The 20 most beautiful hikes in the French Alps in summer: panoramas, lakes, and summits

Photo & Hiking Guide by AluArtMountains — Last updated: June 2026 — Reading time: 18 to 22 minutes

As mountain photographers since 2017, we explore the French Alps in search of the most beautiful trails, the perfect light, and panoramas that linger long after the hike. Summer is an ideal season: trails are open, high-altitude lakes regain their reflections, alpine meadows are in bloom, and peaks often remain snow-capped in the background.

In this guide, we offer a selection of 20 of the most beautiful hikes in the French Alps in summer, with a particular focus on landscapes, lakes, views of Mont Blanc, and the photographic potential of each route.

Also discover our selection of panoramic mountain photo prints on aluminum Dibond to bring these alpine landscapes into your home.

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Summary Table of 20 Hikes

Distances, durations, and elevation gains are indicative. They may vary depending on the exact starting point, chosen variations, weather, and your fitness level.

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The Most Beautiful Hikes Facing Mont Blanc

The Mont Blanc massif boasts some of the most spectacular hikes in the French Alps. These are the routes we primarily recommend if you're looking for powerful views, glaciers, peaks, and unforgettable late-day light.

1. Lac Blanc — Chamonix's Iconic Hike

Lac Blanc is probably Chamonix's most famous hike. The trail climbs above the valley, crosses the Aiguilles Rouges, and leads to one of the most beautiful reflections of Mont Blanc. In summer, it's busy, but the magic always works, especially early morning or late in the day.

📍 GPS: 45.9742, 6.8889 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 4h to 5h depending on the route
🚗 Parking: La Flégère Parking, Les Praz-de-Chamonix
🥾 Elevation Gain: +350 m from L'Index, more from the valley
📷 Photo Tip: Prioritize sunrise for reflections, ideally with no wind

→ Read also: The 15 Most Beautiful Lakes in the French Alps

2. Brévent – Planpraz — The Frontal View of Mont Blanc

Brévent offers one of the most direct views of Mont Blanc. It's a versatile hike: you can use the ski lifts to reduce effort, or hike up from Chamonix for a more strenuous day. For photography, late afternoon is often exceptional.

📍 GPS: 45.9333, 6.8333 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 2h30 from Planpraz, full day from Chamonix
🚗 Parking: Brévent cable car parking, Chamonix
🥾 Elevation Gain: variable depending on starting point
📷 Photo Tip: sunset and alpenglow on the massif

→ See related photo: Mont Blanc and Brévent cable car

3. L'Aiguillette des Houches — One of the Massif's Most Beautiful Balconies

The Aiguillette des Houches is a more demanding hike, but it offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire Mont Blanc chain. We particularly like this route for its balance: quite wild, very scenic, and less crowded than the Chamonix classics.

📍 GPS: 45.8917, 6.7833 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 5h to 6h
🚗 Parking: Les Houches or Prarion area depending on the route
🥾 Elevation Gain: up to +1,100 m depending on starting point
📷 Photo Tip: excellent spot to show Mont Blanc with the valley in the foreground

4. Plan de l'Aiguille – Montenvers — The Grand Panoramic Classic

This traverse between Plan de l'Aiguille and Montenvers is one of Chamonix's most accessible and beautiful hikes. It allows you to walk facing the peaks, above the valley, with constant views of glaciers and high mountains.

📍 Starting GPS: 45.8900, 6.8750 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 3h to 4h
🚗 Parking: Aiguille du Midi Parking, Chamonix
🥾 Elevation Gain: moderate, balcony trail
📷 Photo Tip: bring a telephoto lens to isolate glaciers and peaks

→ Complement: The 20 Most Beautiful Mont Blanc Panoramas

5. Les Lacs de Chéserys — Reflections and Alpine Atmosphere

The Lacs de Chéserys are less known than Lac Blanc, but often offer a more intimate atmosphere. The reflections of the massif, the rocky slabs, and the small bodies of water allow for very graphic compositions.

📍 GPS: 45.9700, 6.8800 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: approximately 4h depending on the route
🚗 Parking: La Flégère Parking, Les Praz-de-Chamonix
🥾 Elevation Gain: approximately +600 m
📷 Photo Tip: perfect in the early morning or late afternoon, when the water is calm

→ See our photo: Reflection of Mont Blanc in Lac de Chéserys

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The Most Beautiful Hikes with Lakes

6. Lac d'Anterne — One of the Most Beautiful Wild Settings in Haute-Savoie

Lac d'Anterne is a magnificent hike, featuring alpine pastures, waterfalls, karsts, and wide-open spaces. What we love here is the feeling of remoteness. The lake appears as a reward after a long ascent, with the Rochers des Fiz in the background.

📍 GPS: 46.0167, 6.7833 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: Approx. 5 hours
🚗 Parking: Salvagny or Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval depending on the itinerary
🥾 Elevation gain: +850 to +900 m
📷 Photo tip: Superb at sunrise or late afternoon, excellent spot for regulated bivouac

7. Lac du Crozet — the mirror of Belledonne

Lac du Crozet is one of the best spots in Belledonne for reflections. The water, mineral walls, and surrounding peaks create a very alpine atmosphere, almost austere at times, but extremely photogenic.

📍 GPS: 45.2167, 6.0833 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 4 to 5 hours round trip
🚗 Parking: Pré Raymond / Freydières area depending on access
🥾 Elevation gain: +700 to +800 m
📷 Photo tip: Go early, before the wind distorts the reflections

→ See related prints: Lac du Crozet, Belledonne | Reflection of Lac du Crozet

8. Lac d'Allos — the giant of Mercantour

Lac d'Allos is one of the most impressive lakes in the Southern Alps. Its relatively easy access makes it an ideal hike to enjoy a vast high-altitude landscape without embarking on an overly demanding day.

📍 GPS: 44.2333, 6.7167 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 2 to 3 hours depending on the chosen circuit
🚗 Parking: Laus / Lac d'Allos parking depending on seasonal opening
🥾 Elevation gain: +200 to +300 m
📷 Photo tip: Prefer the soft light of morning or evening

→ See our photo: Lac d'Allos, Mercantour

9. Lac de Trécolpas — wild atmosphere in Mercantour

Lac de Trécolpas is more secluded. It requires a bit more effort, but the atmosphere is superb: pines, rocks, dark water, and the peaks of Mercantour. It's the kind of hike that makes you want to slow down.

📍 GPS: 44.1000, 7.3167 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 4 to 5 hours round trip
🚗 Parking: Madone de Fenestre, Saint-Martin-Vésubie
🥾 Elevation gain: +600 to +700 m
📷 Photo tip: Late afternoon for warm light on the rock faces

→ See our photo: Lac de Trécolpas, Mercantour

10. Lac de la Muzelle — a powerful alpine hike

Lac de la Muzelle is a demanding hike, but it is one of the great itineraries of the Écrins. The scenery is mineral, high, impressive. Here, you truly feel the high mountains.

📍 GPS: 44.9833, 6.1167 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: Approx. 6 hours
🚗 Parking: Venosc / Bourg-d'Arud
🥾 Elevation gain: +1,000 to +1,100 m
📷 Photo tip: Plan an early arrival or an overnight stay in a refuge to enjoy the best light

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Grand Alpine Panoramas

11. Lac Lauvitel — forest, water, and peaks of the Écrins

Lac Lauvitel is less mineral than La Muzelle, but very photogenic. The forests, wild slopes, and deep waters create a softer atmosphere, perfect for autumn but also very pleasant in summer.

📍 GPS: 44.9667, 6.1500 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 4 to 5 hours depending on the route
🚗 Parking: Bourg-d'Arud, Vénéon valley
🥾 Elevation gain: +450 m minimum, more depending on variations
📷 Photo tip: Play with reflections and forested foregrounds

12. The Grand Balcon Nord — hiking facing the glaciers

The Grand Balcon Nord connects the main points of interest in Chamonix with continuous views of the massif. It's a perfect hike for photographers who want to vary their framing without necessarily seeking a summit.

📍 GPS start: 45.8900, 6.8750 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 4 to 5 hours
🚗 Parking: Chamonix, depending on departure from Plan de l'Aiguille or Montenvers
🥾 Elevation gain: Moderate, balcony trail
📷 Photo tip: Very good terrain for alternating wide-angle and telephoto lenses

13. Col de la Seigne — the spirit of the Tour du Mont Blanc

The Col de la Seigne marks a spectacular transition between France and Italy. The view opens onto immense landscapes, with a sense of journey that we really appreciate. It's a hike that appeals to both trek lovers and photographers alike.

📍 GPS: 45.7500, 6.8000 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: Approx. 5 hours depending on departure
🚗 Parking: Les Chapieux / Ville des Glaciers depending on conditions
🥾 Elevation gain: +900 to +1,000 m
📷 Photo tip: Ideal for wide compositions and trekking atmospheres

14. Lac du Lou — large high-altitude lake in Vanoise

Lac du Lou is a beautiful high-altitude lake, accessible from the Belleville valley. It offers a more open atmosphere than some enclosed lakes, with soft reflections and light at the end of the day.

📍 GPS: 45.2800, 6.5200 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 5 to 6 hours depending on variations
🚗 Parking: Les Menuires / Plan de l'Eau des Bruyères
🥾 Elevation gain: +700 to +900 m
📷 Photo tip: Late afternoon, when the light becomes softer on the slopes

15. Pic du Lac Blanc — Belledonne panoramic version

The Pic du Lac Blanc is a more challenging hike, but the view of Belledonne is superb. This route is best reserved for experienced hikers, especially if snow patches persist early in the season.

📍 Approximate GPS: 45.1700, 6.0900 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 5h30 to 6h30
🚗 Parking: Depending on chosen access in Belledonne
🥾 Elevation gain: Around +1,000 m
📷 Photo tip: Very good route for mineral views and ridgelines

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Accessible, Wild Hikes and Valley Lakes

16. Lac Vert de Passy — short, accessible and very photogenic

Lac Vert is a short hike, perfect if you want a beautiful photo subject without embarking on a long day. Its green color, the trees, and the views of Mont Blanc make it a very effective spot.

📍 GPS: 45.9333, 6.6833 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: Approx. 1 hour for a simple stroll
🚗 Parking: Lac Vert parking, Passy
🥾 Elevation gain: Low
📷 Photo tip: Very interesting after rain or in soft light

→ See related prints: Lac Vert, Passy | Lac Vert under snow

17. Lac de Roselend — the colors of Beaufortain

Lac de Roselend is a reservoir lake, but it fully deserves its place in a photo selection. Between the alpine pastures, mountain roads, and blue waters, it's a very graphic setting, especially at sunrise.

📍 GPS: 45.7167, 6.6833 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 2 to 3 hours depending on the loop or viewpoints
🚗 Parking: Roselend Dam / Beaufortain
🥾 Elevation gain: Low to moderate depending on variations
📷 Photo tip: Play with the roads, alpine pastures, and curves of the lake

18. Tour of Lake Annecy — hiking and viewpoints version

Lake Annecy is not a high-altitude hike, but its viewpoints offer extraordinary views. For a photo version, we favor the heights: Semnoz, Talloires, Roc de Chère or Col de la Forclaz.

📍 GPS: 45.8667, 6.1667 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: Variable depending on the chosen viewpoint
🚗 Parking: Numerous car parks around the lake
🥾 Elevation gain: Variable
📷 Photo tip: Morning mist and sunset from the heights

→ See related prints: Lake Annecy | Lake Annecy at sunset

19. Refuge de la Vanoise — accessible high mountains

The hike to the Refuge de la Vanoise is a classic way to understand the beauty of the Vanoise National Park: lakes, alpine pastures, glacial peaks, and a refuge atmosphere. It's a great option if you're looking for a complete hike without going to extremes.

📍 Approximate GPS: 45.3900, 6.7800 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: 5 to 6 hours depending on the itinerary
🚗 Parking: Pralognan-la-Vanoise / Pont du Châtelard depending on access
🥾 Elevation gain: +800 to +900 m
📷 Photo tip: Excellent for refuge atmospheres, lakes, and glacial peaks

20. Refuge de la Valette — for lovers of wide-open spaces

The Refuge de la Valette is a more demanding hike, but it offers a real sense of altitude and isolation. This is a route we would recommend to experienced hikers who are looking for a wilder atmosphere.

📍 Approximate GPS: 45.3500, 6.7000 — View on Google Maps
🚶 Time: Approx. 6 hours
🚗 Parking: Pralognan-la-Vanoise depending on itinerary
🥾 Elevation gain: Around +1,000 m
📷 Photo tip: Ideal at sunrise or sunset if you sleep in a refuge

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Photo tips for hiking in the Alps in summer

A summer hike can be visually stunning but challenging to photograph if the light is too harsh. Here are the tips we most often apply in the field.

• Start early: the light is softer, the trails are quieter, and the lakes offer better reflections.
• Allow extra time: in the mountains, the weather changes quickly. An easy hike can become arduous in the heat or during a storm.
• Compose with a foreground element: rocks, flowers, grass, trails, cairns, or silhouettes add depth.
• Don't overlook a telephoto lens: it allows you to isolate peaks, glaciers, ibex, or ridge details.
• Respect the trails: alpine environments are fragile, especially around lakes and wetlands.

Which hike to choose based on your objective?

Which season to choose for hiking in the Alps?

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To go further

• → The 20 most beautiful panoramic views of Mont Blanc
• → The 15 most beautiful lakes in the French Alps
• → Photos of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

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FAQ — Hiking in the Alps in summer

What is the most beautiful hike in the French Alps in summer?

For us, Lac Blanc remains one of the most beautiful summer hikes in the French Alps. The view of Mont Blanc, the reflections, and the atmosphere of the Aiguilles Rouges make it an exceptional itinerary.

Which hike to do to see Mont Blanc?

Le Brévent, the Aiguillette des Houches, Lac Blanc, and the Lacs de Chéserys are among the best options for seeing and photographing Mont Blanc.

What easy hike can I do in the Alps in summer?

The Lac Vert de Passy, Lac d'Allos or the viewpoints of Lake Annecy are very good options for an easy hike with great scenic potential.

What is the best time to hike in the Alps?

From June to October, depending on the altitude. July-August are the easiest for access, but September and October are often the best for photography.

Should I book refuges in summer?

Yes. For refuges in Vanoise, Ecrins, Mont-Blanc or Mercantour, booking is highly recommended in high season.

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Article written by Pierre Thiaville, mountain photographer and founder of Alu Art Mountains since 2017. All photographs are available as premium Dibond aluminum prints.