Aiguillette des Houches from La Flatière

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful hikes in the mountains, offering unique views of Les Houches, Les Fiz and Le Brévent.
It's a good workout on the way up and a very pleasant descent with a stop at Le Chailloux, a simple and efficient refreshment bar with a beautiful view of Mont Blanc.

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Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike! Worth doing again, magnificent view at the top! Still a bit challenging, but completed in 3 hours.

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Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike
done in reverse, which seemed harder to me because it was winter
magnificent landscapes
worth doing

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Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Leaving early avoided the crowds, as the beautiful weather meant there were lots of people out and about

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Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike surrounded by autumn colours. We continued along the ridge to picnic a little further on, towards the Pointe de Lapaz. Please note that you need to park at the Bettey car park, just before the indicated starting point.

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Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It climbs gradually on a fairly flat path, then steeply near the summit.
Most of the descent is also easy on flat ground.
I preferred this route to the one that goes via the Belachat refuge as it is easier on the knees during the descent.
However, there is a slightly tricky section at the summit.

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Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

9 May 2024, still lots of snow on the route, fabulous scenery! Thank you for this magnificent tour!
With the snow, walking poles were essential, and light crampons would not have been a luxury, especially between points 4 and 5. On the ridge between 3 and 4, there were large seracs, so we veered slightly to the right to avoid exposing ourselves.
When we reached the top, the weather was mild, so we took the time to admire the view...

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Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike with little snow, we couldn't make it to the summit

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Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Aiguille des Houches climbed in winter, with crampons and snowshoes (also possible with touring skis) via Les Chalets de Chailloux, i.e. the route described for the descent.
First, park before Bettey: there are car parks on the left of the road, as access to the village and La Flatière is now reserved for residents. The climb through the forest in frozen snow in the morning justified the use of forest crampons. I kept them on beyond the Chalets de Chailloux, as the snow was fairly firm, but I put on snowshoes for the descent down to the forest, as the snow cover had softened.
Magnificent view from the ridge, over Mont Blanc, Les Fiz...
Quite a few people up to the Chalets de Chailloux, a little less beyond, but it's still a popular area (skis, snowshoes or crampons).
Highly recommended.

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Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk completed on 16/09/2023 in good weather.
The climb is pleasant, passing through the forest, which gradually thins out, to the mountain itself.
The difficulty increases but is not insurmountable.
The view is magnificent and it's worth pushing on to the "Pointe de La Paz" for lunch and to take in the stunning scenery.
Of course, you can go even further, but you have to think about the descent, and that's where the trouble starts.
No, I'm exaggerating, but it's not pleasant at all, as is often the case in the mountains. You can't have everything.
You have to hold on to the good memories, confirmed by the photos taken by professionals, which are undoubtedly identical to those taken by the thousands or even millions of hikers who came before us, but they are ours.
There you have it

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Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's always very satisfying to climb up to the Aiguillette to enjoy the panorama and the beautiful colours of early autumn

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About the hike to Lac des Verdets today, 2 October 2023. The lake no longer exists; it is dry. The two water sources indicated were not available because the two refuges were completely closed with no access to a tap. Otherwise, the description and map were perfect. In my opinion, the description should specify that the availability of water depends on whether the refuges are open.

Have a good evening.

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Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Start of the hike at 9 a.m. Beautiful weather. We chose the shortest route.
The first part, in the forest, is monotonous and easy. Little by little, the trail climbs and the view opens up! Phew! Valleys, mountains, magnificent.
From "la pierre blanche" (the white stone), the pace changes due to the steepness! And there's the ridge, offering views
. Finally, the summit, with a 360° panoramic view. Our jackets and hats protect us from the cool air!

After a snack, we begin the descent in the sunshine, admiring the Mont Blanc massif.
A varied hike, easy going with a few steep sections, a pleasant discovery.

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Thank you for your positive comment!

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Date of your route : Sep 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Preliminary note: I preferred this hike to the one at https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-aigu..., which seems to include some vertiginous passages requiring equipment. However, it is an alternative to consider for the more adventurous.

This hike is not difficult. Be sure to bring plenty of water. The first part of the hike is in the forest, which provides some shade but still offers some beautiful views. The signs indicate a 2 hour 20 minute climb from La Flatière to the summit of the Aiguillette des Houches (approximately 900 metres of elevation gain).

At the summit, after enjoying a 360° view, including Mont Blanc and its neighbours, I took a little detour along a ridge path that passes by the Pointe de Lapaz and joins the Bellachat refuge. This ridge path is not difficult and is not vertiginous. The landscape is magnificent. I then returned to the summit of the Aiguillette des Houches and descended via the suggested route (1 hour 20 minutes). The bonus/alternative route I mentioned adds 1 hour 30 minutes and perhaps an additional 200 metres of elevation gain, which are hardly noticeable. At the Bellachat refuge, you can eat and buy water (no drinking water).

Thanks to Étienne for posting this hike, I'm happy to be the first to comment on it.

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