Located in the heart of Chamonix, France, this easy Lac Sinclair Ruins walk is perfect for all visitors. The short, 1.3km (0.8 mile) loop trail guides you to the secluded stone ruins of Lac Sinclair and offers breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc massif and Aiguille du Midi. This scenic loop also takes you past the well-known Les Gaillands Rock Climbing area and circles Lac des Gaillands, featuring stunning, reflective views of Mont Blanc over the water.
Exploring the Lac Sinclair Ruins
This short walk begins on the north side of Rte des Gaillands in Chamonix where visitors will first find the climbing walls of the Les Gaillands Rock Climbing area, located next to the parking lot. If you're an avid rock climber, the Les Gaillands Rock Climbing area is the perfect place to enjoy a climb with views of Mont Blanc, without having to travel far from Chamonix's downtown.
From the rock climbing area, the trail leads southwest, following an flat path as it passes through the woods. Be on the lookout for a neat cave-like structure on the north side of the path and to the south, a view of Mont Blanc with the waters of Lac Sinclair (Lake Sinclair) at your feet. Lac Sinclair Ruins - 0.2km
After a very short walk from the parking area, visitors will find the stone remnants of the Lac Sinclair Ruins sitting along Lac Sinclair, near 0.2km. All that remains of the stone structure are three stone walls with a large arched window frame that faces the lake. There's a stone staircase that leads to the basement of the ruins, but this old staircase simply leads to a flooded, muddy shoreline of Lac Sinclair. If you're good with photography, you may be able to capture the arched window of the ruins with a backdrop of the Mont Blanc massif in the background, although it's a bit tricky to get the lighting right. Lac des Gaillands Views - 0.23 to 1km
After exploring the ruins of Lac Sinclair, the walk leads visitors southeast, crossing Rte des Gaillands to reach Lac des Gaillands (Lake of the Gaillands). As you follow the loop trail around Lac des Gaillands, you'll find breathtaking views of the towering Mont Blanc massif overhead. Some of the best Mont Blanc views from the Chamonix Valley can be found right along this lake and the best part is, it's relatively quiet! If you show up when there's very-little water or air movement, the stillness of Lac des Gaillands creates a reflective mirror effect where you'll find the Mont Blanc massif shimmering like a mirror on the lake's glassy water. Some of the best views along the Lac des Gaillands trail can be found 0.88 and 1km from the start of this route. Lac Sinclair Ruins Viewpoint - 1.13km
This route leads visitors back to the parking area, but first it stops at a scenic viewpoint of the Lac Sinclair Ruins. The trail crosses Rte des Gaillands once more but instead of following the main path to the parking lot, it leads up a short, but steep hill. From the top of the hill is one of the best views of the Lac Sinclair Ruins. On days where the wind levels are low, Lac Sinclair creates yet another reflective mirror effect where you'll find a mirror image of the ruins on the lake's water. Return to Parking - 1.13 to 1.3km
The last section of this scenic Chamonix Valley walk leads from the Lac Sinclair Ruins Viewpoint back to the parking lot. Follow the trail that sits atop Lac Sinclair's southern banks as it wraps around the water. Along the way are more beautiful views of the lake and, located on the northeast banks, sits more stone structural ruins from buildings that are now long-gone. Hop back on the trail, pass the Les Gaillands Rock Climbing area and reach the parking lot at 1.3km to finish the walk. Parking
Visitors will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided, located on the north side of Rte des Gaillands in Chamonix, France. The parking lot is large enough to fit about 30 vehicles as of September 2025. If the parking lot is full, street side parking can be found along Rte des Gaillands. Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed and must be cleaned up after.
