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Aiguille du Dru

3 754 m Peak Mont Blanc Massif
3 754m
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Aiguille du Dru

Peak France Europe

Aiguille du Dru is a dramatic granite peak in the Mont Blanc massif in France, rising to 3754 m above the Chamonix valley. It is one of the most iconic and technically demanding mountains in the Alps, known for its steep faces, exposed ridges, and frequent rockfall. The mountain has two summits, the Grand Dru and the Petit Dru, and is a major objective for experienced alpinists rather than casual hikers.

The peak stands above the Mer de Glace and is visible from several classic viewpoints around Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Its reputation comes from a combination of beauty and seriousness: routes are long, committing, and often require excellent rock-climbing ability, glacier travel skills, and solid mountain judgment. Weather and rock conditions can change quickly, making preparation essential.

Access is usually via the Charpoua Hut or Envers des Aiguilles Hut, with approaches starting from Montenvers or the Plan de l’Aiguille area. While the mountain is not a trekking destination in the usual sense, the surrounding trails offer outstanding alpine scenery. For climbers, the Aiguille du Dru remains a classic and highly respected objective in the French Alps.

Alternative names
Aiguille du Dru
Elevation
3 754 m
12,316 ft
region
France · Europe
Coordinates
45.933, 6.956
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Mountaineering Routes

This is the classic normal route on the Aiguille du Dru, commonly associated with Pierre Allain. It is a serious alpine rock-and-mixed climb on steep granite, with sustained difficulty and objective hazards from rockfall and changing conditions. The route is far more demanding than a standard Mont Blanc massif normal route and is only suitable for very experienced alpinists. Because the Dru’s south-west face is steep and exposed, route-finding and protection management are important throughout. Conditions on the face can vary greatly, especially with snow or verglas on the upper sections. It is a well-documented summit route, but exact timings and total ascent figures are not consistently standardized in sources.
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Bonatti Route

6B | ED2 | VII
The Bonatti Route is one of the most famous lines on the Aiguille du Dru and is a major alpine test-piece. It is a very serious mixed and rock climb on steep granite, with sustained technical difficulties and significant exposure. The route is known for its commitment and for objective dangers typical of the Dru, especially rockfall and unstable conditions. It is generally regarded as harder and more serious than the classic normal route. The line is well documented in major alpine literature and guidebooks. Exact ascent and descent times are not reliably standardized and are therefore omitted.
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American Direct

6B | ED2 | VII
The American Direct is a classic direct line on the Aiguille du Dru and is among the peak’s best-known hard routes. It is a steep, sustained alpine rock route with serious exposure and a high level of technical difficulty. The route is documented in standard climbing references for the Dru and is considered a major objective in the Mont Blanc massif. Rock quality and objective hazards can be significant, and conditions strongly influence the seriousness of the climb. It is not a hiking route and requires advanced alpine and rock-climbing competence. Reliable documented figures for total ascent, length, and timings are not consistently available, so they are omitted.
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Bonatti Pillar

6B | ED2 | VII
The Bonatti Pillar is a famous and highly regarded route on the Aiguille du Dru. It is a demanding alpine rock climb on steep granite, with sustained technical climbing and substantial exposure. The route is well documented and is one of the peak’s signature lines. As with many Dru routes, rockfall and route conditions are important hazards. It is a serious objective for expert climbers rather than a standard mountaineering ascent. Documented numerical data such as ascent time or elevation gain is not consistently standardized in the sources available, so those fields are left null.
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How many people climb Aiguille du Dru? Exact numbers vary by season and route, but it is climbed by a relatively small number of expert alpinists each year compared with easier Alpine peaks.

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