The Glières Plateau and the Notre-Dame des Neiges Chapel

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A beautiful, easy hike on the Glières Plateau, offering clear views of the mountain pastures and the Notre-Dame des Neiges Chapel. There are many chalets and mountain farms with herds of livestock in summer.

Details

n°80657879
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.27 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 899 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 886 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,285 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,508 ft
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Description of the walk

Coming from Thorens Les Glières, once you reach the plateau, take the first road on the right (towards the Gautard restaurant) then thefirst track on the right and follow it for one kilometre.

(S/E) Take the track and join the GR®96 towards the Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel.

(1) Turn around and head back, turning left onto the GR®96 until you reach a fork 300 metres further on.

(2) Leave the GR®96. Turn left onto the track (GRP®), pass several alpine chalets and arrive at a fork after a right-hand bend in the track.

(3) Follow the path on the left (GRP®) until you reach a farm.

(4) At the farm (goat cheese for sale), take the track on the left (no sign) and continue to a new fork.

(5) Leave the GRP®. Go down the path on the left towards Les Mouilles. Go down into the forest and join the Mouilles mountain pastures

(6) Continue along the track.

(7) In the left-hand bend, rejoin the GR®96, descend towards a restaurant and pass its car park.

(8) Turn right, following the signs in the forest to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,557 ft - Dran car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.8 - alt. 4,767 ft - Notre-Dame des Neiges
  3. 2 : mi 1 - alt. 4,731 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.83 - alt. 4,928 ft - Fork
  5. 4 : mi 2.69 - alt. 5,223 ft - Farm
  6. 5 : mi 2.8 - alt. 5,282 ft - Fork
  7. 6 : mi 3.69 - alt. 4,944 ft - Les Mouilles
  8. 7 : mi 4.21 - alt. 4,613 ft - GR96 junction
  9. 8 : mi 4.39 - alt. 4,554 ft - Crossroads
  10. S/E : mi 5.27 - alt. 4,564 ft - Dran car park

Notes

Most of the route is on paths. After (8), the section towards Trou de l'Enfer may be wet in places.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Nadine 38
Nadine 38
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The plateau is magnificent at this time of year: the mountain pastures are carpeted with flowers, there are farms along the route selling their cheese, cows with tinkling bells, and bars and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious local produce – but there is also the plateau’s memorial, which brings back sad memories. We crossed the plateau until we reached the Notre Dame des Neiges chapel. The route presented no difficulties.

Machine-translated

md.lefevre@orange.fr
md.lefevre@orange.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We were lucky enough to take this walk at the end of the summer grazing season for a herd of goats. Watching the goats set off was a delightful sight... The view from the Glières plateau is breathtaking.
The only drawbacks were numerous muddy sections on the descent and the new GR route due to rain the day before.
Otherwise, it was a very beautiful walk with lots of people at the car parks. It is essential to arrive early.

Machine-translated

User 230642

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk to explore the plateau. No difficulty in dry weather. Can be slippery when wet in the forest.
Be careful at signpost 6 to make sure you take the right path.

Machine-translated

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