Hauts-Forts, Mountain summit in the Chablais Alps, Haute-Savoie, France
Hauts-Forts is a mountain summit in the Chablais Alps that stands at 2466 meters and represents the highest point of the French Prealps in this region. The peak is characterized by a ridge formation that extends roughly 2.5 kilometers with varied terrain and rock faces.
The summit is made of Callovian–Oxfordian slate, sitting above a cliff of lower breccia, within the Brèche nappe at the southern end of its synform. On 31 July 1986 Avoriaz seasonal workers erected a steel cross on a concrete base there, the highest cross in the Chablais, as thanks for a snow-rich season without avalanches, according to the parish bulletin.
The summit serves as a gathering point for ski mountaineers and alpine enthusiasts who practice their sport across its slopes throughout winter and summer. The mountain's identity is closely tied to these outdoor activities and the people who come to experience them.
The ascent is manageable for experienced hikers and ski mountaineers with proper alpine gear suited to seasonal conditions. The best visiting period is from June to September for hiking and from December to March for winter sports activities.
A steel cross on a concrete base was raised on the summit on 31 July 1986 by Avoriaz seasonal workers, in thanks for a particularly snowy season without avalanches, according to the parish bulletin. It is the highest cross in the Chablais.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,532 contributors worldwide.
