This full day hike offers some stunning panoramas of the Chamonix Valley as well as some challenging descents and ascents, depending on which way you choose to do this walking loop from Vallorcine.
This hike takes you from from the train station at Vallorcine up to an immense dam on the Swiss side of the Alps.
You'll pass by the beautiful stone huts at Refuge de Loriaz, where there are some great views of the valley toward Chamonix and on a clear day you can see the Aiguiile du Midi with Mont Blanc just behind it.
From there you follow the Col du Passet, across the border into Switzerland. Once at the Emosson Dam you can admire the lake and learn about some dam's history or you can continue your walk back down the mountain towards the Cascade de Barberine and then to Vallorcine.
Emosson Dam is an immense hydroelectric dam, 180m high and 554m long. It forms a large blue lake, surrounded by forests and hiking trails. It's a spectacular place to visit in its own right.
This hike has the excitement of scrambling up and down some steep terrain, as well as via ferrata. (Via ferrata is a technique used for crossing high mountains using fixed chains, rails, steps and ladders - you don't need any experience but you do need a good head for heights).
