Cirque des Évettes circular loop from L’Écot

Park at the Pont Saint-Clair car park, in the hamlet of l'Écot. During the tourist season, plan to arrive by 10.00–10.30 am at the latest, as the car park, although very large, is swamped by tourists coming to take part in water sports on the Arc: canyoning, hydrospeed, etc.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the road to the end to reach the first path towards the Refuge des Évettes, signposted by hiking signs.

(1) Take the path through the pastures, keeping to the hiking trails. You’ll come across some livestock (sheep, goats, etc.) but, of course, you’ll never have to walk through the enclosures: don’t panic!

(2) After crossing the pasture, the path runs alongside the Ruisseau de la Reculaz. This section of the path is not very steep and remains straightforward. You will occasionally have to cross rocks from old scree slopes, but this remains fairly easy.
Along the path, you’ll have a few views of the Gorges de la Reculaz and its waterfall at the bottom, which you’ll be very close to later on in the hike. Depending on the season, you may also see the Ruisseau de la Reculaz flowing beneath snowfields.

(3) The climb becomes a little steeper. You’ll walk over slabs overlooking the Gorges de la Reculaz, with a few views of them. Continue on to what is likely the most ‘technical’ part of the hike.

(4) In this section, there are two very steep sections between two rocks. A cable has been installed as a handrail to help you along.

This section may prove difficult for young children or if you find this type of terrain challenging. If you are concerned you may not be able to get through, you can always complete your round trip in the Cirque des Évettes via the path by which this route descends – steep, certainly, but less challenging.

Reach the entrance to the Cirque des Évettes.

(5) Head down to the left towards the Roman bridge, signposted by a sign.

(6) Roman bridge and waterfall in the Gorges de la Reculaz. Cross the bridge to continue the hike into the heart of the Cirque des Évettes. Reach the glacial lake.

(7) Go round it on the left, crossing the small streams that feed into it. You are now in the heart of the Cirque des Évettes.

(8) Continue along the stream flowing from the back of the Cirque des Évettes and make your way to the back of the cirque to finally reach the foot of the Glacier des Évettes.

(9) Find the easiest way to cross the stream and reach the other bank. It is often possible to cross via snowfields. Stay on level ground for about 200 m, then veer right to begin the descent.

(10) Continue straight on to reach a path junction further on, located before the small lakes of Les Pareis.

(11) Go straight on to reach the Évettes refuge. Continue along the path which slopes to the left then heads north-west, following the Ruisseau du Picherse, and reaches a junction.

(12) Keep to the left and begin a steep descent. At the junction with another path, continue to the left and ignore a path branching off to the left a few metres further on.

(13) Turn right to head straight down the slope. Further down, the path winds through several bends before becoming more or less straight again, eventually leading onto a track suitable for vehicles. Turn right for a few metres.

(14) Leave the track to take a path on the left, then keep left immediately afterwards onto the path that leads directly to the car park at the start (S/E).

Plan to make the ascent via the Gorges de la Reculaz in dry weather.

Standard hiking equipment: ice axes, crampons, rope (not required in summer).

May prove difficult for young children (particularly the ascent via the Gorges de la Reculaz).

Drinking water (filtered) available free of charge at the Refuge des Évettes.

Food and drink available at the Refuge des Évettes (no card payments accepted: please have cash).

(5) Please note that from here, rather than heading towards the Roman bridge, you can reach the Refuge des Évettes by taking the path branching off to the right (also signposted).

(6) Just after crossing the bridge, a small path branches off to your left: you can follow it for a few dozen metres (possibly descending along the scree to the left of this path, taking care of unstable rocks and the dampness from the waterfall) to get a better view of the waterfall. Then retrace your steps to rejoin the route after the Roman bridge.

(9) Please note: at the bottom of the cirque, you may find it impossible to cross the stream. You will then need to retrace your steps back to (8). At this point, there are two options:

• if it is possible to cross the stream at this point (depending on the month and the weather), cross it to reach the other side of the bank and continue along the route from (10)
• if it is impossible to cross the stream (depending on the month and the weather), retrace your steps back to (5) and continue straight on to reach the Évettes refuge.

(10) Please note that IGN maps show bodies of water which, depending on the weather and season, may be dry (summer, dry weather) or, conversely, marshy (spring, autumn, very rainy/stormy weather). In the first case, you can easily follow the route of the hike; in the second case, you can climb slightly up the mountain slopes on the left to reach a dry rocky path (running parallel to and slightly above the route, visible on IGN maps).

(12) Option to follow the path on the right: longer distance but slightly less steep gradient.

(13) You can also continue straight ahead: a longer route but with a slightly gentler gradient.

In the order of the route:
- Pasture and livestock
- Reculaz stream
- Reculaz Gorge and its waterfall
- Cirque des Évettes: Roman bridge, Reculaz waterfall, glacial lake, Évettes Glacier, Évettes Refuge, Col des Évettes.