Hiking - From the Fond des Fours refuge to Le Villaron
On this final stage of the Tour de Méan Martin, the Vanoise National Park sits alongside its Italian twin, Gran Paradiso. The route offers magnificent viewpoints over the border range.
Nearly reaching an altitude of 3,000 m, the Col des Fours puts the high mountains within your grasp. The Vanoise giants, millions of years old, look down on the hiker. On one side: Grande Motte, Grande Casse, Dôme de Chasseforêt, Dent Parachée, Méan Martin. On the other: Pointe de Charbonnel, Albaron and the Italian peaks. The trail pleasantly follows the course of the Lenta, crosses the bucolic Cirque du Vallon before reaching the traditional village of Le Villaron, a little gem of the Haute-Maurienne.
Leave the refuge, heading towards the Col des Fours. Descend from the pass, keeping well to your left. Lower down, as you approach the Pont de la Neige and the Col de l'Iseran road, stay on the right bank of the stream; do not attempt to cross it before the wooden footbridge.
Feel free to use the fixed ropes. Continue naturally along the path until it meets a hairpin bend in the road (Baraque des douaniers). Continue to the right towards the level area below.
When you reach the service track, take it uphill then follow the path that continues straight ahead. Stay on the balcony path as far as Le Vallon; the detour to the waterfalls at the back of the Vallon d'en Haut is worthwhile.
Then continue along the track, taking the path that cuts across it at regular intervals on the descent; it is a more pleasant and quicker way to reach Le Villaron. Always take the path furthest to the left.
Nearly reaching an altitude of 3,000 m, the Col des Fours puts the high mountains within your grasp. The Vanoise giants, millions of years old, look down on the hiker. On one side: Grande Motte, Grande Casse, Dôme de Chasseforêt, Dent Parachée, Méan Martin. On the other: Pointe de Charbonnel, Albaron and the Italian peaks. The trail pleasantly follows the course of the Lenta, crosses the bucolic Cirque du Vallon before reaching the traditional village of Le Villaron, a little gem of the Haute-Maurienne.
Leave the refuge, heading towards the Col des Fours. Descend from the pass, keeping well to your left. Lower down, as you approach the Pont de la Neige and the Col de l'Iseran road, stay on the right bank of the stream; do not attempt to cross it before the wooden footbridge.
Feel free to use the fixed ropes. Continue naturally along the path until it meets a hairpin bend in the road (Baraque des douaniers). Continue to the right towards the level area below.
When you reach the service track, take it uphill then follow the path that continues straight ahead. Stay on the balcony path as far as Le Vallon; the detour to the waterfalls at the back of the Vallon d'en Haut is worthwhile.
Then continue along the track, taking the path that cuts across it at regular intervals on the descent; it is a more pleasant and quicker way to reach Le Villaron. Always take the path furthest to the left.