Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers by the Grand Balcon Nord

From the Plan de l'Aiguille, the mid-station of the Aiguille du Midi cable car at 2,310 m, walk to the Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille and then along the slope across the moraines of the Blaitière and Nantillons glaciers and the Grépon torrent. Below the Aiguilles the path keeps a balcony line high above Chamonix, then climbs to the viewpoint of the Signal Forbes, at about 2,198 m, which looks over the Mer de Glace to the Grandes Jorasses. A short descent leads to Montenvers, at 1,913 m, and the rack railway back to Chamonix.

It is 6.9 km one way with 112 m of ascent and 500 m of descent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy: a rough mountain path, mostly level or downhill, with boulder ground on the moraines.

At about 2,071 m a steep shortcut leaves the main path; the tourist office warns that its gullies are dangerous in snow, so stay on the path by the Signal Forbes. Both lifts are needed. In 2026 they run until 1 November; the cable car is then closed until 18 December and the train until 4 December. The path itself is a summer route and can hold snow from late autumn into June.

Take the Aiguille du Midi cable car from Chamonix to the Plan de l'Aiguille, and the Montenvers train back.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.