Le Prarion 1969 m
loop trail 11 km 3 h ▲ 315 m ▼ 1106 m
*family- friendly variant
(5 km 1.5 h)
Bellevue - Le Prarion - Les Houches
Moderate* hiking in Les Houches (Chamonix)
This hike starts and ends in Les Houches, a popular summer and winter destination. You will walk along the Bellevue Platou, which offers breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc massif.
The hike is generally not too challenging, but there are some steep sections. However, for people with a normal level of fitness and children it should be manageable.
Bellevue Platou is a perfect spot for a picnic, with scenic views and places to eat and drink along the way.
The view from Le Prarion is truly amazing. From the summit, you can see 360 degrees of the surrounding mountains.
*YOU CAN MAKE THIS HIKE SHORTER with 2 hours
(6 km), by taking the Le Prarion gondola lift back to Les Houches.
Destination points:
❶ Téléphérique de Bellevue Les Houches
❷ Bellevue
❸ Col de Voza
❹ Télècabine du Prarion
❺ Le Prarion
❻ Col De Voza
❼ Maison Neuve
❽ Le Pont de Belleface
❾ Téléphérique de Bellevue Les Houches
Description
Bellevue - Le Prarion - Les Houches
Your hiking begins at cable car station Téléphérique de Bellevue in Les Houches.
Take the Bellevue cable car up to the Bellevue plateau (1 800m). Here you start your walking.
When you got of the cable car turn right and go downhill towards the Col de Voza.
From the Col de Voza your hike begins uphill towards the Prarion gondola lift station
You reach the top of the Le Prarion in 25 minutes from here (forest walk on the ridge)At the top you will see the great 360 ° view over the Alps
*- check the "Help" page for the explanation of this term
Walking back from Le Prarion:
Take the same path downhill to the Les Houches- Prarion gondola lift station.
Turn right and go the Prarion 1860 Hotel (prarion.com) there you turn left
Follow Chem. du Delevret path to the Col de Voza facing the Mont Blanc massif.
Before the Col de Voza turn left and follow the path toward Maison Neuve /Les Houches Chef- lieu.
At the Bellface sign turn right and follow Chemin du Bonnet directly to the parking lot or a bus stop at the Téléphérique de Bellevue in Les Houches (ca 20 min). You can also continue to follow the car road to reach the main street Rue de Bellevue in Les Houches.
Variants:
1) If you feel tired- go down to the Les Houches- Prarion gondola lift station and take a gondola to get to the Les Houches. Then, if you came here by car take a walk to the parking lot at the Téléphérique de Bellevue. Otherwise you can take a bus nearby the Prarion gondola lift.
2) Go down to the Col de Voza and take the Mount Blanc tramway to the Bellevue and then
the Bellevue cable car down to the Les Houches.
What you should know
Moderate* This trail's distance makes it a moderate hike (you can make it shorter by taking the Le Prarion gondola lift
back to Les Houches)
The path from the Télècabine du Prarion to the top of Le Prarion is different from the path we have been on so far.
You will walk now in the forest on the ridge and steep uphill path there can be a little challenge for you who are afraid of heights. A tiny bit of trail can be just slightly demanding (you find the photo of this place on the map marked as diamond on the red circle)
Check the departing time of the last cable car/gondola lift downhill
(if you are not going to walk down the last part of your hiking)
Les Houches is a starting point for the one of the most popular long-distance walks in Europe- Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)
How to get to Les Houches
Your hiking begins at Tèlèphèrique de Bellevue in Les Houches. You can get there :
By car: you park your car at the Téléphérique de Bellevue in Les Houches.
goo.gl/maps/6d3P8C8NqpmvoqNg6
You find another big car parking at the Le Prarion gondola lift (1 km far away)
goo.gl/maps/kmktyDwhk9Lj8xAP7
By bus: The bus stop available at the Téléphérique de Bellevue
Chamonix Bus: www.montblancbus.transdev.com/en/reseau/chamonix-bus/
By train: after have come to the train station in Les Houches you can take walk to the Téléphérique de Bellevue (1,5 km)
SNCF: https://www.sncf.com/en/stations/les-houches/OCE87746743/departures-arrivals/gl/arrivals
Cable car/gondola lift in Les Houches open hours
Téléphérique de Bellevue in Les Houches
09.15-17.00 (mon-sun)
77 Pl. de la Fruitière, 74310 Les Houches
+33 4 50 54 70 93
Tèlècabine du Prarion in Les Houches
09.15-17.00 (mon-sun)
117 Pl. du Prarion, 74310 Les Houches
+33 4 50 54 42 65
Where to eat on the trail
La Rioule (Col de Voza)
+33450180390
Prarion 1860 Hotel prarion.com (near to the Les Houches- Prarion gondola lift station)
+33450544007
Food stores in Les Houches
Carrefour Contact
Mon-Sat 08.00- 20.00 (midday closed)
Sun 08.00- 13.00 and 16.00- 20.00 in high season
Opening times may be changed at short notice!
32 Pl. de la Mairie, 74310 Les Houches
+33 4 50 54 40 26
https://goo.gl/maps/zLFDYGSRkNLnXBA8A
Super U
Mon-Sat 08.00- 19.30 (midday closed)
Sun 08.00- 12.30 and 16.00- 19.30 in high season
Opening times may be changed at short notice!
956 Av. des Alpages, 74310 Les Houches
+ 33 4 50 55 51 70
https://goo.gl/maps/JJtbRgLXfwXZvYyb6
