Ski touring in Combloux: setting off from the building
When the snow cover is good, you cross the road, click into your skis at the edge of the piste and climb towards Beauregard: skinning up from your own front door is rare in a ski resort. When there is less snow lower down, you start from the Cuchet car park, 650 m away. That makes the building an ideal starting point for the marked routes below, which are used during the ski area's opening hours (see "The rules").
Updated on 29 September 2026.
The marked routes
The Portes du Mont-Blanc maintain two secured, marked ski touring routes from Combloux: Plan des Dames (3.9 km) and La Crève-Cœur (4.8 km, 647 m of ascent). They run alongside the pistes without using the tracks of the grooming machines or of downhill skiers. The snowshoe and ski touring route map can be downloaded free of charge from combloux.com and is available at the tourist office.
L'Échappée Rando, on Wednesday evenings
All winter, on Wednesdays, the tourist office organises a guided night ascent: meet at the La Cry car park (2800 route de la Cry Cuchet — 210 m from the building, 3 minutes on foot), climb via the Roitelets green run and then the Papa blue run to the top of the Beauregard gondola, have a snack at the top, and ski down by head torch. Red-run level required. A full hire pack (skis, skins, poles, boots, head torch) costs €30 at the partner hire shops. Dates and registration with the tourist office, +33 4 50 58 60 49.
La Crève-Cœur, the race
A ski mountaineering race bears the name of the route; the 2027 date will be announced by the tourist office.
Further afield
The Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area marks out 12 ski touring routes between Megève, Saint-Gervais and Les Contamines; the great classics — Aiguille Croche, Mont Joly, Col de Véry — are 15-30 minutes away by car. For high mountain routes, contact the Bureau des guides de Saint-Gervais or the Compagnie des guides de Chamonix (mountain guide offices).
The rules
The marked routes are open during lift operating hours; outside those hours, the pistes are closed and the winch-assisted grooming machines are a deadly danger. Check the avalanche risk bulletin (Météo-France, Aravis / Mont-Blanc massifs), carry a transceiver, shovel and probe as soon as you leave the marked routes, and tell someone where you are going.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go ski touring straight from the apartment?
Yes, when the snow cover is good: you cross the road, click into your skis at the edge of the piste and climb towards Beauregard. When there is less snow, you start from the Cuchet car park, 650 m from the building.
Do I need a lift pass for ski touring?
Not for the ascent on the marked routes. You come down on the pistes during opening hours; outside those hours, the ski area is closed.
Can I hire the equipment locally?
Yes, a full touring pack costs €30 at the partner hire shops of the Échappée Rando.
What level do I need for the Échappée Rando?
You should be comfortable on red runs; the climb is about m of ascent, at a group pace.
Where can I find the avalanche bulletin?
On the Météo-France website: the "Aravis" bulletin for Combloux and the "Mont-Blanc" bulletin for Saint-Gervais and Chamonix.
Sleep fifty metres from the snow
Le lodge de l'alpage
70 m², 6 guests · from €200/night
Les cimes de l'alpage
130 m², 10 guests · from €400/night
Adults / Children (including under 2)