Epic Hiking over 3000m in Italy (and France!) - Monte Chaberton from Montgenevre / Claviere

🏔️ Hiking Monte Chaberton

That epic mountain you can see from The Hideaway? That's the Chaberton. And if you're looking for a hike that combines history, epic views, and a real sense of achievement, it's a peak that should be top of your list. Clocking in at 3,131 metres, this iconic peak straddles the Franco-Italian border and offers a challenging but incredibly rewarding day out.

📍 Getting There

Monte Chaberton rises just above Claviere, around 25–30 minutes by car from The Hideaway. You can also start from the French side in Montgenèvre, which is just five minutes further, across the border.

Both starting points lead to the same incredible summit: a windswept ridge topped with the haunting remains of the old Italian fortress — once known as the Fortress in the Clouds.

🚶‍♂️ The Hike at a Glance

• Starting point (Italian side): Claviere (1,760 m)

• Summit elevation: 3,131 m

• Ascent: ~1,400 m

• Distance: ~18 km round trip

• Duration: 6–8 hours (round trip, depending on fitness and weather)

• Difficulty: Challenging (for experienced hikers)

📝 Our Experience

Ash and I hiked the Chaberton on the last day of August and it took us around six hours including rests & stopping for a picnic. We also spent a decent amount of time exploring the fort at the top. The lower forest was shaded and steady, but once we hit the scree it became quite a grind.

Most people were using hiking poles on the downhill, but we found it easier to move faster without them (although we both had aching legs the next day).

On the final push to the summit, the wind was really cold although the sun was strong and it was a cloudless day. Most people were in full hiking pants and jackets, although we pushed on in shorts, long sleeved layers and a windbreaker. Hats & gloves would have been a bonus.

🗺️ Route Overview

1. From Claviere (Italy):

Park near the golf course or main road in Claviere and follow signs for Monte Chaberton (trail No. 615 or 6). The path begins in a shady forest, gradually climbing through larch woods and alpine meadows.

After a couple of hours, the route steepens as it enters the scree and rocky upper sections. The final hour involves a long zig-zag up a barren slope to the summit.

2. From Montgenèvre (France):

Park near the Col du Montgenèvre and pick up the GR5 or Sentier des Anglais, joining the military road that winds up to the summit. This route is more gradual and slightly longer but offers incredible open views almost the entire way.

💡 Practical Tips

• Parking: We parked just 50m before the border, in the free parking. There is parking much closer as Les Miandettes, but we started really late in the morning (almost at midday) so the car park there was completely full. It added another 2km on the hike in total, but it was more convenient for us.

  
  

• Water: There are no refugios or fountains on the route, so carry plenty of water.

  
  

• Food: We packed a picnic and ate half of it on the summit (that was actually less cold and windy than the final push uphill) and saved the other half to enjoy in the hot, sunny valley of the dry river on the way back down after the major descents.

  
  

• Gear: Most people on the route had hiking poles, although we did fine without. I would recommend plenty of layers including hat & gloves as my ears got pretty cold in the wind.

• Timing: We started late in the morning, although we do hike a little quicker than the suggested timings of the Chaberton route, although we were glad we did, as it would've been pretty cold if we'd have raced up first thing. We were actually hiking for just over 4 hours, but the suggested time for the route in around 7-8 hours and that's quite a reasonable suggestion, especially as you don't want to be rushed exploring all of the fort at the top.

🏰 Why Hike the Chaberton?

At the summit, you'll find the ruins of an Italian WWI fort, built in the early 1900s and later bombed by the French in WWII. Eight huge concrete towers once held artillery aimed across the valley. If you squint, you can just about make them out from The Hideaway.

On a clear day, the 360° views are jaw-dropping. You'll see the Ecrins, Vanoise, and Gran Paradiso ranges — and even the outline of Mont Blanc in the far distance. You can see Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere, Montgenevre and the whole Via Lattea!

For us, the magic wasn’t just the views - it was that final stretch when the ruins of the fort first came into sight. We've spent the past 18 months gazing up from The Hideaway Garden to the peak of the Chaberton and after hours of climbing, seeing those massive stone towers appear above the ridge gave us a burst of energy. Sitting among the ruins, looking across two countries (and down to The Hideaway!), we felt like we'd achieved something huge finally making it to the top.

📝 Good to Know

• Best time to go: Late June to early September, once the snow has melted

• Not suitable for children or beginners unless they’re strong walkers used to altitude

• Don't forget your passport or ID if you're starting from Montgenevre (it's just across the border into France)

  
  

🏡 Stay with Us

After a big hike like Chaberton, nothing beats coming back to The Hideaway for a hot bath, a home-cooked meal cooked in a fully-equipped kitchen and a glass of wine on the terrace while you look back up at the peak you’ve just climbed.

👉 Planning your Sauze d’Oulx holiday? Book your stay at The Hideaway and check out Monsguide for ski hire, discount cards, and insider tips to make the most of your time in Val di Susa.

📍 Book your stay: www.hideawaysauze.com

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