From Col de la Forclaz to Col de Balme closed
This loop to Col de Balme follows marked trails just a stone’s throw from the French-Swiss border formed by the famous pass.
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Difficulty
medium
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Length
20.3 km
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Duration
4:40 h
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Run this magnificent single track starting from the Col de la Forclaz with its impressive panorama stretching from Trient to Chamonix. After warming up along the bisse (ancient waterway) for about 500m/.3 mi, the track descends through the forest to Trient River. Head for Les Tseppes, indicated by a white sign and start your ascent. A steep path leads you through dense forest, then becomes gentler allowing you to speed up. A short round trip takes you to the Iron Cross, the highest point in the trail, where the path is rockier and slightly exposed. When you reach the summit, take in the breathtaking view of the Mont Blanc and then join the trail to the Col de Balme hut. Just a few steps from the French border, the route winds between blueberry trees offering an incredible view of Trient Glacier. After a fast descent, return to Trient-Combe bisse and a trip back on the flat.