Lac Blanc from La Flégère

From the top station of the Flégère gondola above Les Praz, drop into the Combe de la Chavanne and follow the track that zigzags up past the chalets and Lac de la Flégère, at about 2,027 m. A path then runs along the slope under the Tête du Aubuy, joins the path from Argentière and climbs the side of a combe to Lac Blanc and its refuge, at about 2,352 m, in the Réserve naturelle des Aiguilles Rouges. Return the same way.

It is 6.3 km there and back with 480 m of ascent; allow about 3½ hours. The grade is Moderate: a steady climb on stony mountain paths, with one short rougher step below the start.

This is a summer walk. The town lists it from July to September, snow permitting, and the gondola it starts from ran from 20 June to 13 September in 2026; it reopens for skiing on 28 November. Without it the climb from Les Praz adds about 800 m. Dogs are not allowed in the nature reserve, and a prefectoral order bans swimming in Lac Blanc and the Chéserys lakes, and bivouacking.

Park at the bottom station of the Flégère gondola in Les Praz, where there is also a bus stop. The Refuge du Lac Blanc serves food in its season.

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.