The best ferratas in the French Alps

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Via ferratas: equipment and initiation / Photo: Hans (CC0) Pixabay
Via ferratas: equipment and initiation / Photo: Hans (CC0) Pixabay

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of via ferrata routes established in the iconic mountains of the French Alps. With routes established in or near many classics including the massifs of Mont Blanc, the Vanoise and the Queyras.

Practical guide

When to go?

Most routes are open from early summer to mid-autumn, and a good number are open from early spring to early winter, depending on local weather conditions.

Cities & Services

Geneva, Chambéry, St Jean de Maurienne, Grenoble, Briançon and many mountain resorts.

Not to be missed

Routes through the Mont Blanc massif, Lake Bourget, the Beaufortain massif, the Vanoise massif, the Chartreuse massif, the Écrins massif, the Queyras massif and many other places of scenic interest in the French Alps.

Routes

The routes and via ferrata routes are grouped by zones - Geneva and the Northern Alps, Chambéry, the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, Grenoble and Briancon - and offer a range of challenges, from very easy and sheltered routes suitable for children, to extremely exposed and technical routes for experienced people only.

  • Geneva and the Northern Alps // Via Ferrata Fort l'Ecluse / Via Ferrata Jacques Revaclier / Via Ferrata des Saix de Miolène / Via Ferrata du Rocher de la Chaux / Via Ferrata du Saix du Tour / Via Ferrata du Mont / Via Ferrata de Curalla / Via Ferrata de la Tour du Jallouvre / Via Ferrata Yves Pollet Villard / Via Ferrata de Thônes - La Roche à l'Agathe / Via Ferrata d'Ugine / Via Ferrata Le Roc du Vent /
  • Chambéry // Via Ferrata de la Guinguette / Via Ferrata Roc du Cornillon / Via Ferrata École de Rossane / Via Ferrata Savoie Grand Revard / Via Ferrata La Grotte du Maquis / Via Ferrata de Roche Veyrand /
  • Tzrentaise // Via Ferrata du Cochet / Via Ferrata du Levassaix / Via Ferrata du Lac de la Rosiere / Via Ferrata de la Croix des Verdons / Via Ferrata des Grosses Pierres / Via Ferrata du Plan du Bouc / Via Ferrata de Pralognan / Via Ferrata des Bettières / Via Ferrata Roc de Tovière / Via Ferrata Les Plates de la Daille /
  • Maurienne // Via Ferrata d'Andagne / Via Ferrata du Col de la Madeleine / Via Ferrata du Pichet / Via Ferrata du Diable / Via Ferrata de L'École Buissonnière / Via Ferrata du Télégraphe / Via Ferrata de Poingt Ravier / Via Ferrata du Rocher Saint Pierre / Via Ferrata de Comborsière / Via Ferrata de St-Colomban-des-Villards / Via Ferrata de l'Adret /
  • Grenoble // Via Ferrata of the Cascade de l'Oule / Via Ferrata Les Prises de la Bastille / Via Ferrata du Croix de Chamrousse / Via Ferrata de l'Alpe du Grand Serre / Via Ferrata de l'Alpe d'Huez / Via Ferrata Cascade de la Fare / Via Ferrata Cascade de la Pisse / Via Ferrata Les Perrons / Via Ferrata de St-Christophe-en-Oisans / Via Ferrata des Mines du Grand Clôt / Via Ferrata d'Arsine /
  • Briançon // Via Ferrata l'Aiguillette du Lauzet / Via Ferrata du Rocher du Bez / Via Ferrata du Rocher Blanc / Via Ferrata de la Croix de Toulouse / Via Ferrata de la Schappe / Via Ferrata Les Vigneaux / Via Ferrata de l'Horloge / Via Ferrata des Gorges de la Durance / Via Ferrata de Tournoux / Via Ferrata du Torrent de la Combe / Via Ferrata des Gorges d'Ailefroide / Via Ferrata de la Falaise / Via Ferrata d'Arvieux / Via Ferrata de Fort Queyras / Via Ferrata des Rochers de la Clapière / Via Ferrata des Orres /