Hiking In The French Alps: What You Need To Know

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Thank you Charles Dickens for the quote. You must have hiked in the French Alps and experienced what I did. There are two types of experiences when one does a hike: one where you are cursing most of the way up or down and the other where the trek is challenging but doable and you are able to take in all the gorgeous views. These were my experiences hiking in the French Alps and I have some advice if you are thinking about hiking in that area. 

I like to think I am fairly fit, working out almost every day and competing in running races.  I have done hikes in the Grand Canyon, Utah, and New Hampshire so I don’t think I am a complete novice; hiking, however, is a totally different animal to running. Different muscles and certainly different skills.

So why even hike in the French Alps? The views.

Hiking In The French Alps

When I travel I am always searching for beautiful scenery where I can take a lot of photos. Here is my tale of two hikes: one I thoroughly enjoyed and the other….well you’ll see.

Hike #1: To Refuge du Nant du Beurre

When I stayed at a B & B called Chalet Savoie Faire. It is located in the Savoie Rhone-Alpes department of France, and the owner, Nikki, suggested that I do a hike in the Beaufortain Massif (mountain range) to the Refuge du Nant du Beurre.  A mountain “refuge” in France is by definition a “hut” and hikers use these to stay overnight, have a meal, and meet other hikers.

I only planned to do a day hike and Nikki lent me hiking poles which ended up being the most useful thing I brought. The terrain was fairly clean (like a dirt road without lots of stones and rocks) most of the time with direction signs which was perfect because I have NO sense of direction. I found myself humming the theme to the Sound of Music because the scenery reminded me so much of that movie: wide open valleys with rolling hills and beautiful views of the mountains in the Savoie.

Refuge du Nant du Beurre (2080m)

In 1 3/4 hours I got to the Refuge, rather than the stated 2 1/2 hours. This surprised me as I stopped many times to take pictures or have water. I didn’t think I was moving that fast. The Refuge was fairly new, built in 2011 and was far from rustic. It had a restaurant, washrooms, showers, and a dormitory with 31 beds.

Le Grand Crêtet (2292m)

After my coffee break, I headed further up (north) as I was told I would be able to get a great view of Mont Blanc, which is the highest mountain in Europe. Mont Blanc is one of 11 summits in the Mont Blanc Massif and sadly there are approximately 100 fatalities a year.

Hiking higher and higher for 30 minutes,  I finally came upon the crest of the mountain and there it was in the far distance…. Mont Blanc.

Lunch

After my hike to Le Grand Crêtet, I sat outside on the terrace overlooking the Vanoise Massif and had lunch.  The resident dog liked the food too. He made friends with EVERYONE, putting his chin on laps, trying to get a little snack. He was very successful.

The hike down was actually not as difficult as I thought it might be. There are some rocky parts but the hiking poles helped me immensely. So glad I had them. I think they made the hike much easier and certainly, people say it makes it easier on one’s knees. Do you need to be in shape? Yes. There are some tough spots where you are maneuvering around big rocks. Your heart and legs will get a good workout, but overall, it is a manageable hike.

Why I Liked This Hike

• Wide open vistas
• Clean paths most of the time. I didn’t have to look down most of the time.
• Refuge almost at the top had a lovely view and food

Refuge du Nant du Beurre Website (french only): http://refugedunantdubeurre.fr

Hike #2: Hiking down to Chamonix

Chamonix is a very popular and busy ski resort town that I visited over 25 years ago. There are so many different things to do in the summer such as going to the top of Aiguille du Midi by cable car (téléphérique) to get some amazing views of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.

The #$@^&!* Hike

My plan was to take the cable car to the halfway point, the Plan de l’Aiguille, and then hike back down to town. Supposedly it would only take 2 1/3 hours and this was perfect in view of the forecast of a thunderstorm. Little did I know that the route was not a “walk in the park”. The only time I looked up to admire the view was when I stopped for water or a break. My eyes were fixed (more like “fixated”) on the trail in front of me. I was petrified I would fall off a cliff above Chamonix.

The Route

After you get off the cable car, you can wander around the area which is flat but rocky. Initially, the trek down to the Refuge du Plan de l’Aiguille is smooth and fast. This is a refuge for hikers to spend the night or have a meal (the dormitory has 10 beds).

From the Refuge, one encounters the beginning of the more difficult trek. As I passed the Refuge the path in front of me was only about 20 inches wide, muddy, and entirely covered with water. I was scared of slipping and falling off the cliff and I stood there debating: keep going or turn around? I decided to take a risk and continue on, carefully and cautiously.

Some of the terrain was flat with dirt; however, more often (ie. 85% of the time) it was rocky and uneven. Sometimes the roots of trees would jut out of the ground and other times, there were just so many rocks to maneuver around. There was a mixture of flat and steep where you had to grab onto the rock beside you just in case.

Most of the time you see the sky above; however by the time you hit the bottom third of the hike, you are in a forest which is nice when it is hot and sunny out but really no views. There are a number of areas with streams and watery paths so you really need to watch your step so you don’t slip. As you approach the bottom of the Aiguille, you see a parking lot and eventually the main cable car station that took you up the Aiguille. You’ve made it!

Why I Didn’t Like This Hike

• The paths were very narrow and rocky and this is what made the trek so challenging and dangerous.
• Over some rocks and stones that were wet from the melting glacier ice.
• Views were not as good, in part because you are in the forest.

Chamonix Mont Blanc Tourist Office: http://www.chamonix.com/chamonix-mont-blanc,0,en.html

Advice For Either Hike:

• If you’re a “city-girl” or “city-guy” your expectations may be different from those who regularly hike, so when you are doing your planning, try to find out what the terrain is really like. Talk to the tourist office and reps at the mountain. If you are hiking as the spring thaw is occurring, you might encounter very wet and slippery trails. One thing I am realizing is that when I have asked for advice, the suggestions are often from people who do serious hiking, so what is easy for them is difficult for me.
• Hiking poles might have helped me deal with all the uneven rocks; however, I didn’t have any.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. You’ll need the grip.
• Bring sunglasses and sunscreen
• Bring lots of water and snacks and you’ll be fine.
• And especially for the Chamonix hike, be sure you have warm clothes as it can be cold up at Plan de l’Aiguille.

If you’re interested in how to prepare for a hike, read about my preparations for hiking in the French Pyrénées…as a beginner.

	To Refuge du Nant du Beurre and Le Grand Crêtet	From Plan de l’Aiguille to Chamonix
Duration	3 3/4 hours (incl lunch and break)	4 hours (no lunch or long breaks)
Level of Difficulty	Moderate (to Refuge)   Easy (to Le Grand Crêtet)	Moderate to Challenging
Altitudes	Tovet (start)-1550m   Refuge-2080m Le Grand Crêtet- 2292m	Chamonix-1031m   Plan de l’Aiguille-2310m
Elevation	742m	1279m

Map Of Hiking Locations

Click on the map or on this link and you’ll be directed to a Google Map indicating all the places in this post.

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Be sure to check out these other posts which focus on being active in France:

• Running In France
• Active Boomer In France
• Alternatives To Walking In Paris
• What It’s Like To Take A Bicycle Trip In France
• Another Way To See Paris: Do The “20 km de Paris” Race
• Paddling A Kayak Under The Pond du Gard