The Tines loop via Argentière

3rd° loop of the Arve descent, from Les Tines, up through Le Lavancher and Petit Balcon Nord, superb scenery and a very pleasant forest crossing, and a descent as close as possible to the river.

Technical sheet

4063350
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 310 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 302 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,296 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,079 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: D1506 from Chamonix to Les Tines, turn left just before the level crossing: Chemin de la Tannerie. Park in the Les Tines bus stop car park.

(S/E) Cross the station with (caution) and take the D1506 towards Argentière. Keep left on this road for a few metres, then turn right onto the wide Chemin de la Pierre. At the first crossroads, turn left onto the path which, after 2 hairpin bends, joins the Combe du Lavancher.

(1) Continue along a well-marked footpath. Reach the village of Le Lavancher.

On the left, cross the village on the footpath that cuts through the road loop, and on the right, Le Chemin du Crozat, continue on a slight uphill slope.

(3) At the fork, take the right-hand path and cross the Torrent de la Pendant. Continue uphill to reach the high point.

(4) Then continue slightly downhill. Pass under the Lognan cable car to reach the Argentière playground.

(5) Continue along the Chemin du Glacier d'Argentière to the left, then over the bridge under the railroad. Continue towards the town center, passing the church.

(6) After the bridge over the Arve, turn left. At the end of the cul-de-sac, turn right to reach the Argentière train station.

(7) Turn left onto the D1506 towards Chamonix, the crosswalk under the railroad bridge leads to the foot of a calvary. Cross the parking lot of a housing complex to reach the bridge over the Arve and the Lognan cable-car parking lot, a signposted passage for skiers.

From the car park, a pedestrian path leads to the Chosalets traffic circle, cross the D1506 and the bridge over the Arve, and reach the Promenade de l'Arve.

(8) Follow this wide footpath between the railroad and the river to the right, after the Tines viaduct, on the Pont de la Corruaz.

(9) Take the alternative route under the railroad bridge to the lovely restored Baroque chapel of Saint-Théodule. Return to the crossroads, pass under the railroad bridge again and take the left-hand road back to the Thines station car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,080 m - Car park - Gare de Les Tines
  2. 1 : km 0.98 - alt. 1,237 m - La Combe du Lavancher
  3. 2 : km 1.49 - alt. 1,200 m - Le Lavancher
  4. 3 : km 1.84 - alt. 1,218 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 2.47 - alt. 1,277 m - High point
  6. 5 : km 5.09 - alt. 1,260 m - Playground
  7. 6 : km 5.82 - alt. 1,252 m - Église Saint-Pierre (L'Argentière)
  8. 7 : km 6.17 - alt. 1,244 m - Gare d'Argentière (Hte-Savoie)
  9. 8 : km 7.17 - alt. 1,208 m - Promenade de L'Arve
  10. 9 : km 10.36 - alt. 1,095 m - Carrefour de la chapelle Saint-Théodule - Arve (rivière) - Affluent de l'Arve
  11. S/E : km 10.99 - alt. 1,080 m - Car park - Gare de Les Tines

Practical information

Start & Parking: D1506 from Chamonix to Les Tines, turn left just before the level crossing: Chemin de la Tannerie. Park in the Les Tines bus stop car park.

Facilities: (5) Argentière playground: picnic tables, games, streams and dry toilets in summer.

In the nearby area

(1) La Combe du Lavancher: superb view of the combe and the Chemin du Petit Balcon Nord
as you leave the village.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Adu
Adu
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Good overall. 1st part in the forest. Return via Argentière and then along the Arve. However, the path is not far from the road. You can hear the traffic noise. So rather close to civilisation. But not a very difficult hike and in the shade.

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Jean Valcarcel
Jean Valcarcel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant loop trail with shaded sections and alternating ascents, descents and flat stretches, usually sheltered by trees. The path is poorly signposted at times on the first section near the village of Le Lavancher. Follow the signs for Chemin ARGENTIERES down through the village. Thank you for this very pleasant family hike.

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autrans
autrans

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A few days ago there was a tornado and a lot of trees were uprooted in the Tines area, so some paths were impassable! This should be sorted out in a few days!
To be continued!
Otherwise a very nice walk!

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Ginger42
Ginger42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk, with the outward journey a little higher up in the forest and the return along the Arve.
Thanks for the suggestion!

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FGN
FGN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely, pleasant walk through the forest and along the banks of the Arve. After Le Lavancher, when you turn round you have a magnificent view of the mountains. The return to the banks of the Arve is particularly pleasant.
One point about the description: The description of how to get back to the north balcony after arriving at point 1 and crossing Le Lavancher could do with more detail. In any case, thank you for this route.

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