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Chamonix Trails featuring Glaciers

The Chamonix Valley features a number of Glaciers and visiting a glacier or seeing one from up close is always a great experience. There are frankly also not that many mountains in Europe that have glaciers and unfortunately all glaciers, including those in Chamonix are receding. If you look at some of the old pictures of Chamonix, you will understand the rate at which these glaciers are disappearing at lower altitude. Luckily, Chamonix has some fast moving glaciers, like the Glacier des Bossons, which drop down quite low and form an integral part of the appeal of the Chamonix Valley. On this page we present our list of the best trails that feature glaciers along the way. We present two ways of findings these trails. Below we feature some pictures of the trails. If you see one you like, then click on it and it will show you where the picture was taken and which trails pass by that location.

Trails in Chamonix to feature Glaciers

The most popular glacier in the Chamonix Valley is the Mer de Glace. This glacier can be visited from Montenvers which is easily accessible using the Montenvers mountain train. There is an ice cave inside the glacier which you can visit and that is a truly unique opportunity which should not be missed. The other glaciers in Chamonix don't enable that level of access but you can still admire them from up close. Here is out list of the best trails that feature glaciers in and around the Chamonix Valley. If you want to do a more detailed trail search then press the search our full database button which will enable you to search our Chamonix trail database on a large number of search criteria.

La Jonction
Map Preview

One of the classic routes in Chamonix which takes you to the junction where the glaciers of Bosson and Taconnaz split. Fantasic up-close views of Mont Blanc

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Length

Nearest Town

Starting Point

Route Type

14.98km / 9.30mi

Chamonix

Les Bossons

Out and Back

Elevation +

1561m / 5121ft

Elevation -

1561m / 5121ft

Technical 

Hike Duration

Run Duration

7-9 Hours

3-5 Hours

Scenic Beauty

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Length

Snack Bar, Big Views, Glacier

Grand Balcon Nord - Montenvers to Plan Aiguille
Map Preview

Perhaps the most popular route in the Chamonix Valley taking you from the Montenvers station and the Mer de Glace over the Balcon Nord past the Lac Bleu to the Plan l'Aiguille lift station.

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Length

Nearest Town

Starting Point

Route Type

7.35km / 4.56mi

Chamonix

Montenvers Train Station

With Lift

Elevation +

471m / 1545ft

Elevation -

103m / 338ft

Technical 

Hike Duration

Run Duration

2-3.5 Hours

1-1.5 Hours

Scenic Beauty

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Length

Big Views, Refuge, Snack Bar, Family Friendly, Lake, Glacier, With Lift

Argentiere Glacier and Refuge Lognan
Map Preview

A wonderful exploration trail getting up close with the Glacier d'Argentiere and a visit to the Chalet Refuge de Lognan. Amazing views and a spectacular glacier.

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Length

Nearest Town

Starting Point

Route Type

6.3km / 3.91m

Argentiere

Plan Joran Lift

Loop

Elevation +

474m / 1555ft

Elevation -

474m / 1555ft

Technical 

Hike Duration

Run Duration

2-3 Hours

1.25-2 Hours

Scenic Beauty

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Length

Refuge, Glacier, Dogs, Big Views, With Lift

Chamonix Montenvers Loop
Map Preview

This trail takes you to Montenvers via de Buvette des Mottets and then down via de Buvette Caillet. A nice way to get up to Montenvers if you don't want to use the train

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Length

Nearest Town

Starting Point

Route Type

11.34km / 7.04mi

Chamonix

Les Planards

Loop

Elevation +

855m / 2805ft

Elevation -

855m / 2805ft

Technical 

Hike Duration

Run Duration

4-6 Hours

2-3.5 Hours

Scenic Beauty

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Length

Glacier, Snack Bar, Refuge, Big Views, Dogs

Le Tour to Refuge Albert 1er
Map Preview

This route takes you from the village of Le Tour to the high altitude refuge Albert 1er, right next to the Glacier du Tour

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Length

Nearest Town

Starting Point

Route Type

9.31km / 5.78mi

Le Tour

Le Tour

Out and back

Elevation +

862m / 2828ft

Elevation -

862m / 2828ft

Technical 

Hike Duration

Run Duration

3-5 Hours

1.5-2.5 Hours

Scenic Beauty

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Length

Refuge, Glacier, Big Views, With Lift

Miage to Tricot and Plan de Glacier
Map Preview

A beautiful but pretty tough loop trail taking you from Refuge de Miage up to the Col the Tricot and then to the Refuge de Plan de Glacier via the "Smugglers Path"

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Length

Nearest Town

Starting Point

Route Type

10.17km / 6.31mi

Les Contamines

Refuge de Miage

Loop

Elevation +

1181m / 3874ft

Elevation -

1181m / 3874ft

Technical 

Hike Duration

Run Duration

4-6 Hours

2.5-3.5 Hours

Scenic Beauty

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Length

Refuge, Glacier, Big Views

The Best Trails in Chamonix in other categories

We have many other categories for our selection of the best hiking and trail running trails in Chamonix. Just like this list, all these categories feature hand-picked trails which we feel are the best for that specific category. Have a look at any of these to find your perfect trail.

Lastly, we also have a page that showcases all the trails in our database in text format. This enables you to quickly compare trails and order them by length, elevation gain, name and starting point.

Got something to add?

We got started in the spring of 2023 and we are working hard on making this site as complete and accurate as possible. We need your help! If you got anything you would like to add then please reach out to us.

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