Top 5 trails in the Alps

The Alps are full of wonders for hiking or running in the wild in a mountainous, wild and beautiful environment. So, how do you choose your destination for trail running in the Alps and which massifs should you explore? We have selected five very different ones from north to south, from the border with Switzerland, to that with Italy and towards the Mediterranean in the Southern Alps.

Mont-Blanc Massif

In the far north of the French Alps, on the borders with Switzerland and Italy, lies one of the birthplaces of mountaineering and trail running: the Mont-Blanc massif. It is almost a must to wear out your trail shoes on the hiking and trail routes of this majestic massif. From Chamonix, the trail running options are almost endless. The most courageous may decide to do the Tour du Mont-Blanc, although there are many alternatives or options to discover the alpine landscapes surrounding Mont-Blanc. Chamonix has become a world capital for trail running, especially at the end of August when the various trail races organised by the UTMB take place, including the ultra format which consists of a non-stop run around Mont-Blanc, passing through three different countries: France, Italy and Switzerland. But there's no need to do the Tour du Mont-Blanc to discover the region. Even a 15 or 20-kilometre trail run from Chamonix will give you a great insight into the beauty of this massif and its breathtaking views, and the desire to return.

Aravis Massif

To the southwest of the Mont-Blanc massif lies the Aravis massif, about 30 km from the town of Annecy. Although less well known than the Mont-Blanc massif, this massif also offers very beautiful alpine landscapes with superb mountain pastures and breathtaking views of Mont-Blanc. This massif is already very well known to cyclists, with three major passes regularly used by the Tour de France: the Col des Aravis, the Col de la Colombière and the Col de la Croix Fry. To discover this massif by trail (and perhaps also by bike to vary the pleasures), you can start from La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand or Manigod. Trail routes to discover include the Tour de l'Étale, the Beauregard plateau or the traverse of the Aravis.

Bauges Massif

The Bauges massif is definitely less famous than the Mont-Blanc massif. It is perhaps also less known than the Aravis. This may be because it is a little more secret. It is not a massif with large alpine chains but rather several plateaus (Semnoz, Revard, Féclaz) surrounded by isolated peaks, rather steep limestone ridges and dense forests. This is also what makes its charm. It is a little secluded with scattered villages in the different valleys. There are several possible starting points to explore this massif by trail or hike: Lescheraines as a base camp in the heart of the Bauges, Aillon-le-Jeune, Le Revard or Doucy-en-Bauges.

Queyras Massif

Now heading south into the Alps with the Queyras massif. If the Bauges massif is a little secret, the Queyras massif is perhaps the most secret of the alpine massifs in France. It is an isolated massif in the Hautes-Alpes on the border with the Piedmont region of Italy. There you will discover the village of Saint-Véran, one of the highest villages in Europe at an altitude of 2040 m. This massif is one of the most complete for hiking and trail running, with a great diversity of atmospheres: from valleys and mountain pastures with larch forests, to high-altitude lakes and up to high mountains with scree slopes and exposed ridges. To explore this massif by trail or hike, you can start from Ceillac, Saint-Véran or Abriès. There is also a GR route to do the Tour du Queyras (GR58).

Mercantour Massif

Less than two hours from Nice is the Mercantour massif, on the border between the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It is a massif that offers high-altitude lakes and technical trails, where alpine and Mediterranean influences mingle. The massif includes several valleys, including those of the Vésubie, the Tinée and the Roya. Each offers different landscapes: lakes, high peaks and an alpine atmosphere starting from Saint-Martin-Vésubie, vast high-altitude spaces starting from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, wilder and more mineral terrains from Breil-sur-Roya. It should be noted that the Mercantour park on the French side forms, with the Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime on the Italian side, the European Alpi-Marittime-Mercantour park. If you want to venture across the border and discover the wild Alps, you can go trail running or hiking from Entracque.

Five magnificent massifs to discover by trail or hike to enjoy the wonders the Alps have to offer.