Explore nature on foot in and around Brides-les-Bains

Latest update: 6 August 2024

You don’t have to look far because Brides-les-Bains is beautifully situated in the French Alps mountains. Nature is everywhere. The Parc Thermal is the green meeting place of the village, and you can go on several pretty hikes, either directly from the town or a short drive away. So, how do you feel about spotting marmots or a sunset hike?

Parc Thermal

Let’s start small—with a visit to the Parc Thermal, the central park of Brides-les-Bains. The Doron de Bozel river thunders through the park. The river is wild and loud due to the meltwater from the mountains. You could go rafting if the weather allows, but during my visit, the river is simply too dangerous.

Various activities are organized at the park’s stage, such as performances and dancing. The schedule can be found here. You can also just chill out on the lawn. The municipality has put a whole bunch of white plastic chairs in the park to make it easy for you. Many people come here to read a book or for a chat.

In addition, there is a mini-route along different types of trees in the park. A walking route of about 400 meters. That sounds doable, right?

Google Maps location

Walk along the river in Brides-les-Bains

Als je best een stukje verder wilt wandelen, is het pad langs de rivier een goede optie. Bij deze brug, loop je in ongeveer een uur naar Salins-les-Thermes. Steek de brug niet over, maar volg de rivier gewoon naar links. In de zomer is het dankzij de rivier een stuk koeler hier dan in het dorp. Veel inwoners komen hier ook hun hond uitlaten. 

If you do cross the bridge, you can walk to Fontaine in fifteen minutes. It’s uphill, but not that far: you will soon have a beautiful view.

Tip! Hungry after hiking? Check out my restaurant tips for Brides-les-Bains.

Hike to the marmots of Champagny

Let’s make it a bit more challenging: we follow a guide to the Parc National de la Vanoise in Champagny. He is shocked that we do not speak French and has to recover for the first half hour before he dares to try a word of English. Eventually he overcomes his embarrassment and manages to translate a few things for us.

We drive to the starting point in a van. The ride takes about half an hour, and I have to do my best not to get sick from the winding bends in the mountains. Fortunately, the view is a good distraction. The Vanoise National Park is one of the largest nature parks in France, but we only visit a tiny part. We are on a mission: a mission to see marmots.

And pretty soon the guide spots a marmot in the distance chilling on a rock. Much too far away for the zoom capabilities of my phone, but we saw one! We stare far too long at that animal in the distance, because once we walk further, we come across even more marmots and even closer to them. It takes some searching, but they are definitely there. Sometimes even on the hiking trail, although they quickly run away when they see us.

Did you know that the marmot is native to the Alps? They stay here all year round. In the winter, they hibernate for about six months, and then their body temperature drops from 36 to 6 to 8 degrees. This way, they save energy, but they still lose half of their weight during this period. By the way, marmots are related to squirrels. And when danger threatens, they alert each other by whistling. At first, we thought it was birds whistling.

I am so focused on spotting marmots that I almost forget to take in the rest. Because, gosh, it is beautiful here. There are waterfalls, white mountain tops, and endless wildflowers. Actually, this marmot hike is much too short. I would have happily walked for miles more. But it is certainly a good introduction to the Vanoise Park.

Would you also like to spot marmots? Then you can register for this excursion at the tourist office of Brides-les-Bains.

Hiking at sunset to La Pointe du Cuchet

The sunset hike to La Pointe du Cuchet is a bit more active. We drive to the starting point by van and walk through a dense forest on a narrow path higher and higher into the mountains. It is not necessarily difficult, but the air quickly hits my lungs because of the difference in altitude.

On the trail, we see various flowers, such as wild orchids, and, of course, pretty viewpoints. We look into the valley and admire the mountains. The idea was to eat our picnic at the top and watch the sunset, but unfortunately, it is cloudy and starts to rain. So we move to a mountain hut and eating at a table is much easier anyway. Tip: get your picnic at La Maison de Marielle in Brides-les-Bains (Google Maps location). Delicious, more than enough, and nutritious.

It is wise to do this hike with a guide because, after sunset, it gets dark, of course. Then you can easily get lost. The guide will also bring a headlamp for you. Reserve a spot at the tourist office in Brides-les-Bains.

More things to do in Brides-les-Bains

If you’re done walking, let’s explore what else there is to do in Brides-les-Bains. What about a yoga class or a woodworking workshop? I’ve listed some fun summer activities in Brides-les-Bains for you.

The tourism office of Brides-les-Bains invited me. They have given me complete editorial freedom.