View of the Mer de Glace – Grand Balcon Nord Trail loop from Chamonix-Montenvers

Hiking trails & Routes

View of the Mer de Glace – Grand Balcon Nord Trail loop from Chamonix-Montenvers

Hard

4.8

(72)

1,012

hikers

View of the Mer de Glace – Grand Balcon Nord Trail loop from Chamonix-Montenvers

09:20

19.7km

1,390m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 22, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

5.66 km

View of the Mer de Glace

Highlight • Viewpoint

Here there is a hotel, a train station and a cable car. Excursion destination with a magnificent view of the glacier.

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6.09 km

Montenvers Trail

Highlight • Trail

A wonderful trail, very close to Montenvers.

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6.59 km

Stunning scenery along Grand Balcon Nord

Highlight • Other

A steady easily accessible path, away from the crowds.

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7.34 km

Signal Forbes

Peak

7.37 km

Grand Balcon Nord

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

route advises towards icy lake and splendid view from all sides

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9.79 km

A classic trail in the Chamonix valley — worth adding to your list. The Balcon Nord connects the Plan de l'Aiguille to the Montenvers station. Breathtaking views of the valley, needles and glaciers in all directions!

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11.7 km

Plan de l'Aiguille Refuge

Highlight • Rest Area

Great refuge and restaurant located a few minutes walk from Plan de l'Aiguille (first station from the Aiguille du Midi cable car). Highly recommended for an overnight stay — the dorms are small and private. A great goal for a family adventure in the mountains.

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12.4 km

Plan de l'Aiguille

Highlight • Other

Great ski resort in Charmonix

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14.1 km

Ascent to Plan de l'Aiguille

Highlight • Climb

This trail that leads to the Plan de l'Aiguille offers breathtaking views. This is the one you will take if you do not want to go up by cable car. But to do this, be careful, you have to climb more than 1,200 meters of altitude difference in only 6.5 kilometers.

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19.7 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

17.0 km

1.56 km

547 m

385 m

183 m

Surfaces

17.7 km

784 m

782 m

346 m

129 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (2,290 m)

Lowest point (1,030 m)

Weather

Friday 11 September

8°C

0°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 26, 2025,Chamonix - Plan de l‘Aiguille - Montenvers/Mer de Glace

Braving the rain and fog, I made this beautiful hike. Be sure to stop at the REFUGE du Plan de l'Aiguille for a delicious lunch or a slice of cake (at the top of the Plan de l'Aiguille cable car station, they only serve simple paninis, cakes, and chips, and there's very little room)!

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July 11, 2024,De Les Favrands à Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Magnificent tour, grandiose landscapes, the descent to Chamonix is long and difficult. Departure from Chamonix, you can park in a free car park near the station. Take the little Montenvers train towards the Mer de Glace, climb the Signal Forbe to have a view of the two valleys, then follow the large northern balcony to the Plan de l'Aiguille refuge. …

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