What is the Bossons glacier?
The Bossons glacier is Europe's largest icefall. Located in the village of Les Bossons, above the Chamonix valley, the glacier rises on the French side of Mont Blanc (around 4,810 m) and flows down its north-western slope between the Roches Rouges (4,363 m) and the Dôme du Goûter (4,304 m).
This icefall rises from an altitude of 4,810 m to 1,420 m in just 7.3 km, with an average gradient of 28°.
It offers a magnificent backdrop with its many seracs and crevasses.
Its terminal tongue retracts from year to year, and by 1980 it had reached an altitude of 1,200 m.
How and when to get there?
Open only in summer, access to the Bossons glacier is via a chairlift that takes you to 1,410 m in 15 minutes, or on foot via a path that takes around 50 minutes. Parking lots are located at the start of the chairlift and trail.
The Glacier des Bossons chalet is a 5-minute walk from the chairlift arrival point. From its terrace you can admire the terminal tongue of the glacier and the bewitching seracs of the Plateau des Pyramides.
On site
From the Chalet du Glacier, follow the theme trail that tells the story of the glacier. Each panel along the trail relates a particular theme, such as the life of the glacier, the Little Ice Age, the evolution of the glacier, and so on.
This chalet is also the starting point for the Bossons glacier hike, which leads to the Pyramides chalet.
These two chalets offer the opportunity to dine, serving typical cuisine in an idyllic setting.
The Bossons glacier hike
For those who have brought their hiking boots and want to get a little closer to the glacier, the Chalet du Glacier is the starting point for the famous Jonction hike, which takes you to the gateway to the high mountains, at 2,589 m, to the Chalet des Pyramides.
This route was used by J. Balmat and Dr. Paccard on the very first ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786.
This challenging hike offers incredible views of seracs and ice pyramids.
Timetables and rates
Generally open from mid-June to mid-September, subject to favorable weather conditions, the Bossons glacier chairlift opens at 8:30 am. The last ascent is at 5:30 pm and the last descent at 6 pm.
Here are the rates for this chairlift:
- Free for children under 5
- One-way ticket for 5 - 14 year-olds: €7.80
- Round trip for 5 - 14 year olds: €10
- One-way ticket for adults: €10
- Round trip for adults: €13.40
- One-way ticket for over 65s: €8.10
- Return ticket for over 65s: €10.30
- Family package: from €35.20 to €46.60 (2 adults + 2 young people = other young people free, up to 3 free)
- Free for Mont Blanc multipass holders ( skating rinkaccess...)
