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ExploreSnowshoeing in one of the most renowned ski resorts… Is it a bit like imagining a Jamaican bobsleigh team at the Olympics? Yes! And it's so cool. Still too often overlooked, snowshoeing has it all: no technique required, minimal equipment, fresh air, and few crowds. Peace.
Starting from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc: endless possibilities
Hiking to the village of Les Tines promises a charming, picture-postcard hamlet with its stone farmhouses and barns, located right at the foot of the Mer de Glace glacier. For a more challenging hike, the excursion to the Aiguillette des Posettes offers a breathtaking 360° view upon arrival. And for something in between, the Bossons Glacier route leads to the highest icefall in the Alps. Nothing more.
• Les Tines and the snow-covered forest - easy - 3 km (1h10)
• The Bossons Glacier loop - moderate - 3.6 km (1h55)
• Hike to the Aiguillette des Posettes - difficult - 7.6 km (4h20)
From Les Houches: on the trail of deer
Bambi's spot is the Mouilles watering hole, accessible via the Sentier des Cerfs (Deer Trail), which begins in the forest. Les Houches and the surrounding area, with its perfect snow everywhere (thanks to the resort's ideal orientation) and its chalets perched like cookies on a Christmas platter, offer landscapes worthy of a fairytale. Even without encountering any animals.
• The Chavants Loop and White Trees - easy - 1.9 km (35 min)
• Route to the hamlet of Samoteux and its peat bogs - moderate - 3.6 km (1 hr 40 min)
• Hike to the Chailloux chalets - difficult - 6.8 km (3 hr 35 min)
Around Servoz: the charming little lakes
At the end of the valley, Servoz is the cosy, wood-fireplace version of your winter dreams. To earn a hot chocolate by the fireplace, start with the lovely trapper's trail that winds through the most diverse forest in the area and leads to the "gouilles" (small lakes in Savoyard dialect) and the photogenic Lac Vert (Green Lake).
• Along the banks of the Arve River and through snow-covered woods - easy - 1.6 km (30 min)
• Towards the ponds of the 3 Gouilles - moderate - 3.5 km (1 hr 45 min)
• Towards Lac Vert - moderate - 6.2 km (2 hr 35 min)
Wild Vallorcine
Less frequented, more rugged, more into the wild, the "Valley of the Bears" lives up to its name. The Granges loop is a must: 3.4 km of breathtaking scenery from hamlet to hamlet, with some sections through deep forest and stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif and Mont Oreb.
Off the marked trails
The Chamonix Guides Company, the ESF (French Ski School), and Evolution 2 offer half-day and full-day outings that evoke the scent of spruce, fresh snow, and controlled adventure. Wildlife, heritage, valleys and ridges: follow the guide, listen to the silence. And enjoy.
Chamonix Guides Company and ESF - Maison de la Montagne - 190, Place de l’Église - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Evolution 2 - 130, Rue des Moulins - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Bonus track: snowshoeing + raclette or a trapper's bivouac?
The Chamonix Guides Company has outings that will convince even the most skeptical. A half-day excursion: a continuous snowshoe climb to the farm and a convivial raclette made with 100% local cheeses and charcuterie. And if that's not enough, choose the two-day expedition with an unusual night in a tent, high above the valley. Total autonomy, maximum immersion.
So, are you hooked yet?
