How to visit the Tête Nord des Fours viewpoint on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Last Updated on November 6, 2025 by Mags Nixon

Do you know about the Tete Nord des Fours viewpoint on the Tour du Mont Blanc?

It’s one thing I never forgot to tell my private zoom clients about. Why? Because in my opinion it’s unmissable – it’s one of the most incredible views of the entire Tour du Mont Blanc AND its pretty easy to get to!

Start point: Col de la Croix du Bonhomme

End point: Tête Nord des Fours (table d’ orientation)

Distance: 1.6km / 260m elevation gain

Estimated time – one way – 30-40 minutes

The Tête Nord des Fours (table d’orientation) is situated just a 10-15 minute stroll from the Col des Fours.

The Col des Fours is a variant trail on stage 2 of the TMB but don’t worry its easy to get to the Tête Nord des Fours viewpoint even if you are planning to take the traditional route down past Refuge Col de la Croix du Bonhomme to Les Chapieux.

Basking in glorious views the Tete Nord des Fours viewpoint has a splendid view of Mont Blanc and the Mont Blanc Massif slap bang in front of you. This is actually your first view of Mont Blanc after leaving the Chamonix valley.

NOTE: you won’t see Mont Blanc every day on the Tour du Mont Blanc as often the mountain range surrounding her – the Mont Blanc Massif obscures her.

Looking back you can see the entire Col du Bonhomme (which you’ve likely just climbed if you’re trekking the traditional counter clockwise direction) with sweeping views into the Montjoie Valley (Les Contamines). To the South East you’ll spot the Refuge Mottets far below sprawling in a verdant valley and beyond that … the Col de la Seigne, the French-Italy frontier. As viewpoints go, this is one of the best!

From the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, you’ll see a signpost marked Tête Nord des Fours (table d’ orientation). The sign says 50 minutes to the viewpoint however I disagree – I generally tell folks its around an hour loop return back to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme.

For me it takes approximately 20-25 minutes to hike the 1km distance up to the Col des Fours and then another 10-15 minutes up to the viewpoint. So count on between 1 to 1hr 20 for back and forth if you’re planning to descend on the traditional route via Refuge Col de la Croix du Bonhomme down to Les Chapieux instead of hiking the variant Col des Fours trail down to Ville des Glaciers.

The trail from the Col de la Croix du Bonhommeis clearly visible, you’ll walk below the giant, ugly electricity pylons and arrive at the moon scape of Col des Fours. You’ll climb 174m to the Col.

From the top of the Col des Fours you’ll see the trail traverse to the right. Don’t do this – this is the variant trail down to Ville des Glaciers. The Tête Nord des Fours viewpoint is NOT signposted from the top of the Col des Fours. On the left you’ll see the white letters of Col des Fours painted on the rocks.

Climb up and over these pancake rocks heading forward and slightly to the right and soon you’ll be able to pick out a trail heading to the right. The rocks are smooth where so many people have walked over them.

Continue walking for around 10-15 minutes and before long you’ll see the table du orientation (a disc detailing all of the peaks in a full 360 degree panorama).

Yes, it’s around a 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minute round trip to walk out to the Tête Nord des Fours (table d’ orientation) and back to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. You do NOT need to continue down the Col des Fours on the variant trail if you don’t wish to.

If the weather is nice, it pays to set off early on this day. 1/ because its the longest and most challenging day if you are not taking any other variants on the Tour du Mont Blanc (bar variant stage 1) and 2/ because if you are not too tired after walking up the two cols (Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme) then it’s really great to add in this little diversion to the Tête Nord des Fours viewpoint.

Have you walk out to the Tête Nord des Fours (table d’ orientation) viewpoint? I’d love to hear your comments below if you also think it’s a top recommendation for TMB hikers planning their trail. What was your experience?