Hiking in Chamonix: trails, lakes and Mont Blanc balconies

In Chamonix, you walk facing Mont Blanc. The valley is ringed with trails that climb fast to high balconies, with the glaciers right across from you. Hiking in summer, snowshoeing in winter: it’s one of the finest walking areas in the Alps.

Summer classics

• Lac Blanc (2,352 m): the postcard hike. Mont Blanc reflects in the lake, facing the Drus and the Mer de Glace. A steep but doable climb, often helped by the Flégère lift.
• The Grand Balcon Sud: a balcony trail running along the valley facing the massif, almost flat once you’re up. Ideal for taking in the view without climbing it all.
• The Plan de l’Aiguille (2,317 m): reached by the first stage of the Aiguille du Midi cable car, a starting point for several loops.

Winter, on snowshoes

When snow covers the trails, the same landscapes open up on snowshoes: silent forests, plateaus, outings at sunset or under the stars, often rounded off with a fondue or a tasting. Quiet guaranteed, far from the pistes.

Walk with a guide

A guide knows the route for the day depending on snow and weather, sets the pace and reads the massif. Our selected outings range from a personalised summer hike to a snowshoe trip with fondue, from our partner.

Good to know

High trails clear late. Before late June, many high-altitude routes are still under snow. In spring, hike lower down.

Use the lifts. Flégère, Brévent, Montenvers and the Aiguille du Midi cable car open up the high trails without climbing it all on foot.

Gear up. Mountain shoes, water, a windproof layer: the weather turns fast at altitude, even on a clear morning.

On snowshoes, go guided off-trail. Avalanche risk exists as soon as you leave the marked routes.

See also in Chamonix

Gain height at the Aiguille du Midi, or explore the valley by electric mountain bike. Back to the destination: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.