Hiking the French Alps – Grand Balcon Nord trail and Exploring the Ice Cave in the Mont Blanc Massif, Chamonix
Grand Balcon Nord Hike
The Grand Balcon Nord is one of the most spectacular hikes in the French Alps. We were staying in Chamonix, a small town surrounded by towering alpine peaks. From the center of town, it was easy to spot the Aiguille du Midi cable car line running up the mountainside toward the summit. The cable car starts right in Chamonix and climbs to the Aiguille du Midi, with its first cable car stop at Plan de l’Aiguille marking the beginning of the Grand Balcon Nord trail.
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Cable car from Chamonix to Plan de l’Aiguille
It was late July, peak summer, yet a light rain began just as our cable car started its ascent. The valley looked misty for a moment, but within five minutes the rain stopped, before we even stepped out at Plan de l’Aiguille, leaving the air cool, clear, and perfect for hiking. Once we stepped out of the station and turned left, the trail opened up with incredible views over the Chamonix Valley.
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Beginning of the trail – hiking the French Alps
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View of Chamonix from the trail
The trail was busy, but it never felt crowded. From there, we followed the trail toward Montenvers, a five-hour hike covering about 15 kilometers one way, with an elevation gain and loss of roughly 532 meters. Even though the total elevation gain is relatively modest, the trail has many ascents and descents, which kept us moving and made the hike feel more dynamic. The path stays high above the valley, between 1908 and 2302 meters,
winding across open ridges and rocky sections that offered spectacular views throughout the day, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Alps.
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On the Grand Balcon Nord trail in the French Alps
The trail itself was beautiful, covered in a green carpet of alpine grass and dotted with delicate pink flowers. Melting streams ran down from the mountaintop, sometimes cutting across the path and flowing down toward the valley, adding a soothing soundtrack to the hike. We had to carefully step across the melting streams, and our shoes got wet a few times, but it was all part of the adventure.
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A winding trail at the edge of the French Alps
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Signal Forbes view of Mer de Glace Glacier
One of the highlights for us was reaching Signal Forbes. Even with clouds lingering from the rain the night before, the views were spectacular. Perched at around 2200 meters, Signal Forbes offers one of the best panoramic views along the trail, with the Mer de Glace glacier stretching below and the dramatic peaks of the Mont Blanc massif rising through the clouds. The contrast between the green patches on the
slopes and the gray rocky areas made the landscape striking and raw. It was a powerful reminder of the scale and beauty of the alpine environment we were hiking through.
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Waterfalls from melting glacier
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Montenvers Train station – Cable running down to the glacier ice cave
Hiking in late July, the weather was perfect. It was warm but not too hot, and the trail was clear all the way through. There are no water sources along the route, so we made sure to carry enough with us, which was essential on a day like this.
Ice Cave from Montenvers train station
The trail eventually ended at Montenvers Train Station at Mer de Glace Glaciers. From the Montenvers station, a cable car takes you down to the glacier level, followed by a descent of more than 700 steps, leading to the ice cave that is hand-sculpted anew each year.
Once we had finished exploring the ice cave, we began our return to Montenvers station, ascending the
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In the Ice Cave carved into the Mer De Glace glacier
staircase – (700 of them) before taking the cable car back to the top.
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Ice cave
The train station also has a few souvenir and snack shops, making it convenient before heading back to Chamonix. We bought our tickets for our ride back to Chamonix at Montenvers Train station (see the link below if you want to book online) and took the scenic 20-minute ride all the way down to Chamonix. We were all looking forward to a hot meal once we reached town, after the train ride. There were plenty of restaurants in Chamonix to end our day.
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The famous red cog train leaving Montenvers station
Tips and Advice
How to Get to French Alps
The base town is Chamonix in France. There are numerous trains from Paris to Chamonix, and the journey typically takes about 5.5 to 6 hours with two changes. Some trains follow a slower route or make many additional stops, which can extend the travel time to 11–13 hours. The fastest option is approximately 5.5 hours, making it a convenient way to reach the Alps without flying.
The nearest airport to Chamonix is Geneva Airport in Switzerland, located about one hour away by car. There are affordable bus services from the bus station just outside Geneva Airport that run directly to Chamonix, making it an easy and budget-friendly transfer option for travellers.
Tickets for Cable Car
The Chamonix Mont Blanc Multipass is very convenient if you plan to use both the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers Cogwheel Train, as it also includes access to the Ice Cave gondola. For buying the Multipass please click here:
https://www.montblancnaturalresort.com/en/ticketing/montblanc-multipass
Tickets for the Montenvers Cogwheel Train to return from Montenvers to Chamonix can be purchased at the Montenver station at the start/end of the hike or online here:
https://montenversmerdeglace.montblancnaturalresort.com/fr
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit is between June and September. when the weather is most favorable. During June and July, prices are at their peak.
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