Lac Blanc to Les Houches - Tour Mont Blanc

This 11th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) is practically all downhill (with obvious exceptions at La Flégère, up to the Col du Brévent and Le Brévent and the Tête de Bellachat). The Refuge Lac Blanc is at 2,352m and the Chalet Les Méandres is at 1,100m. Let's do it!
The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour Mont Blanc in 11 stages

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.74 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 885 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 2,118 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,473 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 988 m

Description of the walk

Start : Refuge Lac Blanc [https://refuge-lac-bla...] in Lac Blanc.
Follow the TMB signs

(S) From the Refuge Lac Blanc, after a long last look at the beautiful Lac Blanc, take the path South-West to begin the descent, gently at first then more pronounced as the route enters a wood. Keep heading South, ignoring other paths but following the TMB signs to go past a small lake on the right after 830 m or so.

(1) Continue working your way down through the trees to eventually reach the Lac de la Flégère (at 2,020m) after 1 Km.

(2) Our route continues to descend through the trees South as the path becomes a track and we go under ski lifts and across ski runs.

(3) At a bend in the track (La Chavanne bar is off to the left on this track) the route picks up a path that takes us down to the main La Flégère buildings. There you'll find L'Adret de la Flégère for food and drink and the Refuge de la Flégère.

(4) The route now swings right to head West along the Grand Balcon Sud, maintaining the level for most of the way. This area is also known as Lacs Noirs and continues to hug the mountainside at more or less the same altitude to reach La Charlanon (at 1,850m).

(5) The path enters a wood then swings right to climb North-West, under the ski lifts and crossing tracks and ski runs to reach a building at the top of a ski lift.

(6) Over to the left is a bar called Altitude 2000 and the Grand Balcon Sud goes downhill from here. However, our route heads North, climbing again to 2,200m where a path leads off to the left to climb steeply to the Col du Brévent (at 2,386m).

(7) Ignore the path heading North but take the route heading West to climb up to Le Brévent (at 2,525m).

(8) Our route doesn't go to the summit, where there are a number of buildings that house ski lifts, so continue South to drop down to a small lake. Ignore the path off to the right but carry on as far as the Tête de Bellachat (at 2, 276m).

(9) The descent now becomes more pronounced as the route winds its way down past the Refuge de Bellachat and the camping area.

(10) The path takes us across the Ravin des Vouillourds, dropping continually, through trees and open areas, across the Torrent des Lapaz and eventually joining a track near a car park.

(11) Bear right and take a path off to the left through the trees heading down almost to the L'Arve river in the valley bottom.

(12) Join the track that heads South-West above the river (Chemin des Eaux Rousses) then bear right to join the Rte de Coupeau.

(13) Pick up a path on the left (signpost in green) that heads up to cross the Rte de Coupeau.

(14) Another path further up leads to Chemin du Senet and then a short walk along this road leads to the Chalet Les Méandres https://www.tupilak.com/ in Les Houches (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 2,352 m - Lac Blanc
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 2,176 m - Small lake
  3. 2 : km 1.79 - alt. 2,023 m - Lac de la Flégère
  4. 3 : km 2.42 - alt. 1,898 m - Under ski lifts and across ski runs
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 1,883 m - Refuge la Flégère (1807m)
  6. 5 : km 5.51 - alt. 1,851 m - La Charlanon
  7. 6 : km 7.77 - alt. 2,072 m - Building at the top of a ski lift
  8. 7 : km 8.95 - alt. 2,368 m - Col du Brévent
  9. 8 : km 10.08 - alt. 2,473 m - Le Brévent
  10. 9 : km 11.58 - alt. 2,262 m - Tête de Bellachat
  11. 10 : km 12.19 - alt. 2,150 m - Refuge de Bellachat
  12. 11 : km 15.09 - alt. 1,437 m - Car park
  13. 12 : km 17.5 - alt. 1,011 m - L'Arve river
  14. 13 : km 18.08 - alt. 1,008 m - Rte de Coupeau
  15. 14 : km 18.56 - alt. 1,084 m - Rte de Coupeau - Chemin du Senet
  16. E : km 18.74 - alt. 1,119 m - Les Houches

Practical information

Start : Refuge Lac Blanc [https://refuge-lac-bla...] in Lac Blanc.

Facilities : Food and drink are available along the way but make sure you have enough water, especially in summer.

Note : Wear a hat and use suncream. If it's winter, make sure you have strong boots and check the weather before venturing out on the mountains.

In the nearby area

Enjoy the views and take your time. Take care of yourself and look out for wildlife along the way. Just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.

Other walks in the area

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.