L'alpage fleuri de Charousse
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
Climb: 81 metres
Grade: Family/easy
At Charousse the view of the Aiguilles de Chamonix and the Chaine des Fiz is particularly picturesque. It is popular with painters who set up their easels in the middle of the fields of flowers or snow.
At the centre of Les Houches follow in the direction of "Chavants" and then "Côte des Chavants".
Leave the car at the top of the Côte and take the marked path that leads to "L'alpage de Charousse". (Please remember to keep dogs on a lead where sheep are grazing and respect the privacy of proprietors)
The more active can continue the walk until the Col de la Forclaz – this pass is peculiar because it is situated in a forest. It is at this Col that a famous Roman boundary stone has been found that marked the boundary between the Allobroges and the Ceutrons.
Walk of the Crêtes, Bellevue, Prarion
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
Climb: 200m
Grade: Family/easy
This walk has a magnificent panorama of the Mont Blanc massif, the Chamonix valley and the Val Mont-Joie.
The trail runs between the Prarion and Bellevue lifts and therefore can be accessed by both Prarion and Bellevue lifts in Les Houches and the return can also be made on either lift.
At the summit of the Bellevue cable car take the trail that runs next to the Tramway du Mont Blanc tracks in the direction of the Col de Voza. At the Col de Voza continue on the 4x4 trail in the direction of the Prarion on the other side.
When you reach the mid point of the incline take the left hand side of the fork in the direction of La Charme. After the farm of La Charme, climb back up by the path on the mountainside towards the pastureland and the Prarion (restaurant). Return to the village by the Prarion cable car or return to the Bellevue lift by the same route.
For a 360° view you can walk up to the summit of the Prarion, it takes about 45 minutes.
Col de la Forclaz to the PrarionDuration: 5-6 hours
Climb: 900m
Grade: Intermediate/difficult
This walk takes you through cultivated land then deep into forest and then climbs up to the Col de la Forclaz. The path then follows a ridge to the summit of the Prarion with wonderful views of the Mont Blanc massif.
Park at the Chalet des Amis de la Nature.
Follow signs for “Charousse – Col de la Forclaz” – a wide track leads past Les Granges des Chavants and then up to the Col de la Forclaz. From the Col go left and along the ridge, sometimes on the St Gervais side sometimes above Les Houches.
This leads to the summit of the Prarion, which is traversed to reach the prarion cable car to descend to the valley. It takes about 20 minutes to get back to the car.
L'Aiguillette du Brévent
Duration: 6 hours
Climb: 800m
Difficulty: Intermediate/difficult
Park at the entrance to the Merlet Animal Park. Go along the park fence for a few minutes and follow the signs to “TMB Bel Lachat”.
After 2 hours of climbing the Bel Lachat Hut is reached where you can enjoy a coffee in the sunshine.
From the hut go to the wide grassy col and ascend the Aigullette de Brévent opposite.
Return by the same route.