Good Habits in the Mountains | Safety & Tips for Mont Blanc

Information on Montenvers and the Mer de Glace

Due to a labor action by the Montenvers Departmental Public Railway Authority

It will remain closed today, July 8, 2026

The gondola and the Ice Cave, too.

Please note that the Montenvers Train is the property of the Haute-Savoie Department and that it is operated as part of a departmental public agency.

Other sites operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc (Aiguille du Midi, Le Brévent, La Flégère, Balme – Le Tour/Vallorcine and Les Houches – Saint-Gervais - les Planards, le télésiège des Bossons) are not not affected and remain open under the usual conditions.

Thank you for your understanding.

For any inquiries about the Montenvers Train, please contact the Montenvers Train Administration.
Phone: 04 65 60 00 80
Email: accueil@montenverstrain.com

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Tips to Keep in Mind During Your Summer Activities

Admire the glaciers and high-altitude lakes, observe the wildlife… In the summer, the Mont Blanc Massif offers spectacular landscapes and remarkable ecosystems.

But these exceptional natural areas are fragile: the soil is shallow, vegetation grows slowly, and wildlife can be easily disturbed by our activities.

Wondering how to enjoy the mountains while helping to preserve this shared space? Check out some great ways to do so this summer!

Stay on the marked trails

Let’s stick to the designated trails. Let’s avoid cutting through vegetation or venturing off the trails: this accelerates erosion, weakens slopes, and damages natural habitats, some of which take several years to recover.

Bringing Your Trash Back Down

Let’s not leave any trash behind, including even the smallest pieces, food scraps, tissues, or toilet paper. At high altitudes, decomposition is slow, and this debris can attract animals, alter their behavior, and disrupt the natural balance.

Observing wildlife from a distance

Let’s observe animals from a distance, without trying to approach them or attract their attention. If we encounter them, let’s stop and let them move away undisturbed. Repeated disturbances can cause them to flee and increase their stress, especially during the breeding season and while raising their young.

Keep dogs on a leash

Let’s check whether dogs are allowed and keep them on a leash. Even without direct contact, the presence of a dog can stress wildlife or cause it to flee. Dogs are, in fact, prohibited in certain natural areas.

Comply with the restrictions

Certain areas are cordoned off with ropes and signs. Please do not cross these barriers, which are intended to:

To guide visitors in order to limit erosion and the widening of trails
To protect the breeding grounds of sensitive species, such as the black grouse
To preserve wetlands, which are important for the water cycle and biodiversity

Keep Your Distance from Herds

The livestock guard dog (also known as a “Patou”) watches over herds to protect them from predators, such as wolves. When you encounter one, stay calm and slow down so it can get a good look at you. Avoid looking it in the eyes and, if possible, go around the herd to keep your distance.

Camping Responsibly

Camping is often permitted from sunset to sunrise. However, in some areas, it is regulated, and reservations are required. Let’s set up our campsites away from wetlands and sensitive habitats, and leave the site just as we found it.

Check the conditions before swimming

Swimming in some high-altitude lakes may be restricted or prohibited to protect aquatic ecosystems. It is important to check the signs on site and contact the Tourist Office or the managers of natural areas (Asters-CEN74, CCVCMB, etc.) for more information.

Discover and Understand

Let’s take advantage of the themed trails, interpretation centers, and nature outings on offer to learn more about the environments we pass through and the local wildlife.

Prioritize public transportation

Let’s use public transportation to get to the hiking trails. It helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Buses are free for holders of a Chamonix Le Pass or Mont-Blanc Unlimited pass.

Good Reflexes