Hiking from Lac Mines d'Or, Morzine
This hike takes in a great lunch spot too!
There is nothing quite like taking a great hike in the mountains in the Haute Savoie in the summertime. In the Morzine and Les Gets there are endless hiking trails to follow and hiking from Lac Mines d’Or is a good one. Most of them have a great restaurant on the hike! So your fitness and gourmand needs are all met!
I took a recent circular hike from Lac Mines d’Or, Morzine which is about 1hour 45 minutes. This hike offers 360 views, cows with bells, beautiful wildflowers, Auberges, wildlife and a great lunch!
Park your car at Lac Mines d’Or. Driving from Morzine take the road up to the Vallee de la Manche and follow to the Lac Mines d’Or (signposted).
Chalet Auberge de Freterolles
Follow the route up to Chalet Auberge de Freterolles, a wonderful family-run Auberge producing all of their products right there. Taste some great cheeses and take a walk around the farm. This is a great lunch stop – you can either have lunch before your hike or return to this spot after your hike. Taste of Savoie reviewed the Auberge de Freterolles – read the review here
From The Auberge de Freterolles follow the sign at the Foret de Freterolles to Chalets de Chardonniere and Lac des Mines d’Or. The Chardonniere is well signed. You will cross a river and come to the foot of the Terres Maudites, a great rock face and landscape of the Dents Blanches. You may even see marmottes or deer in this open area known as Plan des Heures. Take a descent into the woods and down to the Chardonniere refuge. Take in these stunning views as you go down to the refuge!
Follow the signposts!
Keep following the signs to Lac des Mines d’Or. You will come to a sign with 2 options – a quick way back (30 mins) and a longer route back (1 hour). We took the longer route which really wasn’t tough and much more to see. There is another option to go back to the Lac via the forest. This is the way we took, it is a very shady walk and the last part is quite steep.
Et voila you will arrive back at the Lac. Take a short walk up to the Chalet Les Mines d’Or for lunch! I booked our table for lunch before we set out on our hike. I would advise this as they get busy on lovely sunny summer days!
Lunchtime
The Chalet Les Mines d’Or is a wonderful family-run restaurant for 6 generations! A gorgeous Savoyard farmhouse and great wholesome Savoyarde food. They have a large terrace with amazing views all around of the mountains and the lake.
They offer a 3-course menu du jour for €21.50. There is an a la carte menu offering various flavoured omelettes, local fish and meat dishes. The Savoyarde specialities including Tartiflette, Reblochonade, croûte, fondue and raclette.
There is a delicious selection of desserts. For those a little full after your main meal, there is my old favourite Le Café Gourmand (pictured below left). A great selection of small desserts and a coffee.
Restaurant Les Mines d’Or is open from June to September for lunch and dinner (closed on Sunday evenings)
Visit their website for more info
It’s best to make a reservation – Tel: 04 50 79 03 60 or ask Jane to make the reservation for you. Chalet Bluebell will drop you off to do this hike and pick you up again after!
There is a bus that runs in the summer from the centre of Morzine to Lac Mines d’Or – check the Vallee d’Aulps bus timetable
Thanks to Caro Blackwell for her photos and this great post from Taste of Savoie
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