Best summer picnic spots in Chamonix

If you have little ones in tow, then you will be more than catered for by heading to any of these spots in the Chamonix valley. 

Paradis des Praz

An enchanted little clearing in the forests behind the golf course, this picnic spot is just a few minutes walk from the village of Les Praz. A small river has been dammed so that children have a safe splash pool to play in, with rope swings and pulleys rigged up over it. During the busier summer months there are pony rides and a small buvette selling drinks, ice creams and light meals.

Les Gaillands

About 10-15 minutes walk south of Chamonix town centre is Lac de Gaillands, a picturesque lake full of ducks beside a huge rock face that is popular with climbers. The forests are a great place for kids to run wild whilst you relax with some nibbles. If you fancy something a bit more adventurous then the Accro-Park is a treetop adventure playground suitable for children and adults, where you traverse the forest on a network of rope bridges, swings and climbing nets.

Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve

Packed full of flowers and teeming with wildlife, this beautiful spot is a great day out with plenty of picturesque picnic spots. The nature reserve centres around a chalet on the Col des Montets where you’ll find all sorts of information about the local flora and fauna, as well as toilets and a small café. There is a small picnic area outside the chalet, or you can find somewhere more remote to eat your sandwiches. Surrounding the chalet is a small flattish hiking trail where you can identify the various plants by their labels.

Venturing further afield, you can hike up to La Flégère or across to Le Buet via any one of the various trails that criss-cross the valley. Keep an eye out for marmots, bouquetin, chamois and various other alpine creatures that roam this area.

On a Saturday you can’t go far wrong with a trip to the Saturday market at Place du Mont Blanc, where you’ll find all sorts of local products - cheese, meat, fruit, bread, fruit juice, cakes, etc. Otherwise there are plenty of bakeries and cafés in Chamonix where you can pick up some freshly made sandwiches and snacks to throw in your backpack before you hit the trails - bon appetit!

When you want to get out into the wilds, here are some of our top picks of where to head to… 

For an adventurous picnic

La Jonction is a steep 3–4 hour hike above Chamonix to the Glacier des Bossons, where you can see and hear the moving ice up close. Croix des Posettes offers a gentler शुरुआत before a narrow, exposed ridge climb to a summit cross with superb views. Fenêtre de l’Arpette, starting in Trient, is a demanding, high-altitude route on the Tour du Mont Blanc, rewarding hikers with spectacular alpine scenery—best tackled with care and good weather planning.

For more scenic routes

Lac Blanc is a stunning alpine lake at 2,352m, reached from La Flégère, with clear waters reflecting the Mont Blanc massif—ideal for a scenic picnic. Chalets des Chailloux offers a quieter walk across a flower-filled plateau with old shepherd huts and excellent glacier views. Lac du Brévent, about an hour from the lift, is a peaceful mountain lake facing the Rochers des Fiz, often uncrowded and perfect for combining with a ridge hike.