Le Prarion

Hôtel-restaurant du Prarion

User

<p>Easy tour on separated track, away from skiers</p>

From bottom of Prarion lift

par les pistes

The Les Houches ski area has become very popular for uphill skiers training on or near the pistes. The route described below avoids most of the crowds and is suitable for bad weather days when the higher hills are out of condition. The ascent follows one of the summer mountain bike tracks for most of the way, signposted "Col de Voza" if not buried. The descent of the E face and a small section of the ascent is avalanche prone, so care is needed.

### Ascent

Drive past the bottom Prarion lift station and take the road towards La Maison Neuve. After a few hairpins, there is a road coming in from the right, (leading to the "Ecole de Physique" and Charousse.) Parking is possible at this junction. Walk along the road for about 100m to the "Amis de Nature", from where a path, (or a road just beyond) is the start of skinning. *It is possible to reach this same point from the end of the Prarion parking by going up through fields, past newly built holiday homes.* Follow the road until it turns sharp left into a chalet. At this point, go straight on (steep at first) into the forest, past a chalet on the right to Granges des Chavants, where you join the track coming up from Charousse. The track curves back left to a chalet and then narrows and winds its way up through the forest, traversing right to overcome a little steep section before turning back left. At a signpost, turn right to go up more steeply, just to the right of a vague spur. After about 20 to 30 minutes from the last chalet, the forest changes from being predominantly coniferous to being mostly deciduous. There is a cairn about 1.5 metres high, (snow dome) on the left. Just above this, the track turns left and descends a few metres before traversing more or less horizontally leftwards, (careful this section is avalanche prone,) to come out underneath the Prarion bubbles. Here you join the signposted uphill ski track, (red signs). Follow this track until you come out of the forest and onto the piste coming down from Prarion top station, just above the bottom of the "Table d'Orientation Ski tow. In Feb 2013 the pisteurs modified the "official track". Just before you exit the forest there is a red signpost pointing uphill, still in the woods. Follow the track, red and white/yellow ribbons tied to trees, all the way to the top of the Prarion bubble lift. Alternatively, at the first exit onto the piste go straight up its right-hand side if it is not busy, (more direct). From the Prarion top station, (1845m) go along the S ridge of the Prarion, initially signposted for snowshoers, over the "Petit Prarion", (the snowshoe track turns off to the left here,) and continue along the ridge, (one steepish section) to the three summits. Excellent viewpoint.

### Descent

The classic ski descent is by the E face,(S3) starting from the shoulder between the Prarion and the Petit Prarion. Go down the open slopes trending rightwards looking down, to avoid the worst of the bushwacking/little cliff "drop-offs". Eventually, you should join your ascent tracks. Facing E, it gets the morning sun and can quickly become avalanche prone and/or transformed, (heavy) snow. If in doubt, return the way you came to the top Prarion station and ski down the pistes. Or better, ski down the W face, through the trees and then skin back up, (or take the Chamois ski tow,) to the top Prarion station. It is also possible to complete the traverse of the Prarion by going down to Col de la Forclaz. However, the traverse is probably best done in the other direction. (See "Prarion from Chatelard" route [Prarion from Chatelard](https://www.camptocamp.org/routes/315268)). 

The E face of the Prarion descent used to be more popular, with volunteers cutting back the scrub from time to time. This has not been done for several years, which means the bushwacking is getting more intensive. Despite a section near the piste, for most of the ascent you feel "far from the maddening crowd". Great view from the summit of the Prarion. The "official" ski randonnée track, starting from the foot of the Prarion lift to the left of the piste, has been greatly improved recently. At La Cabotte 1490m, you have the choice of the "hare" route to the left or the "tortoise" route which traverses rightwards through the woods to join the route described above directly under the cables of the Prarion lift.

<p>The Les Houches ski area has become very popular for uphill skiers training on or near the pistes. The route described below avoids most of the crowds and is suitable for bad weather days when the higher hills are out of condition. The ascent follows one of the summer mountain bike tracks for most of the way, signposted &#8220;Col de Voza&#8221; if not buried. The descent of the E face and a small section of the ascent is avalanche prone, so care is needed.</p> <h2>Ascent</h2> <p>Drive past the bottom Prarion lift station and take the road towards La Maison Neuve. After a few of hairpins, there is a road coming in from the right, (leading to the &#8220;Ecole de Physique&#8221; and Charousse.) Parking is possible at this junction. Walk along the road for about 100m to the &#8220;Amis de Nature&#8221;, from where a path, (or a road just beyond) is the start of skinning. <em>It is possible to reach this same point from the end of the Prarion parking by go up through fields, past newly built holiday homes.</em> Follow the road until it turns sharp left into a chalet. At this point go straight on (steep a first) into the forest, past a chalet on the on the right to Granges des Chavants, where you join the track coming up from Charousse. The track curves back left to a chalet and then narrows and winds its way up through the forest, traversing right to overcome a little steep section before turning back left. At a signpost turn right to go up more steeply, just to the right of a vague spur After about 20 to 30mins from the last chalet, the forest changes from being predominantly coniferous to being mostly deciduous. There is a cairn about 1.5 metres high, (snow dome) on the left. Just above this the track turns left and descends a few metres before traversing more or less horizontally leftwards, (careful this section is avalanche prone,) to come out underneath the Prarion bubbles. Here you join the signposted uphill ski track, (red signs). Follow this track until you come out of the forest and onto the piste coming down from Prarion top station, just above the bottom of the &#8220;Table d&#8217;Orientation Ski tow. In Feb 2013 the pisteurs modified the &#8220;official track&#8221;. Just before you exit the forest there is a red signpost pointing up hill, still in the woods. Follow the track, red and white/yellow ribbons tied to trees, all the way to the top of the Prarion bubble lift. Alternatively, at the first exit onto the piste go straight up its right hand side if it is not busy, (more direct). From the Prarion top station, (1845m) go along the S ridge of the Prarion, initially sign posted for snowshoers, over the &#8220;Petit Prarion&#8221;, (the snowshoe track turns off to the left here,) and continue along the ridge, (one steepish section) to the three summits. Excellent view point.</p> <h2>Descent</h2> <p>The classic ski descent is by the E face,(S3) starting from the shoulder between the Prarion and the Petit Prarion. Go down the open slopes trending rightwards looking down, to avoid the worst of the bushwacking/little cliff &#8220;drop-offs&#8221; Eventually you should join your ascent tracks. Facing E it gets the morning sun and can quickly become avalanche prone and/or transformed, (heavy) snow. If in doubt return the way you came to the top Prarion station and ski down the pistes. Or better, ski down the W face, through the trees and then skin back up, (or take the Chamois ski tow,) to the top Prarion station. It is also possible to complete the traverse of the Prarion by going down to Col de la Forclaz. However, the traverse is probably best done in the other direction. (See &#8220;Prarion from Chatelard&#8221; route http://www.camptocamp.org/routes/315268/fr/le-prarion-depuis-le-chatelard)</p> <p>The E face of the Prarion descent used to be more popular, with volunteers cutting back the scrub from time to time. This has not been done for several years which means the bushwacking is getting more intensive. Despite a section near the piste, for most of the ascent you feel &#8220;far from the maddening crowd&#8221;. Great view form the summit of the Prarion. The &#8220;official&#8221; ski randonnée track, starting from the foot of the Prarion lift to the left of the piste, has been greatly improved recently. At La Cabotte 1490m, you have the choice of the &#8220;hare&#8221; route to the left or the &#8220;tortoise&#8221; route which traverses rightwards through the woods to join the route described above directly under the cables of the Prarion lift.</p>

Le Prarion - from Les Houches via Granges des Chavants

Camptocamp

camptocamp

Col de la Forclaz - Le Prarion

Le sommet du Prarion

## Montée

Suivre la piste forestière du col de la Forclaz jusque vers 1250 m (passer 2 épingles), puis le joli sentier pédestre balisé (piste inintéressante, raide et caillouteuse) sur 250 m. Au col, prendre plein S le sentier balisé qui mène au sommet. Quelques passages un peu exposés, équipés de câbles.

### Variantes

- Des Bouchards, montée au Mont Borrel puis au col de la Forclaz.
- Des Houches, par le très bel alpage de Charousse puis les granges des Chavants... et les pistes (télécabine ouverte l'été).
- Du Servoz (Châtelard).
- De St Gervais, par les Toilles, la Plagne, etc.

## Retour

Par le même itinéraire jusqu'au col.

Superbe vue sur la chaîne du Mont Blanc après le col, belvédère 5* au sommet. Vue imprenable également sur le domaine skiable des Houches.

<h2>Montée</h2> <p>Suivre la piste forestière du col de la Forclaz jusque vers 1250&#160;m (passer 2 épingles), puis le joli sentier pédestre balisé (piste inintéressante, raide et caillouteuse) sur 250&#160;m. Au col, prendre plein S le sentier balisé qui mène au sommet. Quelques passages un peu exposés, équipés de câbles.</p> <h3>Variantes</h3> <ul> <li>Des Bouchards, montée au Mont Borrel puis au col de la Forclaz.</li> <li>Des Houches, par le très bel alpage de Charousse puis les granges des Chavants&#8230; et les pistes (télécabine ouverte l&#8217;été).</li> <li>Du Servoz (Châtelard).</li> <li>De St Gervais, par les Toilles, la Plagne, etc.</li> </ul> <h2>Retour</h2> <p>Par le même itinéraire jusqu&#8217;au col.</p> <ul> <li>Superbe vue sur la chaîne du Mont Blanc après le col, belvédère 5* au sommet.</li> <li>Vue imprenable également sur le domaine skiable des Houches.</li> </ul>

Le Prarion - Par le col de la Forclaz

<p>Durée&#160;: environ 6h30</p> <h2>Montée</h2> <ol> <li>Depuis la gare de St-Gervais-les-Bains, rejoindre le Chemin du maquis pour arriver à Montfort.</li> <li>Suivre la route de Montfort, en direction du lieu-dit les Toilles.</li> <li>Depuis le parking de ce lieu-dit, s&#8217;orienter S puis prendre sur la gauche un bon chemin droit dans la pente qui monte en zigzag et passe sous une ligne électrique.</li> <li>Au croisement, virer à gauche pour suivre le GRP® Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc (balisage jaune et rouge). Suivre ce chemin qui passe sous le téléski du Plancert.</li> <li>Quitter le GRP® et se diriger à droite vers les Combettes puis le Chalet des Anglais. Poursuivre en laissant un sentier à droite, passer sous le téléski des Chamois pour atteindre l&#8217;Hôtel-Refuge du Prarion.</li> <li>À l&#8217;Hôtel-Refuge du Prarion, prendre le chemin partant plein N juste au-dessus de l&#8217;arrivée du Télécabine du Prarion. Le chemin serpente sur la crête dans des sous-bois avec de belles échappées. Poursuivre la montée.</li> <li>Arrivée au Prarion. Le chemin continue plein N sur la crête et descend avec quelques passages raides et quelques câbles pour se tenir. À partir de l&#8217;altitude 1700, on s&#8217;enfonce dans la forêt pour arriver au Col de la Forclaz.</li> </ol> <h2>Descente</h2> <ol start="8"> <li>Au col, tourner à gauche puis rapidement à droite, direction SW, pour descendre vers le village de Montfort. Passer le Pontet puis, à l&#8217;embranchement qui suit, virer à droite vers le hameau de Montfort.</li> <li>Depuis Montfort, regagner St-Gervais-les-Bains et la gare.</li> </ol>

Le Prarion - Boucle du Prarion depuis St-Gervais-les-Bains

<p>Un beau belvédère entre les hauts sommets du massif du Mont-Blanc, les Aiguilles Rouges, les Fiz et les Aravis. Accessible par pistes / sentiers depuis le haut de St.-Gervais ou des Houches. À ne pas négliger, surtout lors de la fermeture de la télécabine au printemps / début de l&#8217;été.</p>