Aiguilles Rouges Circuit conditions

Last updated . Satellite imagery from 30 October 2026 to 4 November 2026.

Aiguilles Rouges Circuit: 62% snow-free as of 4 November 2026; snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu and Col de Salenton.

  • 62% of the line snow-free
  • 17.6 km still under snow
  • Snow line: 1,750 m

The Aiguilles Rouges Circuit usually opens late June, once the high cols melt out and the huts open.

This year the line was first 95% snow-free on 4 July 2026, and autumn snow returned by 22 October 2026.

The latest satellite reading, from 4 November 2026, shows 62% snow-free.

Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 30 October – 4 November 2026 shows 62% of the Aiguilles Rouges Circuit line clear of snow, with about 18 km still under snow.

The snow line sits at about 1,750 m.

Less snow than the same week in 2025, when the route was 22% snow-free.

What it means: Expect continuous snow from about 1,750 m. Micro-spikes and poles are recommended above that height, and an ice axe on steep north-facing traverses.

Cols

ColHeightStageSnow
Col de la Glière2,461 m2Under snow
Col du Lac Cornu2,414 m2Under snow
Col du Brévent2,368 m3Snow patches
Col de Salenton2,526 m5Under snow

Stage by stage

StageSnow-freeUnder snowLowest snow
1. Lac Blanc to Col des Montets41%4.6 km2,050 m
2. Col des Montets to Moëde Anterne53%3.8 km2,050 m
3. Moëde Anterne to Brévent66%2.4 km2,250 m
4. Brévent to Bellachat87%1 km1,950 m
5. Bellachat to Plan Praz38%4.8 km1,900 m
6. Plan Praz to Lac Blanc87%1 km2,050 m

Season by season

YearFirst 95% snow-freeAutumn snow backBest reading
20264 July22 October100% snow-free
202529 June5 October100% snow-free

Update log

  1. : 62% snow-free, snow line about 1,750 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col de Salenton.
  2. : 16% snow-free, snow line about 1,500 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  3. : 100% snow-free.
  4. : 100% snow-free.
  5. : 100% snow-free.
  6. : 100% snow-free.
  7. : 100% snow-free.
  8. : 100% snow-free.
  9. : 100% snow-free.
  10. : 100% snow-free.
  11. : 100% snow-free.
  12. : 100% snow-free.
  13. : 100% snow-free.
  14. : 100% snow-free.
  15. : 99% snow-free.
  16. : 98% snow-free. Snow on Col de Salenton.
  17. : 98% snow-free. Snow on Col de Salenton.
  18. : 96% snow-free, snow line about 2,450 m. Snow on Col de Salenton.
  19. : 91% snow-free, snow line about 2,350 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  20. : 75% snow-free, snow line about 2,050 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  21. : 73% snow-free, snow line about 2,000 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  22. : 62% snow-free, snow line about 1,800 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  23. : 42% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  24. : 33% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  25. : 19% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  26. : 9% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  27. : 22% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  28. : 7% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  29. : 100% snow-free.
  30. : 100% snow-free.
  31. : 100% snow-free.
  32. : 71% snow-free, snow line about 2,050 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  33. : 93% snow-free.
  34. : 100% snow-free.
  35. : 100% snow-free.
  36. : 100% snow-free.
  37. : 100% snow-free.
  38. : 100% snow-free.
  39. : 100% snow-free.
  40. : 100% snow-free.
  41. : 100% snow-free.
  42. : 99% snow-free. Snow on Col de Salenton.
  43. : 99% snow-free. Snow on Col de Salenton.
  44. : 97% snow-free, snow line about 2,450 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col de Salenton.
  45. : 97% snow-free, snow line about 2,450 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col de Salenton.
  46. : 91% snow-free, snow line about 2,350 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  47. : 79% snow-free, snow line about 2,050 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  48. : 54% snow-free, snow line about 1,550 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  49. : 54% snow-free, snow line about 1,550 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  50. : 41% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  51. : 42% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.
  52. : 24% snow-free, snow line about 1,400 m. Snow on Col de la Glière, Col du Lac Cornu, Col du Brévent, Col de Salenton.

How this is measured

The route is sampled every 200 m along the classic stages. Each point uses its most recent cloud-free satellite view from the 10 days before the update.

A point counts as snow when Sentinel-2 classifies it as snow or its snow index (NDSI) is high. Cloud, shadow and no-data pixels are left out.

Imagery: Copernicus Sentinel-2 L2A (Earth Search STAC), 20 m. Elevation: Mapbox Terrain-DEM v1 (zoom 12).

Satellite snow cover is a planning aid, not a safety verdict. It cannot see snow under trees or thin new snow, and it says nothing about avalanche danger, cornices or ice. Check with huts, guides and local bulletins before you go.

Aiguilles Rouges Circuit route guide · Conditions on every route