Refine your search for walks in Lac du Vieux Émosson
Lac du Vieux Émosson walks
The Emosson lakes in the footsteps of the dinosaurs
Visorando Member
14.03 mi
+5,886 ft
-5,869 ft
12 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A superb circular French-Swiss for experienced walkers.The beauty of the landscapes in absolute silence will make you forget everything.Add to that a leap back in time several million years and you'll feel like you're walking on air.
⚠️ 16/12/2025: closure of a section of the Barberine forest (between (S/E) and (1)). See decree. Detour possible.
Vieux Emosson Refuge - Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard
7.85 mi
+3,921 ft
-4,715 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
Pass through the listed site of dinosaur footprints, then climb up to Cheval Blanc and reach the summit of Buet via the ridges. A difficult alpine route classified as T4 with breathtaking views of the Aiguilles Rouges.
Couteray - Refuge du Vieux Emosson
7.45 mi
+3,753 ft
-1,053 ft
6h 40
Difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A pretty route, with views of the Tour and Argentière glaciers, which passes through the Refuge de Loriaz to reach the Barrage d'Emosson via a balcony path and finishes at the Refuge du Vieux Emosson.
Tour of the Dents Blanches massif, Ruan, Tenneverge
75.55 mi
+33,983 ft
-33,875 ft
8 days
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Straddling the Franco-Swiss border, the Dents Blanches, Dents du Midi, Tenneverge, Mont Ruan and Aiguilles Rouges. An area strongly shaped by the folding of the Alps, with surprising landscapes ranging from lunar deserts to high-altitude lakes, waterfalls and forgotten mountain pastures. A wild and unspoilt nature that only hikers can discover. Alpine valleys, often isolated by "pas", technical and cabled paths opening the doors to this universe of raw and grandiose nature...
Cabane du Vieux Emosson - Couteray
7.16 mi
+2,067 ft
-4,728 ft
5h 05
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
This route begins with a detour off the beaten track, suggested to us by the refuge warden, to reach the Col de la Terrasse. An alpine route with the Emosson dam in the background and a chance to discover the lakes at the Col du Corbeaux. After a long descent at the foot of Mont Buet in the Tré les Eaux valley, cross a long ledge equipped with cables and ladders to finally reach the Chalets des Granges and arrive at the Couteray car park.
Walks near Lac du Vieux Émosson
Ascending journey to the heights of Vallorcine
5.59 mi
+961 ft
-2,986 ft
3h 25
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
An easy hike overlooking the Trient and Vallorcine valleys, with superb views of the surrounding mountains such as the Mont Blanc massif and the 4,000-metre peaks of Valais. Caution for those prone to vertigo or fear of heights: there is a section with handrails, which is not dangerous but requires particular attention
Emosson Dam - Auberge de Salanfe
8.25 mi
+4,167 ft
-4,711 ft
7h 25
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
For this first stage, after skirting Lake Emosson opposite the Mont Ruan massif, the Col de Barberine and Col d'Emaney passes will take you to the shores of Lake Salanfe. You will appreciate the contrast between the Ruan massif and the Dents du Midi massif.
Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard - Refuge des Fonts
11.24 mi
+3,527 ft
-5,331 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A lovely hike passing through the Col de Salenton, descend to take the balcony path through the mountain pastures of the Vallée de la Diosaz. Continue on to the Refuge de Moede-Anterne, then the Col d'Anterne and descend to the magnificent Lac d'Anterne. Then reach the Refuge des Fonts via a pretty path passing through the Petit Col d'Anterne.
⚠️ This route crosses the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.
Tour des Aiguilles Rouges : Refuge Pierre à Bérard - Refuge Flégère
9.06 mi
+2,680 ft
-2,848 ft
6h 30
Moderate
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Third stage of the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges.
This stage is on the GRP® Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc itinerary. Descend through the Vallon de Bérard nature reserve with its waterfall to the Col des Montets, then climb back up to the Refuge de la Flègère to take in the panoramic view of the Mont Blanc mountain range and its glaciers.
Vogealle Refuge - Bonavau Inn
7.48 mi
+3,412 ft
-4,570 ft
6h 25
Difficult
Departure from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (Haute-Savoie)
Straddling the French-Swiss border, between Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval and Champéry, this marked trail takes you between alpine pastures and high mountains. The Dents Blanche pass is remarkable for its geology, with its tightly folded limestone layers. A steep descent down a rocky chimney (with cables) takes you to the Col de Bostan, on the French-Swiss border. The Pas de la Bide, a tricky passage with its famous letterbox, leads to the Brame mountain pastures and the Auberge de Bonavau.
Col de Balme - Champex-Lac
10.94 mi
+4,327 ft
-6,673 ft
8h 50
Very difficult
Departure from Haute-Savoie
This second stage begins with a pleasant trail towards the "Des Grands" mountain pasture. Once you reach this chalet, the trail descends to the torrent, which you must cross at the Chalet du Glacier (1583 m). The view of the nearby Trient Glacier is magnificent. The long climb to the Fenêtre d'Arpette begins just after the Chalet Buvette. The landscape is chaotic at the pass and in the Arpette valley. The landscape becomes greener again from the Arpette refuge. The path then follows a bisse (irrigation channel) to Champex.
Refuge Albert 1er - Glacier du Tour
5.15 mi
+1,939 ft
-3,048 ft
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Located above the Tour glacier, on its right bank, it is the only refuge managed by the Chamonix CAF that can be reached without crossing a glacier in summer. Its location is ideal, with views over a wide range of peaks: Aiguille du Tour, Chardonnet, Aiguille d'Argentière, la Verte and les Drus, les Aiguilles Rouges. It was named after Albert 1st, King of the Belgians. Considered the only high-mountain refuge accessible to families.
Col de Balme - Source de l'Arve - Col des Posettes from Le Tour
2.88 mi
+82 ft
-1,204 ft
1h 25
Easy
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A short summer hike with exceptional panoramic views over the Chamonix valley and its massifs. There are several ways to approach it from Le Tour: the one shown is from the East, using the Charamillon cable car and the Autannes chairlift. The return journey is via the Charamillon cable car.
Refuge des Fonts - Refuge de la Vogealle
14.69 mi
+4,423 ft
-2,664 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (Haute-Savoie)
A lovely hike in the Cirque du Fer à Cheval with its remarkable waterfalls, a stop at the Bout du Monde, with a balcony path through the forest to reach the Chalet du Boret, and a steady climb to reach the Refuge de la Vogealle perched on a pretty plateau.
Important note: this route requires a taxi shuttle from the Cascade du Rouget to the Cirque du Fer à Cheval (14 km) to reduce the walking distance.
Trient to Tré-le-Champ - Tour Monte Blanc
Association / Club / Walk leader8.54 mi
+3,760 ft
-3,392 ft
7h 10
Difficult
Departure from Valais
This 9th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) offers three options, the North-West one that climbs up almost to the summit of Carraye (t 2,132m) and drops down to Valorcine, the South-West past Col de Balme (at 2,191m) then drops to Le Tour or the middle option that goes over Col de Balme and Aiguilette des Posettes (at 2,210m) to drop down to Tré-le-Champ. Here's the description of the classic middle option. 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.