The Chemin des Dames, French for "Ladies' Road," is the shortest path off King Ravine's boulder floor, rising roughly 800 feet up the east wall of the ravine to reach the Airline Trail along the rim in about 0.27 miles. The name carries an ironic ring: compared to the Great Gully or the Subway, the Chemin is considered the most approachable exit from the ravine floor, but it still demands sustained scrambling from start to finish.
The route begins on open talus, where cairns mark the general line and trekking poles become a liability within the first few minutes. Higher on the wall, the trail passes through a boulder cave, a low crawl that briefly interrupts the exposure before the headwall opens up again. There is no technical climbing in a graded sense, but the moves are real, the footing irregular, and route-finding in the boulder maze takes focus.
At 4,500 feet in the Presidential Range, the upper section often holds snow and ice into May, and the talus can be wet and slick through summer. Most parties descend via the Airline rather than reversing the Chemin des Dames, which is awkward to downclimb. Afternoon thunderstorms build quickly above treeline, making an early start a practical necessity.
