Loop walk across the top of the Salève
This turned out to be one of those unplanned outings that surpassed expectations and the whole family had a lovely time!
It was forecast to be a very sunny day, so we decided that we would go to Chamonix to do the Valley Walk and pull the kids along in the sled, as we hoped there would be some snow.
What we hadn’t thought of however, was that it was the end of February school holidays so the Autoroute Blanche was pretty much at a standstill as soon as we joined it from Geneva.
Therefore we decided to get off the motorway and go to the Salève instead!
Unfortunately there was no snow, so we couldn’t put the kids in the sled, but they didn’t seem to hold it against us.
Walking straight across the top of the Salève, “it’s this way!” Kai says
We parked at the car park of the Observatory Restaurant. With the detour on the motorway, we got there around 10.30am and as it was a sunny day, I knew it would get busy for lunch service so I promptly reserved a table for midday when we arrived at the car park.
We bundled the kids up into their carriers and off we started on a smaller version of the loop walk which I have talked about in a previous post.
The route that we did was basically the half of the loop walk on the Geneva side of the mountain. We walked over the top of the mountain, we eventually came to the paraglider’s take-off site, then took a sharp right turn along the fence down the side of the mountain.
I should point out that the forest walk along the side of the Salève is a narrow single track, which can be slippery underfoot after rain/snow. There is also a sheer drop off for almost all of it, so I don’t advise it if your child will be walking the route and/or you have a dog who runs around a lot and liable to fall down.
If your child/ren are walking, you can simply do an out and back route across the top of the mountain, or do the Mont Blanc side of the mountain on the way back for a change of scenery.
Heading down the side of the mountain to pick up the forest path along the side of the mountain (Geneva side)
We marched the second half back at the fastest pace we could manage carrying the children, because we were almost late for our lunch reservation!
The walk took us 1.5 hours in total, and there isn’t much incline in the walk but the forest path is fairly undulating, enough for you to feel your glutes. We treated it as a weighted walk and workout for the day.
As we got to the restaurant, (just in time!) the head guy there had our table ready, and had kindly put out a high chair for Miya. We had the perfect table with enough space for Luka to lay down without encroaching on other customers’ space.
The restaurant is very child-friendly, with many high chairs available, a changing table and even a few toys for your little ones. Our waiter was also very good with Kai, and that’s always a nice touch when you’re dining out as a family.
There was a decent kid’s menu, and the adults chose from the dish of the day, which were both delicious! I had slow-cooked porc fillet and Niall had roast lamb, both served with seasonal roasted vegetables.
Despite being very busy with some large parties eating, the service was very good, and the waiter was good about telling us that our dishes were on their way.
When the food arrived, it was very tasty. It’s certainly worth a visit here to eat if you happen to be on the top of Salève. They do have a nice terrace with a great view of the Mont Blanc on a clear day, but they only serve drinks and nibbles here, so you would have to get yourself a table inside if you wish to eat off the menu.
Kai finished his meal off with an ice cream, so was very pleased with the order of events!
It was just before 2pm by the time we left the restaurant and headed back home, the perfect amount of time to be out without feeling like a very long day of travelling for the family.
On a sunny day, this has got to be one of the best ways to spend half a day, I highly recommend it!
Don’t forget to pack all the essentials for a day out in the snow for yourselves and the children. It is advised to bring a warm snowsuit and snow boots for children, sunglasses, gloves, hat and sun screen. If you have a sledge with you, you will not be able to do the forest path along the side of the mountain. Don't forget to bring some water for your dog as eating snow does not substitute for water!
Fun factor for child: 5/5 - Sledge down the slopes designed for sledging if there’s snow, be pulled along and take in the view, build snowmen and have the best time! In the summer/when there’s no snow, have a great time taking in the views and hiking through the forest.
Fun factor for dog: 5/5 - Luka is in heaven here! Bounce around in the snow if there is any, otherwise zooms across the fields at the top of the mountain!
Pram-friendly: No
Water Access for dogs: No
Potable water: No. There is no tap water available at the Observatory Restaurant, you will have to order bottled water.
Baby changing facilities: Yes, behind the curtain in the main part of the restaurant there is a changing mat on top of a pool table. They even provide some nappies!
Please review the Disclaimer before attempting any walk or activity mentioned on this website.
