GR5 Alps Trail

The GR5 is one of Europe's great long-distance trails, traveling from the flat lowlands of the Netherlands all the way to the Mediterranean shore at Nice through some of the continent's most varied terrain. It crosses the forested ridges of the Vosges, the limestone plateaus of the Jura, and the high alpine passes of the Vanoise and Mercantour national parks, shifting character dramatically as it moves south. The northern stretches offer pastoral walking through river valleys and wine country, while the southern Alps demand serious mountain competence and deliver extraordinary high-altitude scenery. The alpine section is viable from early July through mid-September; high passes can hold dangerous snow well into June, and autumn storms can arrive suddenly after mid-September. Northern and mid-route sections extend the season into late spring and early autumn, though the Vosges are prone to persistent low cloud and rain. Red-and-white waymarks are reliable throughout, but on high alpine terrain fog and snow can render them invisible — carry a detailed map and know how to use it. Water is plentiful in the Alps; the Jura plateaus and northern lowland stretches have dry sections where carrying extra capacity matters. Mountain refuges and gîtes d'étape are spaced along the route and reservations are essential in July and August, particularly for the busy huts above Modane and in the Mercantour.

Distances, elevation and times are approximate; follow waymarks and local conditions on the trail.