Argentine (Savoie) walks

A short walk climbing from Lac d’Huretières to the village of Saint-Georges. The lake, a former gravel pit, features a leisure area and a protected area. Along the way, there are beautiful views of the Lauzière mountain range.

A circular route in the Hurtières massif to the north of the Belledonnes massif. This is a route that explores the region’s military and mining history. Yellow markings on trees and rocks, numerous directional signs with little or no elevation information.

From a bivouac, all alone in the world, a long stage. The secured sections of the Passage des Moutons, Lac de Clartan, the descent to the Chalet du Tour, the paths winding up and down through Pétillat and its waterfall. The ascent to Lac Noir, the passage along the western ridge of the Petit Arc, a bit of off-trail walking; before trudging tirelessly towards a final climb through the woodland to reach the Refuge de la Thuile. What a view from its cross!

Circular forest path starting from Fort de Montgilbert, following the belt of redoubts and batteries built along a ridge to defend the entrance to the Maurienne valley and passing through a sensitive peat bog site.

With clear skies and no clouds on the horizon, on the morning of 27 August 2018, I decide to discover a superb viewpoint over the Alps. Perched between Belledonne and Lauzière, just above the confluence of the Isère and Arc rivers, the Grand Arc massif is exceptional in its domain. High mountains less than an hour from Chambéry!

A beautiful loop on the southern slope of the Grand Arc, passing by the dark Lac Noir. At the start, a discovery trail allows hikers to step back in time. Directional signs and yellow markings.

A pleasant walk to the Col de Basmont (1,791m), to fill your bag with blueberries, with the added bonus of views over the Beaufortin, the Chartreuse, Belledonne and the Aravis, amongst others.

Ascent of Bellacha via a wild trail on the way up, following the north-west and north ridges of Bellachat. The return route is via the Col de l'Arc and Col de Basmont passes, which offer different landscapes and avoid the descent via the ascent route, which is not always easy to find. This loop is not recommended in the opposite direction.

A beautiful family hike with panoramic views of the Lauzière massif and Mont Blanc in a wild and unspoilt environment.

The high-altitude lakes and the highest peaks of the Lauzière give this route its unique character.

Fancy a goat’s path? You’re in for a treat. Whilst the climb to the Col de la Madeleine is very smooth going, the path leading to the Col du Cheval Noir from the Grande Combe is more akin to trail running. It’s a difficult climb, sometimes requiring you to get down on all fours, with your hands almost constantly in use, but it’s nonetheless safe if you tackle it without rushing. Camping by the Cheval Noir lakes promises complete solitude.

A beautiful hike in the north of the Belledonne Massif. The ridge route offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. A few information boards mark the route.

This is a beautiful hike at the northern end of the Belledonne massif. With the help of an orientation table, discover the 360° view that awaits you at the top of this peak. As indicated in the paragraph "During the hike or nearby", part of the hike can be done with young children, with an elevation gain of about 600m.

Difficult hike: the path climbs quite steeply and, on a short stretch just before the pass, the path is very narrow. After crossing meadows with characteristic flora, you end up in a more rocky, wild environment. Once you’ve rounded the first ridges, you immediately feel far from civilisation, were it not for the presence of a few marmots.

This loop south of the Lauzière allows you to explore both sides of the chain, climbing directly to the Pas de Sarvatan, then crossing the western slope via a well-marked trail before descending from the Col de Monjoie through beautiful meadows.

Family hike to the Col de Monjoie (but it's still uphill) then a short off-trail exploration towards the peaks that border it.

A lovely little hike for the start of the season or for exploring the high mountains with the family, which starts off along some forgotten paths.

A hike in the Lauziere massif that will take you past the surrounding peaks, the Logis des Fées refuge, Lake L'Arpettaz and Lake Branlay along well-maintained paths.

The perfect family outing, this route will introduce you to the Bourget-en-Huile and Pontet marshes. You will learn about the flora and fauna, the marshes, how they were formed and how they are being restored. There is also information about the woods and mining, castles and even Hannibal. All this is provided by information points along the route. A booklet offering a fun approach to the trail is on sale at the Chalet du Verney.

An easy half-day route through the mountain pastures above Saint François Longchamp.

Circular route through the Lauzière massif, which gives this area its distinctive rugged, rocky character.

A lovely hike in the Lauzière massif, with views of the peaks and glaciers of the Vanoise, not to mention the inevitable Mont Blanc. You will also recognise the characteristic silhouette of the Cheval Noir along the way.

Starting from Saint-François-Longchamp, this first stage of the Tour de la Lauzière is a gentle walk to the Grande Léchère Lake Mountain Hut, where you’ll spend your first night.

This small mountain range undoubtedly offers one of the most stunning sequences of panoramic views. But beware of the challenging paths and the isolation. Pay particular attention to water management: streams and springs often run dry in summer.The starting point is Saint-François-Longchamp, accessible by public transport or by road. Parking is easy and free there in summer. The stages are connecting days. This route follows the Tour de la Lauzière route with a detour via La Thuile and the Col de l’Arc. You’ll spend every other night in a refuge and the rest in a bivouac.Do not attempt this hike if you are not sure-footed: although it stays on the paths (or strays very little from them), this route requires vigilance and follows routes that are very rarely used. You will almost certainly find yourself alone, or almost alone, for most of the day, in conditions where the markings are often half-faded and the paths obscured by livestock tracks. High-altitude cloud cover is common.

A lovely mountain hike, without any major difficulties, featuring a wide variety of terrain: mountain pastures, forests, wide paths and streams. A stunning view of the valley from the Croix du Grand-Praz. The Col de Montjoie will be on your left on the return from the lake, with the Cheval Noir on the other side.

Une jolie randonnée dans la montagne à vaches (celles qui font le Beaufort). Belle vue sur la vallée de l'Arc et le massif des Grandes Rousses. Presque tout le parcours est au soleil.

Discover a peak with a 360° view of the Savoie mountains.

This route takes you through what I consider to be one of the most beautiful areas in the municipality: Les Balcons. It boasts a rich diversity of flora, fauna and geology, as well as varied landscapes and terrain. All this in a place that feels wild and far from civilisation. See the ‘Practical information’ section regarding the path after the (3).

An easy hike to the Col de Montjoie. Unobstructed views, particularly of the Aiguilles d'Arves and the Glacier de l'Etendard.

A lovely climb through the upper pastures where the cows that produce the milk for Beaufort cheese graze, with views of the Vanoise, the Thabor Massif, the Aiguilles d’Arves and the foothills of the Écrins. Then the route changes direction, offering views of Belledonne, the Chartreuse and the Bauges, before setting up camp at the Montartier Lakes.

The ‘demoiselles coiffées’ (topped rock formations), known locally as the Cheminées des Fées, are a unique feature resulting from the erosion of the landscape by water runoff.

A short hike with moderate elevation gain, suitable for a family outing with young children. The route takes you through working mountain pastures, offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, and passes by the foot of three stunning waterfalls.

It’s hard to say much about this section, as we completed the whole of it in driving rain and cloud. The route is challenging and stony, with numerous herds of livestock and detours… But it remains so beautiful despite everything. The climb up the Bellachat is less difficult than it looks. The landscape is actually very varied: there’s a lot of rocky terrain on the ascent of the Bellachat, with steep cirques all the way to the Lacs du Loup, where the mountain pastures take over before giving way to the Cirque du Colomban, only to return near the Refuge du Logis des Fées.

Discover the Paradis mountain pastures, above Saint-François-Longchamp, the bells of the cattle herds in the green summer pastures, with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains, the passage through the hamlet of La Perrière, then a return via the path through the Pézières Forest, with its complicated passages through muddy waterways or a tiny, vertiginous path. Beautiful emotions await you.

A change of scenery: the view opens out towards the Beaufortain, the Tarentaise, the Aravis and then the Vanoise. You pass beneath the Grand Arc, descend towards the Vallon de Bayet, cross the Col Basmont, then spend the night at the Col de l’Arc in the unmanned hut

A circular walk in the Grand Arc massif offering magnificent panoramic views of the Albertville valley and the Lauzière massif, whilst enjoying the beautiful La Thuile mountain pastures with their many small lakes. This walk was completed with children aged five and ten.

A beautiful hike in an area that is very open right from the start, with panoramic views of the Chartreuse, the Bauges, the Aravis and the Beaufortain. On the ridge, the views extend to include Mont Blanc, the Vanoise and the Écrins...

Final, connecting stage. A gruelling descent along the Col du Cheval Noir trail before rolling gently towards Saint-François-Longchamp, past cattle sheds, herds and ski facilities.

A beautiful, unspoilt route around Les Chatermes with panoramic views of Les Grands Moulins and the Pointe de Rognier.

A beautiful, little-known summit at the northern end of the Lauzière massif.The approach via the Tarentaise, which is much less frequented, guarantees peace and quiet and the chance to spot chamois.