Col de la Fenêtre circular from Notre-Dame de la Gorge

de fr

A magnificent circular starting from Notre-Dame de la Gorge. The ascent of the Col de la Fenêtre will take you to a strategic point on the border between the Mont Blanc massif and the Beaufortain. From this narrow pass, you will enjoy a remarkable view of Mont Blanc to the east, Lac de la Girotte and the slopes of Hauteluce to the west.

Details

n°3378983
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,061 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,059 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,251 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,206 m
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Photos

Panoramic view at Col de la Fenêtre
Balme Valley
Les Prés
Les Prés

Description of the walk

Park in the Notre-Dame de la Gorge car park. From the car park, walk a few metres along the stream to reach the Bon Nant bridge, the starting point for this hike.

(S/E) Cross the bridge and take the old Roman road, which is quite steep in places. Cross the Bon Stream again on the magnificent Roman bridge of La Téna.

(1) Stay on theGR® Tour du Mont Blanc, better known by its abbreviation TMB. You will easily reach the first chalets of stream Borrant and then the refuge of the same name.

(2) Continue along theGR® TMB, pass a fork on the left and, a few metres further on, look out for the start of a path on the right leading to Les Prés.

(3) Leave the small road that leads to La Balme, turn right and take a path that is slightly exposed at the beginning, then enters the woods as it approaches a stream. After a few wide bends, you will reach a place called Les Prés, where there are a few alpine chalets.

(4) Heading south-west, the terrain becomes open and the path to the Col de la Fenêtre is clearly visible. At the first junction, take the path on the right, then after passing under a high-voltage power line, continue towards Plan de la Fenêtre, crossing several scree slopes. Join the path coming from Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. There is little elevation gain left to reach Col de la Fenêtre.
Enjoy the panoramic view of the Mont Blanc massif to the east and Beaufortain to the west.

(5) Begin the descent to the first fork.

(6) Follow the path northwards, which is theGRP® du Pays du Mont Blanc, passing in front of the Bûche Croisée chairlift and Roselette ski lift and reaching a new crossroads.

(7) Leave theGRP® du Pays du Mont Blanc and turn right towards Lac de Roselette and Le Signal, the Contamines cable car station. Continue to an intersection near the Le Signal cable car station.

(8) Take the path on the right towards the Bûche Croisée chairlift upper station and continue to this station.

(9) Head east towards Chenalettaz and you will come to another trail junction.

(10) Head north, begin the descent through the forest and reach L'Anery.

(11) Continue along this trail until you reach the small road to Sainte-Chapelle. From there, it is easy to return to Notre-Dame de la Gorge and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,209 m - Notre-Dame de la Gorge car park. Cross the - Bon Nant (torrent) - Affluent de l'Arve
  2. 1 : km 1.3 - alt. 1,390 m - Pont de la Téna (pont romain)
  3. 2 : km 1.7 - alt. 1,462 m - Refuge de Nant Borrant
  4. 3 : km 2.26 - alt. 1,539 m - Les Prés junction
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 1,802 m - Les Prés
  6. 5 : km 5.8 - alt. 2,239 m - Col de la Fenêtre
  7. 6 : km 6.15 - alt. 2,171 m - At the crossroads, stay on the Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc.
  8. 7 : km 7.89 - alt. 2,105 m - Fork in the road
  9. 8 : km 9.61 - alt. 1,876 m - Fork in the road, near Signal station
  10. 9 : km 10.94 - alt. 1,660 m - Bûche Croisée chairlift
  11. 10 : km 11.32 - alt. 1,571 m - Crossroads
  12. 11 : km 12.1 - alt. 1,378 m - L'Anery. Chapel road. - Notre Dame de la Gorge
  13. S/E : km 12.86 - alt. 1,208 m - Notre-Dame de la Gorge - Notre Dame de la Gorge

Notes

  • Suitable footwear (scree).
  • No water sources except at the Nant Borrant stream refuge.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

  • Notre-Dame de la Gorge.
  • Fenêtre Pass.
  • Roman bridge at La Téna.
  • Le Signal.
  • Stream Borrant refuge.
  • Balme Refuge
  • Croix du Bonhomme Pass and Refuge.
  • Jovets Lakes.
  • Roselette Needle.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
caraminou
caraminou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely outing with lots to see, including a Roman road and bridge, a dam and beautiful views of Mont Blanc and the Beaufortain mountains, with all kinds of trails, tracks and scree slopes. Good elevation gain. Worth repeating.

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Vic&Nath
Vic&Nath

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful outing with lovely scenery.
Beautiful views in an open environment overlooking mountain pastures and recommended for
blueberry lovers
The climb to Col de la Fenêtre is challenging, but the view at the top is a great reward.
The return trip is pleasant until you reach the Contamines slopes. In fact, the route is rather uninteresting at this point (but you have to come back down somehow...).
At the Bûche Croisée ski lift, the path through the forest becomes pleasant again.
This hike is highly recommended, even if it is very busy at this time of year.

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manon3
manon3

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike with magnificent views. However, an employee at the Miage refuge advised me to do it in the opposite direction to the one suggested. That's what I did, and I recommend it too, as it's easier going downhill. But it's a very beautiful route.

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Meganecafe
Meganecafe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike

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michel.bruel
michel.bruel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful during the final descent, as the planned route is no longer marked on one section... and the descent is quite difficult over the last 2 kilometres! But the views are truly magnificent on the Mont Blanc side and then on the Beaufortin side.

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BernieG
BernieG

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It would be advisable to mention in the guidebook that the descent trail to La Gorge via L'Anerie is quite difficult (to be avoided in wet weather). On a sign for hikers, this trail is marked as difficult at the bottom in Notre Dame de la Gorge, but not at the top before you start on it.

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83daniel
83daniel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Quite a strenuous hike
Very beautiful outing

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sncf
sncf

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, very busy around (and after) the pass. For the more challenging sections, you may have to wait up to 5 minutes.

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evelyneclaude
evelyneclaude

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike requires good physical condition

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.