Forming part of the UNESCO recognised Chablais region, the Portes du Soleil offers some of the most easily accessible trails across France and Switzerland and provides easy access to some truly breathtaking scenery.
Lac des Mines d’Or & Refuge de Chardonnière
#5 in this Morzine walking guide
Lunch stop: Ferme Auberge de Fréterolles
Starting at the car park at the Lac des Mines d’Or, this walk will take you down past the Refuge de Chardonnière and up through the woods, past impressive rock formations and views all the way down the valley. You may well see herds of goats or cows travelling through the valley, which is quite a sight to see – you will most definitely hear them with their bells ringing well before you see them! The traditional restaurant Ferme Auberge de Freterolles is a deliciously authentic treat towards the end of the walk, with all the cheese and charcuterie produced on-site. From here it is just a 20 minute downhill stroll back to the car park – very handy in case you get carried away and eat too much cheese (as we did!). This walk really captures the essence of summer in the Alps for us and is well worth dedicating a morning or afternoon to.
Mt Caly
Lunch stop: Les Chevrelles
Start by driving up and parking at Les Chevrelles, the restaurant at the top of Mont Caly. From here, you can take a leisurely walk around the ‘Lachat’ peak, with incredible views all the way over to Mont Blanc, down to Praz-de-Lys and over to the Roc d’Enfer, depending on which side of the peak you are on. End your walk back at Les Chevrelles for an alfresco lunch on the terrace looking out to Mont Blanc and the mountains in the distance. This is a very picturesque dining spot, traditionally adorned with flowers and some of the best views around.
Lac de Montriond
#7 in this Morzine walking guide
Lunch stop: Le Verdoyant
Lac de Montriond is charmingly picturesque and a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. Perfect for a flat 5km stroll around the lake itself, or you can also walk up at the end of the lake to the Ardent waterfall to extend the walk and build up an appetite for lunch. We recommend the Verdoyant restaurant, perched prettily on the edge of the lake and serving up traditional French cuisine. With sheer cliff faces to one side of the lake creating dramatic scenery, and the way the sun streams through the valley to create a seemingly perfect sun trap, the banks of the lake also make for a great picnic spot. Whilst you’re there, you can even go swimming or paddle boarding in the lake, and they have a crazy golf course set up as well.
Cascade des Brochaux & Les Lindarets
#14 in this Morzine walking guide
Lunch stop: Le Petit Lindaret
We recommend parking in Les Lindarets or “the Goat Village” and walking the 5-10 minutes up to the Lecherette chairlift, which you can take up to the Avoriaz plateau to begin your walk. From here, there is an initial (short) climb followed by a long downhill walk towards the Cascade (aka waterfall) des Brochaux. Once you have seen the waterfall and snapped the obligatory photos, you can carry on down the trail which runs alongside the stream, back down to Les Lindarets, where you will find goats freely roaming the streets. Le Petit Lindaret is set in the heart of the village with a friendly atmosphere and great food, as well as it being a great spot from which to watch the passing goats (and people!).
