Around the Arselle snowshoe trails

Start of the hike: at the cinema in the Roche Béranger shopping centre, Chamrousse 1750.

(S/E) Go up the green La Lauze ski run that runs alongside the long covered conveyor belt. At the top, turn slightly left towards sign no. 5 for the green Bachat Bouloud ski run. You will come to a junction with a wide track at an altitude of 1756 metres.

(1) Turn left onto this straight uphill trail. At the top, on the flat section, pass the porticos and continue straight ahead across the meadow. You will come to a T-junction.

(2) Turn right onto the stony path, then after about 180 metres, turn left onto a steep descent which joins the Astragale trail. Turn left onto this trail. Immediately on the left, look for the start of the Les Clairières de l'Arselle snowshoe trail.

(3) Turn left onto this circuit, which passes through the forest and several clearings. You will come to a Y-junction.

(4) Turn left and you will come to a climbing wall (no. 8). At the foot of the rock, turn right onto a rough, overgrown path. We recommend using GPS from this point onwards. Cross a dry stream, then the path climbs in a series of small hairpin bends. Keep to the left and you will come to the foot of a rounded rock.

(5) Climb this rock without difficulty, heading to the right to find a clearly visible trail at the top that leads into the woods. Cross the Ruisseau de La Salignière and arrive at a junction with the Lac Achard trail.

(6) Turn right onto this very rough path (pebbles and exposed roots) and join the Astragale trail at an elevation of 1717 metres.

(7) Immediately turn left onto the path that enters the forest, heading south-south-east. You will arrive at the edge of a cliff and a fault line. Admire the landscape. The path then becomes much more difficult with a very steep and slippery trail. Arrive at Rocher de l'Homme. The view is spectacular. Leave Rocher de l'Homme by following the ridge westwards.

(8) Begin a steep and slippery descent into the forest to go around a large rock. The GPS is very useful again to avoid going too far down into the forest as there are many tracks. As soon as possible, head back up towards the ridge.

(9) Go around a^second boulder in the same way (the detour is shorter). Pass by a fault, then the trail levels out on the ridge. You will arrive at a wider area and a Y-shaped intersection.

(10) Turn left and join the Les Crêtes de l'Arselle snowshoe trail. Follow the trail markers to the summit at an elevation of 1,712 metres.

(11) Leave the snowshoe trail and descend south for about 20 metres until you see a trail heading west.

(12) Follow this trail as it winds its way between the fir trees. Your GPS will come in handy again, along with a good sense of direction to keep heading west, south-west towards the Arselle plateau. The trail is difficult to spot with broken and fallen trees and overgrown foliage. After a steep and slippery slope, you will come to a T-junction.

(13) Turn left and follow the path that leads to the edge of the cliffs. On the right, you will see protective barriers (danger signs) and the Arselle peat bog. Continue along the path that descends towards the La Salignière stream.

(14) Cross the stream (ford) and join the Astragale track opposite and higher up. Turn left onto this track. Keep right at the^first Y-junction, then after about 120 m, you will come to an X-junction.

(15) Turn left onto the wide track that descends gently into the forest. After a right-hand bend, join the Fondroide forest road and follow it to the right.

(16) After an S-bend, leave the road on the left and follow the path that joins the Arselle plateau at the Badet spring. You will come to a Y-junction.

(17) Turn right onto the path that passes at the foot of the La Salinière restaurant. Pass the 1636 elevation point, go past the equestrian centre and continue eastwards.

(18) Turn left onto the path that climbs and then passes at the foot of the small housing development Le Domaine de l'Arselle. You will arrive on the paved road of Bachat Bouloud at elevation 1700.

Follow the road up towards Roche Béranger, either all the way to the shopping centre or turning right at the Bachat Bouloud chairlift to go up the track that joins the conveyor belt and the starting point (S/E).

For information: the author took 4 hours and 10 minutes to complete this route (excluding breaks).

A GPS device is essential for the unmarked trails in the forest, as the tracks are sometimes difficult to follow.
Be careful of slipping in wet weather on the very steep paths of the Rocher de l'Homme.
Be careful on passages close to the cliffs.

NOTE: To avoid the steep descent, slippery conditions and unmarked terrain from (11), turn back at the top of the ridge (elevation 1712) and descend approximately 130 m to turn left at the sign indicating the snowshoe trail. A clearly visible trail joins the Arselle trail near elevation 1621.

3 Options for shortening the loop between (15) and (17) (see IGN map).