in the alps it became something that I did on the regular during in the summer months. So if you’re close to Chamonix, don’t hesitate, pack a bag, grab your friends a get your walk ooonn!