1 August 2026.
Planning your trip to Chamonix in the French Alps? Don’t miss this epic hike to La Jonction, one of the best trails in the Chamonix Valley.
Entering the Chamonix-Mont Blanc Valley, the deeply furrowed tongue of the Bossons Glacier makes a striking first impression.
Snaking down the steep face of the Mont Blanc massif, its surface is crinkled and compressed into enormous ice blue waves and knobbly pillars, frozen in time on their imperceptibly slow march towards the valley floor. High above, jagged peaks soar from the gleaming band of powdery snow that wraps the famous mountain in its namesake blanket of perpetual white.
This spectacular backdrop sets the scene for the arduous walk to La Jonction, so before even setting off, you can be pretty darn certain that some unbelievable views lie ahead.
Beginning from the village of Les Bossons, this trail climbs steeply alongside the eponymous glacier to ‘the junction’ at 2,589 m, a distinct rocky outcrop that stands above the moraine and bedrock that separate the Glacier des Bossons and Glacier de Taconnaz.
In decades and centuries past, these glaciers converged into a sea of rugged ice that extended into the valley, but these days their steady retreat and growing separation is an all too humbling and terrifying reminder of the climate emergency.
Climate anxiety aside, the walk is spectacular, guiding you through lush forests, grassy hillsides and the final stretch of steep, rocky moraine with an impressive backdrop of stark mountains and vast crackling sheets of ice as your constant companion.
The hike itself is clear and well-marked but there are some slightly more challenging sections along the latter half of the route where you’ll encounter some exposed trail where metal chains, footholds and bars have been installed for added safety and some rock scrambling is required.
While the trail itself is not otherwise particularly technical or difficult, the high degree of elevation change, more than 1,500 m each way if you forgo the chairlift, does make this a challenging day hike that is recommended for fit and confident hikers only. For this reason, the route also sees far fewer visitors compared with somewhere like the extremely popular Lac Blanc and is therefore a great option for those looking for a quieter trail.
For less experienced hikers, there are several key viewpoints along the way that are certainly worthy of a visit and where you could decide to push on a little further or call it a day and head back.
This was my very first Chamonix hike and it remained as one of my favourites from my entire 3-weeks in the French Alps. This guide covers everything you need to know for hiking La Jonction from Chamonix.
Distance | 12 km // 16 km
Duration | 6.5 hours // 8 hours
Elevation Gain | 1,181 m // 1,556 m
Max Elevation | 2,570 m
Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult
Route | Out and back
Trailhead | Les Bossons or Le Mont
As the adventure capital of the French Alps, there’s a wide range of accommodation available in Chamonix from hostels and cosy apartments, to sprawling chalets and luxury spa hotels. Things can book up well in advance during peak season so be sure to plan ahead. Prices here also tend to be somewhat higher than elsewhere in France.
Auberge de Jeunesse HI Chamonix | For budget travellers, HI Chamonix is the best value option in town and attracts visitors of all ages that are keen to spend their days in the mountains. The place is dated but functional with 2, 4 and 6 person rooms and shared bathrooms that admittedly could do with a serious deep clean. You’ll also find a spacious lounge and games area, an outdoor terrace, sun-drenched garden and laundry. There’s no kitchen but guests do have access to a kettle and microwave, while the onsite restaurant serves set menu dinners and a decent breakfast. A dedicated bus stop is right outside making it easy to get around, or you can walk the 2 km into town. It’s also one of very few accommodations in Chamonix that offer exceptional lift pass discounts, including for the Aiguille du Midi, which are well worth it! Check rates and availability here.
Eden Hotel | Located in Les Praz, Eden is a solid mid-range option with comfortable rooms and spacious apartments on offer, along with a great breakfast. The location is excellent for those taking La Flégère cable car which is just a stone’s throw away, or hitting the trails in the north end of the valley. The bus stop and train station are both nearby to reach Chamonix centre. Check rates and availability here.
Chalet-Hôtel Hermitage | For those looking to splurge, the Hermitage is one of Chamonix’s top rated options with a central location and comfortable rooms with chalet-style wood detailing, a private balcony and mountain views. The large property also boasts a peaceful garden, spa and several saunas for guests to enjoy. Check rates and availability here.
The La Jonction trailhead can be reached in around 10 minutes from central Chamonix by car, or 30 minutes by bus.
There are two starting points for the hike – either from the village of Les Bossons, or from Le Mont which lies 840 m further up the hill if travelling on foot, or 1.5 km away by car.
If you’re driving, it makes sense to start from Le Mont. If you’re arriving by bus, you can start from either trailhead, though keep in mind that services to Le Mont are far less frequent than those to Les Bossons.
For Les Bossons, take any of the main roads heading south-west of Chamonix and turn onto Route des Rives or Route des Tissières. To take the chairlift, continue along Route des Tissières where you’ll find parking behind the lower chairlift station or further along near the ski jump track.
To reach the Le Mont trailhead, stick on Route des Rives towards Route du Mont. You’ll find two smallish parking areas right near the trailhead.
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FIND YOUR RENTAL CAR // There are several major airports and transport hubs located near Chamonix, with the closest being Geneva (Switzerland), Lyon (France) and Turin (Italy). Chambéry, Grenoble, Basel, Zurich and Milan are also within reasonable driving distance.
All have several options for car rental available from their respective airports and train stations. I use and recommend Discover Cars who offer competitive rates for the region. Find the best deals here.
From Chamonix, you can either take bus #2 or #9.
Bus #2 is more frequent, departing roughly every half hour Monday through Saturday, or hourly on Sundays. Take this service in the direction of Glacier des Bossons or Torrent de Taconnaz and jump off at the stop for Glacier des Bossons. From here, continue walking up the road and turn left onto Route du Tremplin. After 160 m, you’ll see the signposted hiking path veering off to the right.
Bus #9 comes just a handful of times a day but travels further uphill to Le Mont. Jump off at the final stop and backtrack around 100 m to reach the trailhead, turning right off the road to join the path.
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TOP TIP | If you’ll be relying on public transport during your visit to Chamonix, it’s well worth getting a multi-day travel pass using the Carte d’Hôte. This card is provided by official accommodation and enables significant discounts on public transport when buying tickets in advance from the red ‘My Chamonix’ portals scattered around town. The more days on your pass, the better the discount, just be sure to validate your ticket for each ride by scanning the QR code when you jump on board.
The Télésiège Glacier des Bossons can be used to shorten the distance of the hike to La Jonction.
This twin seat chairlift runs daily from early July to mid-September between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and carries visitors to the Chalet du Bosson. As of 2025, an adult ticket costs €12.20 / €16.30 for a single / round-trip or is included as part of the Mont Blanc Multipass.
The ascent cuts out just 2 km and 378 m of elevation gain from the Glacier des Bossons bus stop, or 1.2 km and 270 m of elevation gain from Le Mont, and although the signs indicate a 1.25 hour walking time from the former, at a good pace this section can comfortably be completed in around 45 minutes to an hour of walking.
I personally don’t feel the chairlift is worth it given it saves you very little distance along the easiest section of trail. However if you intend to tackle the entire hike to La Jonction and the overall elevation gain does seem a little too daunting for you, or you’re keen to enjoy a shorter hike, by all means take the ride to lighten the load.
Just be sure to start hiking early enough so that you make it back in time for the final descent as many hikers get caught out on their way down when the long summer days make it easy to lose track of time.
The trail is mostly clear and easy to follow with frequent yellow markers along the way.
The section above Mont Corbeau is less obvious and where the bulk of the rock scrambling occurs but, confusingly, there are also two sets of yellow markers here which follow slightly different routes. They overlap and intertwine frequently and will still get you to the same place so don’t panic if you see the markings veering off in another direction.
There are trail signs at all key intersections or points of interest and, as is often the case, the times indicated can be used as a general guide, but if you’re a fit and experienced hiker, you should comfortably be able to shave a decent chunk of time off their suggestions.
From the trailhead, the recommended hiking time to La Jonction is 5 hrs 10 mins, but regular hikers will likely be able to reach the summit in around 4 hours, including plenty of breaks for water, snacks and photos. Trail runners make light work of the route and will very impressively run up and back in just a few hours.
Setting off from the bus stop in Les Bossons, make your way to the start of the trail (as above). Turn right onto the signposted path leads into the forest and will bring you to Le Mont in around 10 minutes, a direct shortcut that crosses the winding road several times along the way.
If you’re taking the chairlift, you’ll start hiking directly from the chalet so can skip through to the next section.
At Le Mont, the narrow forest trail gives way to a wide track which soon transforms into a rocky road as it climbs steadily to reach the chalet at 1,422 m. This is the easiest section of the hike and acts as a decent warm up for the more challenging stretches that await higher up the mountain.
Perched among the trees at the edge of the glacial valley, the flower-laden chalet boasts a lovely open air terrace shaded by a cluster of colourful umbrellas with a beautiful vantage point.
Beneath the immense spire of the Aiguille du Midi, the glacier creeps steeply down the valley, while streams of the Torrent des Bossons escape from the rumpled snout of ice and surge across the smoothed bedrock.
Skirting around the front of the chalet, a 200 m path leads towards another viewpoint at the edge of the forest which offers up even better views. However, with the steady retreat of the glacier over the last century, the ice remains at a distance and the views from here are a mere shadow of what lies in store higher up.
So, by all means take a look, but I’d suggest not lingering too long, unless of course you’re only tackling part of the hike.
Pushing on, the path narrows and continues its steady climb through the forest, zigzagging back and forth over the nearly 40 switchbacks that lead to Pyramides. Moss-encrusted rocks, lush ferns and clusters of crimson berries crowd the trail, while tall conifers draped in lichen tower overhead and provide some much needed shade.
Along the way, gaps in the trees offer up glimpses of the sweeping valley below – the white and grey sprawl of Chamonix surrounded by a lush belt of emerald forest.
Just before the next milestone, you’ll find a line of chain hugging the side of the trail where two sets of steep wooden stairs pitch down sharply and bend around the rock face bringing you to the final section of switchbacks where you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views towards the glacier.
Arriving to Chalet des Pyramides, you’ll soon notice that the chalet itself is no more.
After sustaining heavy storm damage in March 2025, a decision was made to remove the structure completely with the flat concrete foundation being all that remains.
Still, the views from here are no less impressive, with the fractured sheet of ice and towering seracs clinging to the steep rock face.
With around 2 hours of hiking and more than half the vertical gain now under your belt, this makes a perfect spot for a well-deserved snack break before the final push to the summit.
Although many walkers turn back at this point, things only get better from here onwards.
Directly above the Chalet des Pyramides, the trail is steep and a little scrambly, darting between short sharp switchbacks that quickly bring you above the tree line into the golden grasslands that carpet the slopes of Mont Corbeau.
After 1 km, you’ll reach a concrete slab emblazoned with ‘La Jonction’ in yellow paint where the main path swings left, but keep an eye out for a tiny side trail that climbs the hill instead and offers up wonderful views towards the glacier and the staggering peak of Aiguille du Goûter.
Until now during my own hike, the rolling fog had been a constant companion, surging up the valley to wrap around the immense peaks before dissipating just as quickly to reveal them in all their splendour.
A constant dance between muted colours and limited visibility, and sweeping vistas illuminated in golden sunshine. Coupled with the occasional patch of wild blueberries, the whole experience was pure magic.
Onwards, a steep burst of uphill brings you over the saddle beneath Mont Corbeau where the trail flattens out and swings across the eastern flank alongside the glacier.
With the yellow grass gleaming beneath the cobalt sky, the Aiguille du Midi towering amongst an impressive chain of peaks and the mass of jagged ice sweeping through the middle, this was one of my favourite views of the entire hike.
Ahead, the trail becomes slightly more tricky, swapping between uneven terrain and frequent rocky scrambles where metal handholds and footholds guide the way through the rugged slopes that surround La Jonction.
There’s nothing too difficult or exposed but it does get steep and, in parts, it’s easy to lose the trail so pay close attention to the markers, especially if the fog decides to rolls in.
The grass peppered slopes give way to desolate moraine over the final 350 metres or so and the summit marker springs into view.
Crossing through the final switchbacks of the ascent, you’ll emerge directly alongside the glacier which guides you along the ridge to La Jonction.
While many stop and settle in directly at the terminus marker, it’s well worth continuing along to the end of the ridge to take in the views from all angles. Nothing quite prepares you for stepping onto the precipice to overlook the immense sheets of fractured ice that stretch out below your feet.
Bound by an impressive amphitheatre of peaks spanning across the Aiguille du Goûter, Dôme du Goûter, Mont Blanc, Mont Maudit, Mont Blanc du Tacul and Aiguille du Midi, the cracked stripe of Taconnaz descends to the right and the blue-tinged Bossons slithers around to the left.
Standing before the vast sheets of ice, crinkled and carved in pillars and waves, echoing in creaks and groans, is a truly humbling experience. And while these landscapes may appear rather bleak and desolate, they are so very much alive.
Taking it all in, it’s hard to imagine a more extraordinary display of natural grandeur.
Unsurprisingly, this is the perfect place to enjoy a very well deserved lunch break. While you’re resting, keep an eye out for the Refuge des Grands Mulets which lies along the historic Mont Blanc ascent route and is well camouflaged atop a rocky outcrop that towers above the glacier.
TOP TIP | No matter how warm the weather may be in the valley or on the hike up, things cool down fast once you’ve stopped to enjoy your break beside the ice.
Be sure to bring layers and warm clothing to cover up while you enjoy the views. I arrived in shorts and a t-shirt and thought everyone else was slightly mad to be bundled up so thoroughly, they barely had enough space to see out of, but after a short while, I was quickly forced to join them and put on as many layers as I had.
Once you’ve soaked it all in and prepared your legs for the long and tiring descent, it’s time to head back via the same route, but if your journey is anything like mine, it may look completely different than it did earlier in the day.
With the absence of the thick morning fog and the shifting angle of the sun, different peaks and more colourful landscapes were revealed which made a wonderful change on the way down.
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