Le Cheval Blanc on the French-Swiss border

Less than an hour from Chamonix, take the D1506 towards Switzerland. Cross the border and head towards the village of Finhaut. Go round Finhaut, first to the east, then to the north, and continue to the car park at the Emosson Dam.
The walk is very well signposted with signs and red arrows surrounded by white.

(S/E) From the car park, head to the Emosson Dam and cross it.

(1) Just after the dam, take a path on the left (signposted), which is the ‘Tour de la Vallée du Trient’ route that you will follow for much of the walk. The path runs along the southern shore of Lake Emosson, then gradually moves away from it, passing behind the Tête du Largey.

(2) At the fork (alt. 2,150 m), leave the Tour de la Vallée du Trient route and continue straight on, along a stream, heading south-west. This path passes through the Gorges de la Veudale and joins the ‘dinosaur trail’, rejoining the Tour de la Vallée du Trient route for about 300 metres.

(3) Leave the Tour de la Vallée du Trient route again, turning left (south) to follow the Dinosaur Tracks Trail. Some very interesting information boards tell the story of the various fossilised footprints you will see along the way. After the footprints, the path veers westwards across a vast scree slope, which you must cross to reach its summit.

(4) At a fork (alt. 2,510 m), ignore the path coming from the left (Col des Corbeaux) and turn right, heading towards the summit, still on the scree. The final 150 metres of ascent are equipped with handrails and may be daunting for those prone to vertigo, particularly due to the sheer drop down to the lakes and the smooth slabs, which can be intimidating. The rock is somewhat crumbly in places, so watch your step. Reach the summit of the Cheval Blanc, marked by a large cairn signposting the border between France and Switzerland.

(5) Turn back.

(4) Turn left onto the ‘Dinosaur Trail’.

(3) Turn left towards the north onto the Tour de la Vallée du Trient trail, heading towards Lac du Vieux Emosson, and follow its southern shore. Cross the dam and head to the Vieux Emosson hut.

(6) After the hut, stay on the Tour de la Vallée du Trient trail, which heads south-east, to avoid returning to the car park via the long, monotonous road.

(2) Back at the junction (alt. 2,150 m), turn left and follow the path you took on the way out, in the opposite direction, to return to the car park (S/E).

This walk should only be undertaken when there is no snow and in dry weather, particularly on the final section, which can be slippery if the slabs are wet.