Lac Cornu (lake) from the Planpraz cable car

Start: The start for the hike is the arrival station for the first section of the Planpraz cable car. There are a number of paying car parks in the vicinity of the departure station, located at Le Mollard.

(S/E) Leave gently on the wide path leading to the arrivals of the 2 lifts (north-east, Stade lift). Continue North for 200m, then take the left-hand path towards Col du Lac Cornu. Reach the crossroads of the lake path and the GRP^®.

(1) Leave the GRP^® Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc on your right. Continue to climb North then North-East. The slope steepens below the pass for the last 150 m. Reach the Col du Lac Cornu.

(2) Descend towards the lake, which can be seen below to the North-West.

(3) Follow the same path back up to the pass.

(2) A hundred or so metres before the pass, turn North-East towards the Aiguille Pourrie. Pass under the summit and descend to the Col de la Glière.

(4) A hundred metres further on, take the right-hand path down through the Combe de la Glière. The start is a little tricky for about 20 metres, but cables are in place to help. The path descends fairly quickly at first, up to elevation 2000, then turns into a balcony. It ends with a short climb to the bottom of the Index chairlift. Reach the chairlift station (S/E).

Take the chairlift for the descent (panoramic view of Mont Blanc). Continue to the Flégère cabin. Once in Chamonix, it's about 2.5 km to your departure point at Planpraz. The Flégère-Les Houches bus line can be used, getting off at Chamonix center.

Start: The start for the hike is the arrival station for the first section of the Planpraz cable car. There are a number of paying car parks in the vicinity of the departure station, located at Le Mollard.

Transport: For this tour you use the cable cars, so a "pass" is often more attractive than single tickets. Several interesting offers are available. Especially as the tour is not very long, you can make an extra ascent in the late afternoon, to the Grands Montets for example. Check the opening times of the Flégère, Brévent and Index chairlifts beforehand.

⚠️ No water points or shelters on this circuit. We're always close to the cabins in case of bad weather.

Gears: You'll need the usual equipment: preferably high-top shoes, sunglasses and cap, and a rain jacket, hat and gloves in your rucksack (the Col du Lac Cornu is usually windy). Poles are always welcome.
If there are children, 15 m of rope is always a safety feature in the bag.

This hike can be done on the way back from Lac Cornu via the same route as the outward journey.

Take the cabin to the Planpraz station (first section). You've already got your first panoramic view of the massif. If you have a little time and a "pass", you can take a detour and take the second section up to Brévent. From up there, you have a grandiose panorama that's well worth the detour. Maybe you'll have the chance to shiver as you follow the Base Jumpers. The jump, the passage between the cables and the power line, the end flush with the forest (as seen from here) - it's a guaranteed thrill.
Make the most of it and take the skip back down to Planpraz to get down to business. The panorama of the Mont Blanc massif is simply breathtaking. Lac Cornu is very pleasant, not too crowded and the temptation to take a rest after the picnic is strong....