A Guide to Wildlife Watching in the Chamonix Valley
The Chamonix Valley isn't just a landscape to walk through, it's genuinely wild ground, home to marmots, chamois and ibex, along with golden eagles and other birds of prey overhead. You don't need a guide or a lot of luck to see some of it, just the right time of day and a bit of patience. Here's what to look for, where, and how to give yourself the best chance.
Marmots
The easiest of the valley's wildlife to spot, and the most rewarding for a low effort return. Marmots live in the high alpine meadows above the treeline and are most active in the morning and early evening, when they're out feeding and sunning themselves near their burrows. Early autumn is a particularly good time to see them, since they spend September feeding hard to build up fat reserves before disappearing underground for hibernation around October. Listen before you look, their sharp warning whistle usually gives away a colony before you spot one.
Chamois
More elusive than marmots, chamois favour steep, rocky terrain and are easiest to see early in the morning, often on the slopes above Le Brévent and La Flégère. They're most visible in spring and summer, when good grazing keeps them out in the open, and become noticeably warier from September onwards, partly as the autumn hunting season begins in the surrounding hills. That makes early autumn one of the last easy windows before they grow more cautious, so it's worth getting out at first light if you're hoping to see one.
Ibex
Larger and more relaxed around walkers than chamois, ibex are often seen resting on cliff faces or ridgelines, identifiable by their thick, ridged horns, which can reach close to a metre on older males. They're less disturbed by hunting season than chamois, since they're a protected species, so they tend to stay easier to spot into the autumn.
Where to Look
The high balcony trails above the valley, including the routes up towards Lac Blanc covered in our trail running guide to the Chamonix Valley, are good general wildlife territory, as are the slopes around Le Brévent and La Flégère. If you'd rather have a guaranteed sighting without the early start, the Parc Animalier de Merlet above Les Houches is a dedicated wildlife park where chamois, ibex and marmots live in a large natural enclosure, a good option for families or anyone short on time.
Tips for a Better Chance of Seeing Something
Go early. Most alpine wildlife is most active in the first couple of hours after sunrise, before the trails fill up.
Bring binoculars if you have them. Most sightings happen at a distance, on a ridge or a far slope.
Move slowly and keep your voice down. Wildlife in the valley is used to walkers, but sudden noise or movement will send most animals off before you get a proper look.
Keep your distance, especially in autumn. Approaching animals during hunting season or as they prepare for winter adds unnecessary stress at a time when they need to be conserving energy, not fleeing from people.
Plan the Rest of Your Stay
Wildlife watching pairs naturally with a morning hike or run, and gives you a reason to be out early when the valley is at its quietest. For more on how to spend the rest of your stay, see our guide to the best things to do in Chamonix all year round.
Staying in Argentière puts you close to the trails where wildlife sightings are most common. Get in touch to find out more about staying with us.