Le Petit Mont Blanc via the southern slope

de fr

A substantial but steady climb for a magnificent panorama.

Details

n°683713
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,087 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,087 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,678 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,591 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View of the Petit Mont Blanc
The Petit Mont Blanc orientation table
Le Petit Mont Blanc

Description of the walk

By car, after passing through Pralognan, head towards Les Prioux. After crossing a ford, park just before the Pont de Gerlon bridge; the path begins opposite.

(S/E) The path begins with a track where there are toilets and a tap for those who forgot to fill up before leaving. Continue towards Les Prioux.

(1) At Pont du Diable, where there is a water intake, there is a crossroads indicating the Petit Mont Blanc via the 100-bend path, but this seems steeper and much more vertiginous, so continue towards Les Prioux until you see the first houses appear.

(2) At the crossroads, follow the signs for "l'Abri et le Col du Mône" and "table d'orientation du Petit Mont Blanc" until you reach the summit, ignoring the paths on the left. The climb is very well marked, rises steadily without steps, and is very well maintained.

(3) Before reaching Col du Mône, note that there is a shelter in case of bad weather. It is small but offers excellent refuge as long as there are not too many of you. There are also picnic tables with a beautiful view. Continue along the path towards the pass.

(4) At Col du Mône, continue along the ridge, north-northeast towards the Petit Mont Blanc orientation table. The path is less marked here, but it is difficult to go wrong.

(5) At the only unmarked junction on this hike, turn right towards the summit (the path that goes straight ahead goes around it). Finally, arrive at the summit and enjoy the splendid panorama (very beautiful orientation table).

(6) To descend, continue along the path opposite to where you arrived. It is a little steeper but still well marked. You will soon see the pass you need to head for.

(7) At the Col inférieur des Saulces, head towards Pont de Gerlon. Don't be put off by the 3 hours indicated, as we noticed that around here the times indicated were the same for the ascent and descent... From there, a single, well-marked path takes you to Pont de Gerlon after crossing a rare protected field of blue thistles (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,591 m - Pont de Gerlon - Doron de Bozel (rivère)
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 1,653 m - The Devil's Bridge
  3. 2 : km 1.52 - alt. 1,720 m - Crossroads before the prioux
  4. 3 : km 5.67 - alt. 2,404 m - Mône shelter
  5. 4 : km 6.32 - alt. 2,533 m - Col du Mône
  6. 5 : km 6.81 - alt. 2,644 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 7.01 - alt. 2,675 m - Summit - Petit Mont Blanc
  8. 7 : km 8.13 - alt. 2,371 m - Lower Col des Saulces
  9. S/E : km 11.07 - alt. 1,591 m - Pont de Gerlon

Notes

There is a water source at the start of the hike.
There is a shelter before the Col du Mône.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
murielsolerti
murielsolerti

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

superb hike, a little difficult for an occasional hiker, but it's worth it for the scenery.
Really happy but at the same time furious about the inconsiderate use of walking sticks, which damage the paths, especially in the most delicate sections, and to top it all off, we came across several electric motorbikes three times: what on earth are they doing here?

Machine-translated

megane38
megane38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great hike!
Magnificent view at the summit and this lunar landscape is unusual.
The descent is indeed long: nothing difficult, with good crampons there's no slipping, you just need to take your time. Like the previous review, I think I would have really struggled on the way up if I had reversed the direction of this hike. When you reach the field of thistles, the switchbacks get wider and the slope becomes less steep , one last effort in the forest and you're back on flat ground!
As for me, I was unlucky and only caught a glimpse of a marmot on this trail... (and yet there are hundreds of burrows!)

Machine-translated

MHW
MHW

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To access the car park, drive a few kilometres past Pralognan-la-Vanoise.
A very beautiful hike with a significant elevation gain, but it's very doable from this side. Magnificent views throughout, saw a few marmots, edelweiss, and beautiful blue thistles at the end of the walk!
The descent is difficult and not recommended if you have knee problems! I certainly wouldn't have enjoyed this walk as much if I had gone up this side because it is very steep!

Machine-translated

Primpius
Primpius

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No difficulty in following the route. The descent is steep but passable even on wet ground.

Machine-translated

riglos
riglos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is an interesting hike. The climb, although demanding, is on paths that are not technically difficult. However, depending on the route, the descent is on a steep, zigzagging mountain path.
It is a very long descent, not suitable for beginners as it is slippery in places due to the fine dust on the path. In wet weather, it can become dangerous.

Machine-translated

RayLau
RayLau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A superb hike. For the descent, rather than taking the north face, we took a detour via the Col Supérieur des Saulces (there is a signpost on the Petit Mont-Blanc) and then the Col Inférieur des Saulces, which joins the trail down from the Petit Mont-Blanc.
Even with this alternative route, the descent after the lower pass is tedious and not recommended with young children. The fields of blue thistles are magnificent, as are the martagon lilies!

Machine-translated

Ciboulette72
Ciboulette72

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

There are very few markers for this summit.
The south face climb is quite difficult, as is the north face descent, with some narrow passages.

Machine-translated

sergiomont
sergiomont

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello
Enjoy your hike, especially in good weather.
If you take the downhill route, it's a bit steep.

Machine-translated

Kti 73
Kti 73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Magnificent hike... why little white mountain!!! Because of its colour, it's a really beautiful walk. However, the descent is quite steep, so you need to be aware of that and have sure footing.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The Chalet des Nants and the balcony trail

Visorando member
Le chalet des Nants et le sentier balcon
↔9.42 km ↗+575 m ↘-566 m ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
An easy walk in the Vanoise that is suitable for children or as a warm-up walk at the start of your stay. The circuit allows you to discover the Cirque des Nants and the Chavière valley from the balcony trail. There is a small lake on this trail that is a nice place to stop for the children.

Walking Le Petit Mont Blanc via the Sentier des cent virages

Visorando member
↔12.24 km ↗+1,044 m ↘-1,044 m ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
A must-do hike in the commune of Pralognan-la-Vanoise. Bucolic setting, magnificent views. Grande Casse and Mont Blanc, among others.

Walking Le Pommier Blanc crossing

Visorando member
Le Pommier Blanc en traversée
↔9.47 km ↗+801 m ↘-794 m ◔5h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
This summit is the end of a ridge descending from the Vanoise glaciers and allows you to immerse yourself on this slope of the right bank of the Torrent de Chavière overlooking the Prioux, without too much elevation gain or real technical difficulty, but at the cost of part of the route being off-trail.

Walking Saut and Péclet-Polset mountain huts from Les Prioux - Chavière Valley

Visorando member
Refuges du Saut et de Péclet-Polset depuis les Prioux - Vallée de Chavière
↔26.04 km ↗+1,766 m ↘-1,766 m ◔More than 12 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
Two beautiful glacial valleys, two passes, two refuges, a lake... and views of glaciers and peaks rising to over 3,000 metres. The Alps as we love them, with vast panoramas and well-marked trails that allow you to rack up kilometres and elevation gain for a variety of views. Magnificent panoramas are guaranteed and, with a little luck, marmots and ibex will be there to greet you.

Walking Napremont

Visorando member
Napremont
↔7.46 km ↗+769 m ↘-768 m ◔4h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
Beautiful promontory facing Pralognan, with stunning views of the entire area, including the Portetta breach and the Aiguille d'Août, which dominate the route. Unfortunately, this is now a round trip since the path (still shown on the map) through the Bois de Chollière is closed. (2008, order renewed every year since then, given the danger).

Walking Rocher de Villeneuve via La Montagne

Visorando member
Rocher de Villeneuve par la Montagne
↔11.17 km ↗+869 m ↘-860 m ◔5h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
This hike takes you through the beautiful mountain pastures of La Montagne and Le Golet to Rocher de Villeneuve, where you can enjoy a 360° view of the Aiguilles de Portetta, the ridges of Mont Charvet, Col de Leschaux and even Courchevel 1850.

Walking Le Napremont

Visorando member
Le Napremont
↔10.20 km ↗+770 m ↘-774 m ◔5h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
This circular route offers beautiful views and 360° panoramas of the surrounding area and peaks. In terms of difficulty: there is a difference in altitude in the undergrowth; there is a passage through a chimney, but this has been made easier by the installation of steps and a handrail. A trail with beautiful flora dominated by the Dents de Portetta and the Aiguille d'Août. A pleasant descent in the sunshine before returning to the undergrowth. A very beautiful route, even in hot weather.

Walking The ridges of Mont Charvet via the Col de la Grande Pierre

Visorando member
Les crêtes du Mont Charvet par le Col de la Grande Pierre
↔13.04 km ↗+1,012 m ↘-1,012 m ◔6h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie)
Another classic route from Pralognan with the very distinctive ridges of Mont Charvet. Magnificent views both towards Pralognan and its glacial domes and towards Courchevel. The path is exposed, sometimes narrow, and should not be used in wet weather. Schist peaks and dissolution cones dot this long ridge trail. Easy return via the mountain pastures.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.