Col du Balme via Grand Dessus — loop from Col du Forclaz

Hiking trails & Routes

Col du Balme via Grand Dessus — loop from Col du Forclaz

Hard

hikers

Col du Balme via Grand Dessus — loop from Col du Forclaz

08:19

18.5km

1,190m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 13, 2024

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 10.6 km for 964 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

175 m

Col de la Forclaz (Valais)

Highlight • Mountain Pass

The Col de la Forclaz is a nice passage at an altitude of 1,527 m. Presence of a restaurant, an alpine snack bar and a small supermarket. Free access fountain to fill your gourds and bottles.

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Tip by

5.28 km

Spectacular trail on the TMB

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

A very impressive structure along the rock upwards (secured with a wire rope). Nothing wobbles, all the stone slabs are solidified together 👌🏻😊
Just above the rock you can see …

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Tip by

9.53 km

Col de Balme

Highlight • Mountain Pass

This is a superb pass that marks the border between Switzerland and France, at 2,190 meters above sea level. View of Mont Blanc, the Chamonix Valley and the Aiguillettes des Posettes, among others.

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Tip by

11.0 km

Croix de Fer Summit

Highlight • Summit

La Croix de Fer offers stunning views of vast expanses of Swiss mountains and the valleys that run through them, as well as the Trient Glacier and Lake Emosson. Access …

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16.1 km

Refuge Le Peuty

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Wonderful accommodation, the staff and the food are really good.
There are several free services such as Wi-Fi and Wc.
This place deserves a stop.

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Tip by

18.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.97 km

5.22 km

4.75 km

686 m

482 m

357 m

Surfaces

8.99 km

5.48 km

2.92 km

587 m

234 m

158 m

107 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (2,260 m)

Lowest point (1,330 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

17°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 6.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 2, 2022,Col de la Forclaz (VS) - Refuge du col de Balme 2203m (CH/F, Chamonix Mont Blanc)

Today a tour where I get close enough to touch Mont Blanc. I started at the top of the Col de la Forclaz in Switzerland. The pass is on the route between Swiss Martigny and swanky French Chamonix.

The first few kilometers of this tour are still completely flat, namely along the bisse (French: bisse) of Trento. 50 meters in …

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