A couple of years ago in November, MBFF headed to Le Bettex (Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc), to walk the family-designed « Sur la piste de Charlotte la Marmotte ».
This family walk is 🗺 an annotated trail, and it can be done all year round (
in winter with snowboots or raquettes), with a baby carrier if needed!
The path leaves from Le Bettex (1400m) and heads to Les Communailles (1420m), and there is very little dénivelé. Along the way, you’ll find 🗺 16 fun (10 new ones!), interractive and informative panels, that explain 
the mountains and flora and fauna and 
eau thermale of Saint-Gervais . . . the walk will take you about 1h30 – 2h aller-retour, depending on the time you take to read the panels or to stop and have a picnic!
Hike details
distance: 4km aller-retour (not a boucle; you return via the same path);
timing: 1h30 to 2h aller-retour;
website
The hike in photos . . .
You start this short hike from Le Bettex . . .
When we went, the pink snow-shoeing signs were already in place, so be sure to follow the right signs, and not the different snow-shoe trails!
The path leaves from just behind the ski tapis roulant . . .
There were ❄️ patches of snow when we went (as it was early in the winter season, the boys were very excited!):
You’ll find 🗺 explanatory panels, interractive games and quizzes along the way . . .
There is a fun interactive 📷 photo opportunity . . .
On some parts of this short hike, you’ll find yourself in 🌲 the thick of the spruce forest – this is beautiful in both summer (🌿 when lush green) and in autumn (🍁 when more sparse, but with stunning colours) . . .
On our walk, there were some open parts, where plants had been cleared . . . It must be interesting to walk this path over the different seasons – ❄️ snow underfoot, 🌿 lush summer green. We went 🍁 at the sparse autumn moment, just before the ❄️ beauty of winter.
And you’ll see 🗻 the Massif du Mont-Blanc all the way along the trail . . .
On our excursion in late autumn, we delighted to find patches of ice and incredible icicles!
The way back:
You can retrace your footsteps, or you can walk back through Les Communailles, past ⛪️ la Chapelle du Taguy, and along the road . . .
address: Chapelle du Taguy, 910 route des Communailles, 74170, Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc;
Picnic spots and restaurant options
There are plenty of options for 🥗 restaurants and snack bars in Le Bettex (for example L’Etable) and Les Communailles, but if you venture on this walk out of the main season, these may well be shut, so do check!
There are also picnic tables in Le Bettex and Les Communailles . . . And you’ll find spots to lay a picnic blanket (weather permitting!), or you can find a suitbable log . . .
Getting there
You can 🅿️ park directly at Le Bettex arrival station (🚡 Télécabine du Bettex), or alternatively you can 🅿️ park at the departure of the 🚡 Télécabine du Bettex in Saint-Gervais and taket the bubble up to the car park to start the walk (depending on season).
In the summertime, you have a playground at Le Bettex . . .
Mont Blanc Family Fun 