Trails here range from gentle intermediate to advanced tree and steep gradient runs.
Les Houches MTB trails
Long mountain bike descents to the valley floor from the gentle to the advanced
A favourite run with locals is the descent from the top of the Prarion gondola down to the village of St Gervais and Le Fayet. There are a number of different options, offering long and exhilarating runs down to the bottom.
A nice link up from St Gervais down to Le Fayet is the “Pipeline”, which follows (you guessed it) a large water pipeline, from the bottom of the Bettex cable car in St Gervais, down to the Thermal baths in Le Fayet, close to the train station. There are a couple of sections with long wooden steps in and some tight switchbacks, which will keep you on your toes - a great end to the ride down from Les Houches.
Once you're in Le Fayet you can either take the valley train back to Les Houches or Chamonix, or the tramway back up to the Col de Voza and top of the Bellevue cable car allowing you another downhill descent for the way home.
The original purpose made MTB trails which descended from the Bellevue lift have been abandoned in favour of the recently built track from the Prarion gondola. These old Bellevue trails still exist, along with a small handful off hidden trails in the woods on this side that will definitely challenge you (i.e. definitely not for beginners), but they are no longer being maintained and Compagnie du Mont Blanc is not encouraging their use.
Fortunately the new Prarion track is excellent, with a variety of blue and red options on the way down to keep you interested and allow for a wider range of riders and bikes to use it, though a full face helmet and body armour is recommended.
Another local favourite ride is a long trail that comes off the fire road after the tunnel close to the Prarion gondola. The track hairpins back to your left, down through the woods and into meadows on some really fast and flowy single track. If you're really going fast it might take you between 12-15 minutes to get all the way back to the road near the lifts at the bottom, though remember it is a shared use trail so don’t scare other users and risk losing the right to ride there!
Check out the trails near the Prarion gondola on this map. (Passerelle = north shore, Balise = trail marked - blue/red).
What to see
Sights in Chamonix
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Montagnard museum
Musée Montagnard et Rural, showing old mountain lifestyles with temporary exhibitions
Situated in a house dating back to the 1750's, this museum showcases mountain lifestyles from the reconstruction of three pieces of traditional housing and objects from everyday life.
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Les Houches summer lifts
Gondola access to VTT and hiking trails and the Tour du Mont Blanc route
Les Houches sits at the bottom end of the Chamonix Valley and is a popular place for hikers, mountaineers and mountain bikers in the summer months.
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Merlet wildlife park
Chamonix nature and animal park with marmots, chamois and bouquetins
Parc de Merlet is a great place to spot some local animals in their natural environment. A nature reserve, rather than a zoo, the park is perched on a large plateau high above Les Houches.
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Les Bossons glacier
A small chairlift open in summer giving you incredible views over Les Bossons glacier
This small two person chairlift is only open for a short time in summer, but it's great if you want to take a close up look at the bottom of the Glacier des Bossons.
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Mont-Blanc tram
Classic tramway from St Gervais Le Fayet up to the Nid d'Aigle
The Tramway du Mont Blanc runs from the bottom of the valley in Le Fayet all the way up to the Nid d'Aigle at 2,380m above Les Houches.
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Maison de l'Alpage museum
A small museum dedicated to agriculture and landscapes in the village of Servoz
This little museum is housed in the same building as the post office and library in the village centre of Servoz.
Where to lunch
Restaurants in Les Houches
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Rocky Pop Restaurant
Burger bar, pizza joint and French Savoyard all rolled into one relaxed and fun environment
The Rocky Pop Restaurant in Les Houches, part of the vibrant Rocky Pop Hotel opened in December 2016, reflects the brand’s playful ethos of “joy and togetherness.” The food offering matches the lively atmosphere, with a fun, diverse menu designed to please all ages and tastes. Expect crowd-pleasing dishes, colourful presentations, and relaxed dining that encourages sharing and socialising. It’s a welcoming spot where families, groups, and friends can enjoy tasty, unfussy meals in a cheerful setting.
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Kitsch Inn Bar & Restaurant
Restaurant and bar right at the foot of the pistes, near the Bellevue lift in Les Houches
Quirkily decorated, as the name suggests, this restaurant has different rooms for different moods. Grab a quick coffee and a snack at the breakfast bar, enjoy a casual meal in the retro formica kitchen area, or sit and take your time over dinner at one of the large tables in the dining room. They also have a large sunny terrace where they serve up a nice BBQ in the summer and a kids play area.
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Le Basilic Restaurant
Traditional Savoyard cuisine near the Bellevue lift with a cosy, warm interior
Just across the road from the Bellevue lift in Les Houches, this is a perfect spot to recharge your batteries after a day on the mountain, or pop in for lunch.
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La Guinguette des Chavants Restaurant 
La Guinguette des Chavants Restaurant
Lakeside dining with seasonal flavours and a welcoming, family-run atmosphere
La Guinguette des Chavants is a relaxed, lakeside restaurant in Les Houches offering simple, seasonal cooking in a friendly setting. The kitchen focuses on fresh ingredients, with vegetables sourced locally whenever possible, and dishes prepared with care to keep things straightforward and flavourful.
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Le Hors Pistes Restaurant 
Le Hors Pistes Restaurant
A busy mountain restaurant with regular live music, enjoy lunch in the sun on the slopes
Brilliantly located in the heart of the Les Houches Prarion ski area.
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Gandhi Restaurant
Indian specialities to eat in or take away, open for lunch and dinner
This restaurant serves tasty, good value Indian cuisine for lunch, dinner and to takeaway.
What to do
Things To Do in Les Houches
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Ski joering
Horse-driven back-country skiing experience, fun for the whole family
This is the original form of back-country sking and is horse drawn, plus great fun!
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Montagnard museum
Musée Montagnard et Rural, showing old mountain lifestyles with temporary exhibitions
Situated in a house dating back to the 1750's, this museum showcases mountain lifestyles from the reconstruction of three pieces of traditional housing and objects from everyday life.
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Enquire
Merlet wildlife park
Chamonix nature and animal park with marmots, chamois and bouquetins
Parc de Merlet is a great place to spot some local animals in their natural environment. A nature reserve, rather than a zoo, the park is perched on a large plateau high above Les Houches.
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Enquire 
Indoor climbing wall
Indoor climbing hall for learning, training & improving techniques
The Chamonix valley is home to one of the largest indoor climbing walls in France. The Mont Blanc Escalade is located in Les Houches and is open all year.
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Horse riding centre
Discover the mountain on horse back or take lessons in their arena
This horse riding centre is situated in just up the hill from the train station in Les Houches. The centre is open all year round and has both an indoor and outdoor arena.
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Outdoor ice rink
Outdoor skating with Mont Blanc views in the village centre
Located in the village centre, next to the slopes of Le Tourchet, the outdoor ice rink in Les Houches enjoys a beautiful setting with stunning views across the Mont Blanc massif.
