What to do in.. · Courmayeur · Experiences
Val Veny: itineraries, Lake Combal and the Miage glacier
30 July 2026 · 3 min read
Val Veny in Courmayeur: the best trails, Lake Combal, the black Miage glacier and panoramic refuges.
Val Veny is the alpine valley opposite Val Ferret, separated from Courmayeur by a ridge. It hosts some of the most striking trails on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.
Lake Combal and the Miage glacier
From Lake Combal (1,964 m), easily reached by car, the trail starts to Miage glacial lake and the black glacier, covered in morainic debris, unique in the Alps.
Refuges Elisabetta and Maison Vieille
Rifugio Elisabetta (2,195 m) is reachable in 1h30 from Lake Combal via a flat path. Maison Vieille is instead accessible by gondola from Courmayeur.
Practical tips
In August the Val Veny road is closed to private traffic: use the shuttle. Always bring a warm layer: glacier wind makes itself felt even in midsummer.