Megève is approximately 45 minutes from Chamonix. The mountains in this area are not quite as high in altitude but the views remain stunning. Here are some of the most popular hikes in Megève.
La Belle au Bois Waterfall
From the center of town, head towards Le Planellet, then cross the river while following signs to Le Tour. Head down the Chemin du Maz for about 20 minutes until you reach the sign "La Belle au Bois", then head into the forest. Continue along the somewhat steep path and you will soon hear the waterfall. Round trip, this walk takes about 1h20.
Croisse Baulet (2236m)
This scenic walk is one of the more challenging and popular. The path is long and a bit steep towards the end. Take the direction, Col du Jaillet, when leaving the car park. Starting with a small forest traverse, you will be following a crest with magnificent views of the Mont-Blanc and Aravis chains most of the path and will pass many lush alpine pastures. Start this hike early in the morning as it is quite long.
Hike to Mont Joly (2525 m)
This is a great hike with spectacular views of the Val Montjoie. The path leading to Mont Joly is quite steep and can be tiring but the views are more than worth the effort. Leaving the car park, you will follow signs for the Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc (TPMB). You will come across a very informative orientation table helping you to identify all of the beautiful mountains in the distance. The summit offers one of the best possible views of Megève. This is quite an exposed hike so avoid going on really hot days and bring hats, sunscreen, and lots of water!
Christomet (1853 m)
Hiking to the Christomet is a great way to spend a summer day with the family or friends. You will hike through spectacular alpine pastures while hearing the distant sounds of the Abondance and Tarine cow bells. These cows are used to make the fabulous tomme and reblochon cheeses of the area. Take a minute to observe all the beautiful alpine flowers. If you are an early bird, you might get a chance to see some of the regions wildlife such as chamois, deer, wild boars and numerous varieties of birds! Just to name a few! The summit of this hike contains a breathtaking view of the Mont-blanc range as well as the mountains of Les Aravis, Beaufortain, and Les Fiz.
For all of these routes you may want to consider hiring an Independant trek leader as they are demanding hikes.
