Hiking - Le cirque des Evettes: a hike at the foot of the great Maurienne peaks and glaciers
Immerse yourself in the heart of one of the most beautiful glacial cirques in the Alps, and experience, for the duration of a hike, a concentrated taste of high mountain terrain…
Starting from the picturesque hamlet of l'Ecot, which is well worth a visit, this itinerary is full of contrasts. In just a few minutes, you'll pass from lush, flowery meadows to a mineral world, made of rocky debris, scattered with large erratic boulders, vestiges of a not-so-distant past when the glacier was very close. A hike that feels like a journey through geological time, discovering a majestic glacial cirque, classified as national heritage since 1979.
From Pont Saint Clair, follow the trail that climbs towards the Refuge des Evettes.
At the "Plan des Roches" sign, two options are possible: one, more direct but more technical, climbs steeply through the rocks towards Col des Evettes; the other, gentler, bypasses this section via Plan des Roches, making the ascent easier.
The two trails merge to reach Col des Evettes. From the pass, the refuge is a 10-minute walk.
You can then extend your hike to Lac des Evettes. Descend to Pont Romain to cross the torrent, then continue on the small flat trail that leads to the lake. Allow an additional 1 hour 15 minutes of walking round trip.
The return to l'Ecot car park follows the same path as the outward journey.
A technical variant is possible via the Gorges de la Reculaz, requiring the traversing of 2 rock faces equipped with cables. Trail not recommended for people prone to vertigo or in rainy weather.
The variant via the Gorges de la Reculaz ("John's trail"), marked by the traversing of 2 rock faces equipped with a cable, is not recommended for people prone to vertigo or in rainy weather.