Mont Blanc faces record rockfalls and overtourism

The Mont Blanc massif is facing dual challenges of environmental instability and extreme tourism pressure. In 2026, the region has recorded approximately 450 rockfalls, a 50% increase over the previous record of 300 set in 2022. Experts, including CNRS researcher Ludovic Ravanel, attribute this unprecedented instability to extreme temperatures exceeding 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, which are degrading the permafrost that holds mountain walls together.

Simultaneously, local authorities are struggling with massive influxes of hikers. In Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Mayor Jean Marc Peillex has proposed limiting access to the Tour du Mont Blanc starting next spring. The proposed regulations would require hikers to have a reservation in a mountain refuge or an authorized bivouac area to manage the crowds and protect the natural environment. While French municipalities are working together on these new rules, Swiss authorities are currently considering different approaches to the issue.