It is an announcement that saddens many mountain lovers. The Merlet wildlife park, one of the most spectacular sites in the Chamonix valley, will close its doors entirely in 2027. An exceptional decision, made not for economic reasons, but to allow the site to regain its balance in the face of the effects of climate change.
Perched at over 1,500 meters above Les Houches, the Merlet park attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to observe ibex, chamois, marmots, deer, mouflons, and even fallow deer living in semi-freedom, with the Mont Blanc massif as a backdrop. But after summer 2026, the park’s trails will remain exceptionally empty for an entire season.
An exceptional closure to let the mountain breathe
This “white year” is not just a simple construction site. The park managers have decided to completely close the site to the public… but also to remove the animals.
The goal is to allow the alpine meadows to regenerate after more than fifty years of continuous grazing. With global warming, drought episodes are multiplying and soils are drying out further, weakening an ecosystem already under strong pressure.
The teams will also take advantage of this break to restore natural areas, promote the return of more diverse vegetation, and replant tree species better adapted to tomorrow’s climate. Spruces, which are very present today, especially suffer from rising temperatures and repeated droughts.
A symbol of the challenges facing the Alps
The decision of Merlet park illustrates a reality increasingly visible in the mountains. Natural areas must now adapt to a rapidly changing climate.
To sustainably preserve biodiversity and animal welfare, managers have chosen to act now rather than wait for irreversible degradation of natural environments. This temporary closure is therefore conceived as an investment for the decades to come.
Summer 2026 is the last chance to enjoy it
Good news for those who had planned a visit: the park remains open until the end of the 2026 season.
During the summer, it welcomes visitors every day, before switching to an opening from Tuesday to Sunday starting in September. Reservations remain mandatory due to high attendance. The park will also continue to offer its traditional snowshoe outings during the winters of 2026 and 2027, before a planned summer reopening in 2028.
To read: Visiting the Parc de Merlet
My advice
If you dream of discovering Merlet with its exceptional view of Mont Blanc and its animals in semi-freedom, do not postpone your visit. Summer 2026 will be the last opportunity to enjoy the park before this exceptional closure, and reservation slots are likely to be in high demand. But come early in the morning, it is the best time to enjoy the animals.
