Where to travel in the mountains by train, without using the car?

If you too want to travel in an eco-responsible way, but at the same time have a hankering for hiking and a vacation in the heart of nature… you’ve come to the right place! We’re going to try and list the mountains that are accessible by train, both in France initially, and in the surrounding areas in the future (like Switzerland, for example).

Where to go by train in the heart of the mountains in France?

1. Grenoble – getting to Grenoble by train

Grenoble is a superb city for low-carbon travel in the heart of the mountains. In fact, it’s quite easy to get to Grenoble by train. There are direct routes from Paris, Lyon and Valence. And it’s still accessible with one or two connections to most French cities.

Accessible GR: GR®9, GRP®Tour de Chartreuse, GR®965.

Hikes accessible without a car in Grenoble

• L’Écoutoux (4h00 • Medium • 9.4km • +475m):
  • Transport: Bus line 62 from Grenoble > Col de la Porte or Pont du Croz – Sappey-en-Chartreuse stop.
• La Pissarde and the Allières waterfall (5h00 • Medium • 10.3km • +770m):
  • Transport: Bus line 47 Risset > Val d’Allières – Val d’Allières stop
• Chamechaude (4h25 • Difficult • 7.7km • +790m):
  • Transport: Bus line 62 from Grenoble > Col de la Porte or Pont du Croz – Col de la Porte stop.
• The Fort de la Bastille (1h30 • Easy • 5.3km • +220m):
  • Transport: Accessible on foot crossing the Isère.
• Fort du Murier (2h00 • Easy • 5.2km • +210m):
  • Transport: Accessible on foot or line 14 – Anguisses stop.
• Lac du Lauvitel ★ (4h30 • Medium • 10km • +545m): possibility of combining Lac du Lauvitel and Lac de la Muzelle by doing a tour over 2 days.
  • Transport: Grenoble Shuttle > Les Deux Alpes Transaltitude summer/winter – Les Deux Alpes stop. Then take the Venosc cable car (6.5€)
• Lac de la Muzelle ★ (7h00 • Difficult • 12.7km • +1287m):
  • Transport: Grenoble Shuttle > Les Deux Alpes Transaltitude summer/winter – Les Deux Alpes stop. Then take the Venosc cable car (6.5€)

From Grenoble, it’s also easy to get to Veynes or Saint-Firmin for other destinations.

2. Briançon – get to Briançon by train

Briançon is a French town in the heart of the mountains, accessible by direct TER train from Paris, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Sisteron, Gap or Embrun. It is also accessible via 1 or 2 train connections from many other French cities. Briançon is an excellent town for a mountain vacation, as it serves a wide range of hikes via its annual bus service and summer shuttle service.

Accessible GR: GR®57, GRP® Tour du Mont Thabor

Hikes accessible without a car in Briançon

• Lac de la Douche ★ – Monêtier-Les-Bains (3h30 • Medium • 7.6km • +397m)
  • Transport: Line 6 Altigo bus – Eglise stop from the SNCF station towards Monêtier-Les-Bains
• The Arsine Glacier Lake via the Lac de la Douche ★ – Monêtier-Les-Bains (6h40 – Difficult – 17.1km – +950m) possibility of continuing to stop at the Chamoissière Refuge.
  • Transport: Line 6 Altigo bus – Eglise stop – From the SNCF station towards Monêtier-Les-Bains
• Long and round lakes – Névache (4h00 • Average • 9km • +460m):
  • Transport: Bus line 7 from Briançon SNCF station > Névache (0h40), then take the N4 Vallée de la Clarée shuttle available in summer.
• Long, round and Gran Ban lakes – Névache (6h30 • Difficult • 18km • +800m):
  • Transport: Bus line 7 from Briançon SNCF station > Névache (0h40), then take the N4 Vallée de la Clarée shuttle available in summer.
• Vallée de la Clarée – Névache (3h40 • Average • 11.5km • +400m):
  • Transport: Bus line 7 from Briançon SNCF station towards Névache (0h40)
• The Grand Lac and the Col de la Ponsonnière ★ (6h30 • Difficult • 13.3km • 922m):
  • Transport: Line 55 Altigo bus – Le Lauzet stop – From Briançon SNCF station towards Grenoble
• Puy Vachier Lake and Évariste Chancel Refuge (2h45 • Medium • 5.8km • 360m)
  • Transport: LER n°55 – La Grave stop – From Briançon SNCF station to Grenoble. Once in La Grave, take the Glaciers cable car.

3. Gap – getting to Gap by train

Gap is a mountain town at the start of the Alps, easily accessible by train from Paris (night trains availables), Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Grenoble, Briançon, but also from many other towns with one or two connections.

GR accessible: GR® 94, GRP® Tour du Dévoluy, GR® 653D

Hikes accessible without a car in Gap

• Crête de Charance (5h00 • Medium • 9.5km • +780m)
  • Transport: Line 2 Linéa bus – Le clot de Charance stop.
• Lacs d’Orcières ★ (5h30 • Medium • 11.8km • +730m): possibility of extending to Roc Diolon or reducing via telemix.
  • Transport: 528 Gap shuttles > Orcières de ZOU! – Orcières Bus station stop (Tourist Office).

4. Veynes – going to Veynes by train

Veynes is a small French mountain town accessible by train from Gap, Briançon or Grenoble. To get there, simply take the TER Veynes-Gap-Briançon lines or the TER Grenoble-Gap – Veynes-Dévoluy stop. Several short hikes are possible once there as well as many other activities (e.g. Écomusée du Cheminot Veynois).

Accessible GR: GR® 93

Hikes accessible without a car in Veynes

• Col de Cuberselle (5h00 • Medium • 8km • +500m) : Follow the GR94D northwest of the Tour de Buëch until reaching the Col de Cuberselle and return to Veynes via the Forêt Domaniale du Veynois.
• Charajaille (2 days – Medium) : Follow the GR94D northwest of the Tour de Buëch to Charajaille, then leave via Glaise for a 2-day hike.
• Montagne d’Oule (4h00 • Difficult • 9.2km • +800m): Follow the GR®95 towards the south until reaching the mountain of Oule. → View the route
• Eygau de Veyras (2h30 • Easy • 6.5 km • +190m): From the station go south/southwest to follow the Petit Buëch river then join the route. → View the route
• Furmeyer Botanical Trail (4h30 • Difficult • 14 km • +500m): From the station, head south-east to join the D648 to follow the Petit Buëch promenade. Join Les Savoyons and then follow the Furmeyer Botanical Trail. → View the route

5. Mont-Dauphin – go by train or bus to Mont-Dauphin

Montdauphin is a small town in the mountains, easily accessible via trains or buses from Gap, Embrun, Paris or Briançon. It is a good destination to discover part of Queyras, or to do a part of GR®.

GR accessible: GR®541, GR®653D, GR®50, GR® 5, GRP® Tour de la Font Sancte, GR®58

Hikes accessible without a car in Mont-Dauphin

• Mirror Lake ★ (3h30 • Difficult • 8.5km • +550m)
  • Transport: ZOU shuttle! Montdauphin-Ceillac – Pied du Mélézet stop from Montdauphin SNCF station (0h40)
• Lac Miroir, Lac Sainte-Anne and Refuge de la Cime Mélézet ★ (5h30 • Difficult • 11.6km • +770m)
  • Transport: ZOU shuttle! Montdauphin-Ceillac – Pied du Mélézet stop from Montdauphin SNCF station (0h40)
• Lake Egorgéou: from Echalp (7h00 • Difficult • 18.3km • +880m): follow the GR®58 southeast to Lake Egorgéou. Possibility of going to Lac Foréant. Possibility of staying at the Gite de l’Echalp.
  • Transport: From Montdauphin-Guillestre station, take bus line S28 towards Ristolas – Abriès Tourist Office stop.

6. L’Argentière la Bessée – go by train or bus to Argentière la Bessée

L’Argentière la Bessée is a small town not far from Briançon. This destination is easily accessible via the TER Veynes-Gap-Briançon line but also via summer/winter shuttles coming from Paris, Marseille or Aix-en-Provence. It is ideal for discovering some of the most beautiful hikes in the Écrins.

Accessible GR: GR®653D, GR®50, GR®541

Hikes accessible without a car at Argentière la Bessée

• Refuge du Glacier Blanc ★ (5h10 • Difficult • 9km • +670m)
  • Transport: Seasonal shuttle S30 ZOU! l’Argentière > Pré de Madame Carle – Pré de Madame Carle stop
• Glacier Noir et Balmes de François Blanc (4h45 • Difficult • 7.9km • +665m)
  • Transport: Seasonal shuttle S30 ZOU! l’Argentière > Pré de Madame Carle – Pré de Madame Carle stop

7. Saint-Firmin – go by train or bus to St-Firmin

Saint-Firmin is accessible from Line 521 ZOU bus! or the T91 line travels from Gap as well as from Grenoble. It is a town which allows you to discover the Valgaudemar valley and its many hikes.

GR accessible: GR®54, GRP® Tour du Vieux Chaillol, GR®50

Hikes accessible without a car in St-Firmin

• Lakes and Col de Pétarel (7h50 • Difficult • 15.8km • +1240m):
  • Transport: St-Firmin shuttle > Le Gioberney available in summer – La Chapelle en Valgaudemar stop.
• Les Oulles du Diable (6h00 • Difficult • 13km • +630m):
  • Transport: St-Firmin shuttle > Le Gioberney available in summer – La Chapelle en Valgaudemar stop.
• Lauc du Lauzon and Refuge du Pigeonnier ★ (5h40 • Difficult • 11.6km • +850m):
  • Transport: St-Firmin shuttle > Le Gioberney available in summer – Le Gioberney stop.

8. Moutiers – go by bus to Moutiers

A splendid destination giving access to the heart of the Vanoise National Park. To get there, you have to go to Albertville by train, then reach Moutiers via the T3 Albertville > Moutiers bus line. Moutiers then gives access to Courchevel or even Pralognan-la-Vanoise via its summer/winter shuttles.

Accessible GR: GR®55

Hikes accessible without a car in Moutiers

• Lac de la Rosière ★ (1h15 • Easy • 4km • +131m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Courchevel then take the shuttle line H – Lac de la Rosière stop.
• La Dent du Villard (5h30 • Difficult • 10.2km • +830m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Courchevel then take the shuttle line H – Lac de la Rosière stop.
• Col de la Vanoise ★(5h40 • Difficult • 11.6km • +850m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Pralognan-la-Vanoise then take the Pralognan-la-Vanoise shuttle > Les Fontanettes available in summer – Les Fontanettes stop.
• Lac Blanc and Refuge Péclet Polset ★ (6h30 • Medium • 17.3km • +820m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Pralognan-la-Vanoise then take the Pralognan-la-Vanoise shuttle > Les Prioux available in summer – Les Prioux stop.
• Petit Mont Blanc from Les Prioux ★ (6h45 • Very difficult • 12.1km • +1025m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Pralognan-la-Vanoise then take the Pralognan-la-Vanoise shuttle > Les Prioux available in summer – Les Prioux stop.
• Cascade de la Fraîche (1h30 • Easy • 2.6km • +210m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Pralognan-la-Vanoise.
• Col du Grand Marchet (5h30 • Difficult • 10.9km • +1156m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Pralognan-la-Vanoise then take the Pralognan-la-Vanoise shuttle > Les Fontanettes available in summer – Les Fontanettes stop.
• Lac du Lou and Lac de Pierre Blanche (6h15 • Easy • 15.9km • +700m):
  • Transport: Take the Alpbus bus Moutiers > Les Ménuires

Please note: summer shuttles are generally only open between July and August.

Unfortunately, many regions are currently quite poorly served by public transport. Like the Cévennes or Aveyron for example. But taking the train and then renting a car or carpooling locally would already significantly reduce CO2 emissions. To get an idea of the CO2 emissions of different transport: see the SNCF comparison.