Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes · Hiking

Les Balcons de la Mer de Glace

3.2 mi
round trip
6,214 ft
climb
8,921 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Les Balcons de la Mer de Glace is an out-and-back trail, 3.2 miles each way (6.4 miles round trip) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. It runs between about 6,110 ft and 8,920 ft above sea level, with roughly 4,450 ft of climbing one way. It is demanding alpine terrain with scrambling on exposed ground; it is for experienced, well-equipped hikers. The nearest town is Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, about 2.8 miles east of the trailhead. Peaks within about 3 miles include Signal Forbes, Diamant des Flammes de Pierre and Aiguille de l'M. Cascade de Blaitière is within about 3 miles. For camping, Bivouac du Rognon des Drus and Mer de Glace are within about 6 miles. There are 11 other mapped trails within about 3 miles, so you can combine or extend the outing. Distances, elevations and the route shape here come from OpenStreetMap and the Copernicus 90 m elevation model. Trails, access rules and conditions change, so check locally before you go.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Chemin du MontenversPhoto: Rémih, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chemin du Montenvers

~1 min drive

A 3.3-mile point-to-point route in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Les Tines – ArgentièrePhoto: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Les Tines – Argentière

~4 min drive

A 2.6-mile point-to-point route in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Chemin des RognesPhoto: Rémih, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chemin des Rognes

~13 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 2.0 miles each way (4.0 miles round trip) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Chemin de la CascadePhoto: Rémih, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chemin de la Cascade

~15 min drive

A 0.4-mile point-to-point route in Valais, Switzerland.

Grandes Jorasses

~9 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.9 miles each way (3.7 miles round trip) in Aosta Valley, Italy.

Chemin des Grands BoisPhoto: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chemin des Grands Bois

~6 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.5 miles each way (2.9 miles round trip) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Chemin des cols alpinsPhoto: Rémih, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chemin des cols alpins

~14 min drive

A 0.6-mile point-to-point route in Valais, Switzerland.

Voie Câline

~3 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 0.5 miles each way (1.0 miles round trip) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Chemin de la Filiaz

~2 min drive

A 1.5-mile point-to-point route in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Passage du Dérochoir

~14 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.1 miles each way (2.3 miles round trip) in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.

Conditions and forecast

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at Les Balcons de la Mer de Glace for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors