Tour of the Aiguille de la Vanoise – Stage 1 – Fontanettes car park – Col de la Vanoise refuge

A beautiful 2-day itinerary between glaciers and mountain lakes. Imagine jumping from rock to rock to cross Lac des Vaches in the majestic setting of the most beautiful peaks in the Vanoise.

You’ll set off on a varied route between forest and high mountain.

It’s an easy start from the Fontanettes car park, and you’ll soon take a small forest path that will lead you to the enchanted forest of the Bois de la Glière… This path winds its way between large moss-covered boulders, inviting you to look up at the treetops, walk through the fir cones or touch the bark of the trees…. Suddenly the forest comes to a halt and you come to a platform that invites you to look up at the summit of Pointe du Dard, from where avalanches can sometimes be quite impressive!
The path continues into the cirque de l’Arcelin, a natural amphitheatre offering a breathtaking view of the great vertical walls of Moriond, the Aiguilles de l’Arcelin and the Grand Marchet.

Then take the path known as “Les Arollets” to the right of Moriond. You will then quickly ascend, along a sometimes technical path, towards the Lac des Assiettes plateau and then the Col de la Vanoise refuge.
The refuge offers a unique view of the Grande Casse and its glacier, the Arête de la Réchasse, the Grande and Petite Glière… Here you can enjoy a good night’s rest after tasting the keeper’s delicious dishes.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step :

1/ DAY 1: From the Fontanettes car park to the Col de la Vanoise refuge. Duration: 3h / Ascent: +858m / Descent : -5m / From the Fontanettes car park, take the 4×4 path to the right of the Genépi chairlift / After a few minutes’ walk, take the path to the left, which leads into the Glières forest (the playful “lutin” path), as far as the Arcelin cirque / Then take the path known as “les Arollets”, to the right of Moriond, which will take you to the Col de la Vanoise hut (red path).