Hiking - Tour of Pointe de la Masse: A trek between Les Belleville and Les Encombres
Lace up your best hiking boots and grab your poles for a challenging loop that ventures into the high altitudes... A rocky bastion between the Encombres valley and Les Belleville, Pointe de la Masse can be explored on a two-day hiking loop.
The iconic summit of the Menuires ski area, la Masse, is encircled by a balcony trail that takes experienced hikers from one valley to another. One is an alpine skiing paradise in winter. The other, wilder, is home to marmots and numerous chamois. Along a procession of high peaks, this two-day trek allows you to discover authentic Savoyard hamlets as well as numerous high-altitude lakes, including Lac du Lou.
From Refuge de Gittamelon, leave the goat farm on your left to ascend through the meadow on the trail. Shortly before Rocher Roux, fork right and pass under the power line. The trail climbs in switchbacks up to Lachat (approx. 1h). Cross the dirt track and continue straight ahead on the gently ascending trail to col de la Fenêtre (approx. 45min). Head towards vallon de Geffriand (approx. 45 min) and reach Les Ménuires via vallon des Yvôses, then Refuge du Lac du Lou (approx. 3h), from where you descend to parking des Bruyères.
The iconic summit of the Menuires ski area, la Masse, is encircled by a balcony trail that takes experienced hikers from one valley to another. One is an alpine skiing paradise in winter. The other, wilder, is home to marmots and numerous chamois. Along a procession of high peaks, this two-day trek allows you to discover authentic Savoyard hamlets as well as numerous high-altitude lakes, including Lac du Lou.
From Refuge de Gittamelon, leave the goat farm on your left to ascend through the meadow on the trail. Shortly before Rocher Roux, fork right and pass under the power line. The trail climbs in switchbacks up to Lachat (approx. 1h). Cross the dirt track and continue straight ahead on the gently ascending trail to col de la Fenêtre (approx. 45min). Head towards vallon de Geffriand (approx. 45 min) and reach Les Ménuires via vallon des Yvôses, then Refuge du Lac du Lou (approx. 3h), from where you descend to parking des Bruyères.