Chalet du Cerro
A great hike suitable for families with small children of walking age
A shaded classic trail.
Starting from the car park at the Mont Blanc tunnel this short walk goes through the forest to a small chalet offering drinks and refreshments. Suitable for the whole family this hike is a great choice for a spare few hours during your day.
What to bring
IGN3630 map is recommended
What to see
Sights in Chamonix
See all Sights & Sites-
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.
-
Espace Tairraz Crystal Museum
Discover the minerals from the Mont Blanc Valley, famous throughout the world, and learn more about the art of mountaineering.
-
Mer de Glace and Montenvers cog railway
No trip to Chamonix should be complete without a visit to the legendary Mer de Glace, the longest and arguably the most impressive glacier in the Chamonix valley. It is also the largest glacier in France.
-
Alpine Museum
The museum is currently closed for renovations
-
Maison de la Memoire et du Patrimoine, Chamonix- Centre
This museum houses exhibits of Chamonix's past.
-
Municipal library
The main central library for Chamonix which houses the occasional exhibition and lectures.
Where to lunch
This walk stops at the Chalet le Cerro which serves light refreshments throughout the summer months.
Restaurants in Chamonix
See all Restaurants-
Le Mayen Restaurant
Situated in La Folie Douce Hotel, it's the perfect place for traditional alpine cuisine with a modern twist.
-
The Dainty Pizza Restaurant
Great quality ingredients lovingly prepared.
-
Pointe Isabelle Bar and Bistro Restaurant
This tastefully refurbished restaurant and bar are right in the heart of Chamonix on the popular Avenue Michel Croz, close to the train station.
-
Bighorn Bistro Restaurant
Bighorn Bistro in Chamonix Sud is known for its homemade American-style comfort food, from stacked burgers to freshly baked desserts. You can pair your meal with a craft beer or one of their creative cocktails. With friendly service and a laid-back atmosphere, it’s a favourite with both locals and visitors.
-
La Piazza Restaurant
Italian restaurant next to the Savoy nursery ski area with an outdoor terrace and fantastic views.
-
Stories & Beer
Stories is a local craft beer bar and taco restaurant in Chamonix. Enjoy a slice of Mexico in France.
What to do
Things To Do in Chamonix
See all Activities & Trips-
3-Day Mont Blanc Traverse by Tacul & Maudit Summits
Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, is without a doubt the most breathtaking and beautiful mountain in the world, and every year many mountaineers ascend this famous peak.
-
Mer de Glace glacier trek
Strap on your crampons for a scenic stomp across the frosty wasteland known as the Mer de Glace.
-
Tandem Paragliding
This company's sole activity is tandem paragliding, so they are 100 % focused on you and your flight. Their fully qualified pilots have vast experience and have done 1,000s of flight in the Chamonix Valley.
-
Guided Hiking Day Trip
Cloud 9 Adventure is a small independent adventure travel company that organises guided trips for hiking and trekking. Suitable for all abilities and tailored to your group, hiking with a guide is the perfect way to experience the mountains.
-
Cinema VOX
Chamonix's own Cinema VOX is situated right in the centre of town, slightly tucked back on the Place Balmat (main square in the centre). There are three recently refurbished screens equipped with digital 3D projectors show the latest French and International films, as well as a number of premieres and specialist mountain-sports films.
-
Guided Snowshoeing
Off-piste snowshoe outings where you can discover the charm and serenity of the Chamonix Valley on foot.
Directions
This wide path leads up into the forest, crossing the Crosette torrent via a footbridge, shortly before arriving at the Chalet. From there, continue on past the chalet for another 10 minutes to the view point over the glacier.
If you sit quietly here you can actually hear the ice creaking and moving and if you're very lucky, you may even witness one of the ice walls (seracs) falling.
You can return by same route or descend down to Les Songenas via the path signposted from the chalet. It is also possible to start this route from the Centre Ville car park, under the Aiguille du Midi (add 45 minutes each way).
