Tête Noire

Tête Noire is a mountain summit in Passy and Les Houches that rises to 1,746 meters and offers views of the Mont Blanc massif and the Arve Valley below. Multiple marked trails cross the mountain's flanks, including the GRP Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc, with access points available from both settlements.

The mountain functioned as a natural boundary between valleys until roads connected the area during the 1800s. These transport improvements during the Second Empire period transformed how the two communities related to one another.

The forested slopes remain largely free of tourist facilities, keeping the area as a natural Alpine space. This preservation of the landscape reflects how locals value the mountain as part of their everyday environment rather than a destination.

The mountain is most accessible during warmer months when the marked trails are in good condition. Sturdy footwear and a hiking map are recommended since while trails are marked, they can be demanding in this Alpine setting.

A hydroelectric pipeline runs through the mountain to supply a power plant at its base. This hidden system demonstrates how the region has used water power for generations without visibly transforming the landscape.