Lac de Montriond to Roc de Taveneuse, views to Lac de Taveneuse & Abondance

A there and back hike up to Roc de Taveneuse with views across to Abondance. This hike offers a challenging initial forest climb (hard relentless cardio but no rock climbs or cables/supports) but then opens up to mountain pastures with full panoramic shot of Mont Blanc (on a clear day). A further climb brings you to Roc de Tavaneuse with 360 views.

Details

18589513
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.58 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,543 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,543 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 7,044 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,494 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From Lake Montriond car park, follow the D228 (Route du Lac) following a Northern-East direction to the trailhead.

(1) Take the path up and at the junction keep the left-hand side. The hike starts with a challenging constant forest climb for 45-60 minutes where you will meet several turns. There are a couple of glimpses down to the lake but sadly not a wide-open view.

(2) The forest finally opens up to mountain pastures where you can look back in the direction of the lake with a full panoramic shot of Mont Blanc (on a clear day). Carry on straight on the windy path up to Châlets de Lens.

(3) The land flattens off as you reach the hamlet of the mazots at Chalets de Lens, each with its own landscaped gardens (always an amazement to see at 1825m). Go straight on the main path up to a fork where you take you right-hand side to Col de Tavaneuse.

(4) The route leaves the hamlet, sheltering under the rocky incline of Pointe de Nantaux before turning right towards Col de Taveneuse where there's an option to drop down into the bowl to Lac de Tavaneuse. Alternatively turn left and a 15 minute climb brings you to Roc de Tavaneuse.
The descent is back the way you came. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,501 ft - Lake Montriond Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 3,517 ft - Bus stop
  3. 2 : mi 1.67 - alt. 5,400 ft - View of Mont Blanc
  4. 3 : mi 2.23 - alt. 5,984 ft - Water point
  5. 4 : mi 2.86 - alt. 6,558 ft - Cross and panoramic view
  6. S/E : mi 6.58 - alt. 3,501 ft - Lake Montriond Car park

Notes

  • An early arrival secures you a parking spot a Lake Montriond (summer and weekends the parking gets very busy)
  • The forest route is a steep decline - walking poles are useful.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
notha747474
notha747474

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with a few climbs!!! But not too difficult.

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Titouan_Gls
Titouan_Gls

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I was inspired by this hike to do a loop starting from Lac de Montriond.
There's a great view at the top, and the climb is easier once you're out of the forest. It's still quite steep, but nothing you can't handle.
I climbed up to Roc de la Tavaneuse to descend to its lake and then join Lac des Plagnes.
This makes the hike very difficult in my opinion, as there is more than 2,000 metres of elevation gain over 24 km.
It is possible to do a smaller loop without going via Lac des Plagnes, which is around 17 km in my opinion.

A very good hike with varied landscapes

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