Chamonix to Le Tour.(GREEN/BLUE/RED) 27km /-700m. The route starts at the ice rink in Chamonix and heads up the valley following the cross country skiing course (also the start of the Marathon du Mont Blanc). It is initially fairly flat on wide easy trails (Green) until Les Bois at which point it climbs to Lavancher, on slightly rocky and steep but wide trails (Blue). From Lavancher do not be tempted to take the Petit Balcon Nord path to Argentière, as although it start off wide and easy latterly there are places that are too narrow, big boulder steps and steep drop offs. Instead take the tarmac road through and beyond Lavancher to the main valley road, that links Chamonix and Le Tour. Cross the road, at the bridge to La Joux, then follow the Promenade de l’Arve to Argentiere. This section has several bridge crossings, but the river can easily be fjorded if you do not feel safe on the bridges (Green). In Argentiere explore the cross country skiing area behind the Plan Joran lift station, before wending your way through the back streets of Argentiere to the road that climbs to Montroc. A short road section follows after which you can again use back streets through the houses of Montroc, before the final road stretch to Le Tour (Green). The return leg from Le Tour is challenging (Red at least), so if you don’t feel up to that, just pick up the return routing to Chamonix from Argentiere. The return route descends through a field from Le Tour with a step rocky pitch, before climbing to Le Planet and picking up the Petit Balcon Nord to Argentiere. (Do not be tempted by the stretch of the Petit Balcon Nord between Le Tour and Le Planet it is not wide enough). From Le Planet a really technical, rocky, steep, zigzag descent awaits (Red). Make your way back to the Promenade de l’Arve but, instead of crossing at La Joux, continue on the Promenade all the way to and through Paradis des Praz, there is one steep section (Blue). On the far side of Paradis the route climbs to the Promenade de Vourgeat, underneath the Flegère télécabine on the North side of the golf course, before descending to Les Praz (Blue descent) and following the river trail back to Chamonix, arriving at the tennis courts (Green). (GPS routing starts and stops at the ice rink in Chamonix - Cham Le Tour.gpx).

Statistics

6 - 7

hrs

743

m

743

m

10

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Moderate

Description

Chamonix to Le Tour.(GREEN/BLUE/RED) 27km /-700m. The route starts at the ice rink in Chamonix and heads up the valley following the cross country skiing course (also the start of the Marathon du Mont Blanc).

It is initially fairly flat on wide easy trails (Green) until Les Bois at which point it climbs to Lavancher, on slightly rocky and steep but wide trails (Blue).

From Lavancher do not be tempted to take the Petit Balcon Nord path to Argentière, as although it start off wide and easy latterly there are places that are too narrow, big boulder steps and steep drop offs. Instead take the tarmac road through and beyond Lavancher to the main valley road, that links Chamonix and Le Tour.

Cross the road, at the bridge to La Joux, then follow the Promenade de l’Arve to Argentiere.

This section has several bridge crossings, but the river can easily be fjorded if you do not feel safe on the bridges (Green). In Argentiere explore the cross country skiing area behind the Plan Joran lift station, before wending your way through the back streets of Argentiere to the road that climbs to Montroc.

A short road section follows after which you can again use back streets through the houses of Montroc, before the final road stretch to Le Tour (Green). The return leg from Le Tour is challenging (Red at least), so if you don’t feel up to that, just pick up the return routing to Chamonix from Argentiere. The return route descends through a field from Le Tour with a step rocky pitch, before climbing to Le Planet and picking up the Petit Balcon Nord to Argentiere.

(Do not be tempted by the stretch of the Petit Balcon Nord between Le Tour and Le Planet it is not wide enough).

From Le Planet a really technical, rocky, steep, zigzag descent awaits (Red).

Make your way back to the Promenade de l’Arve but, instead of crossing at La Joux, continue on the Promenade all the way to and through Paradis des Praz, there is one steep section (Blue).

On the far side of Paradis the route climbs to the Promenade de Vourgeat, underneath the Flegère télécabine on the North side of the golf course, before descending to Les Praz (Blue descent) and following the river trail back to Chamonix, arriving at the tennis courts (Green). (GPS routing starts and stops at the ice rink in Chamonix - Cham Le Tour.gpx).