The southwest ridge is the standard documented mountaineering route on Petit Combin. It is an alpine snow-and-rock route with generally moderate difficulty, but conditions can vary significantly with snow and ice. The route typically involves glacier travel and route-finding on the upper mountain. Objective hazards include crevasses, serac or snow instability, and rockfall on exposed sections. It is usually climbed from a high mountain hut in the Grand Combin area. The final part to the summit is a sustained alpine ascent rather than a hiking path.
