Couteray - Refuge du Vieux Emosson

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A pretty route, with views of the Tour and Argentière glaciers, which passes through the Refuge de Loriaz to reach the Barrage d'Emosson via a balcony path and finishes at the Refuge du Vieux Emosson.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour of the Dents Blanches massif, Ruan, Tenneverge

Details

n°14121577
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,144 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 321 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,229 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,350 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Areas: Alps, Giffre
  • ⚐ District: Vallorcine (74660)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 46.022058° / E 6.916825°
  • ⚑
    End: N 46.062447° / E 6.900392°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3530ET, 3530ETR, 3630OT, 3630OTR
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Photos

Tricky passage
the dormitory
refuge du vieux Emosson
Vieux Emosson refuge

Description of the walk

Take the D2506 to the Col des Montets, then follow the signs for Vallorcine until you reach the village of Le Buet. Take the road on the left towards Le Couteray, pass the hairpin bend and park in the car park on the bend.
There are not many spaces available, so arrive early.

(S) Take the Champ d'en haut road, ignoring the two roads on the left, to reach the Chemin de Loriaz track. Take this and reach the start of the path after the2nd bend.

(1) Turn right onto the track, following the signs for the Refuge de Loriaz. Rejoin the track and reach Côte du Nant. Continue through the forest, winding your way through the Forêt Domaniale de Vallorcine. Reach the forest exit.

(2) Continue until you reach the Croix de Loriaz and then the Refuge de Loriaz.

(3) Turn right towards the Emosson dam, indicated on a signpost, and take a balcony path with some tricky sections equipped with handrails to reach the Passet border pass above the dam, where several paths meet.

(4) Turn left and walk alongside the dam to reach the road.

(5) Do not take this road, but turn left onto the path. Start to climb, then walk alongside the stream in the Gorge de la Veudale and reach the high point at a path junction.

(6) Leave the path opposite the Col de la Terasse and turn right downhill to reach the Refuge du Vieux Emosson, the day's stage (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,351 m - Parking le Couteray. Close to the - Cascade de Bérard
  2. 1 : km 0.66 - alt. 1,417 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 4.11 - alt. 1,935 m - Exit from the forest
  4. 3 : km 5.27 - alt. 2,021 m - Chalets de la Loriaz
  5. 4 : km 8.9 - alt. 1,954 m - Col du Passet - Barrage d'Émosson
  6. 5 : km 9.26 - alt. 1,947 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 10.79 - alt. 2,153 m - Vieux Emosson junction
  8. E : km 11.99 - alt. 2,171 m - Vieux Emosson refuge - Lac du Vieux Émosson

Notes

(3) Refuge de Loriaz

Reservation Refuge du Vieux Emosson
+41 79 342 95 66
reservation@cabaneduvieux.ch

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Rounous
Rounous

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this hike, we followed in your footsteps for this 7-day trek!
It was a beautiful day, with a climb through the forest, a stop at the Loriaz refuge and a walk on the balcony with a view of the Couteray valley. Meal at the Emosson dam, not very natural! At point 6, we preferred to continue into the beautiful Vauda valley rather than head for the refuge, as the hike was fairly short. It was a good diversions, though, and a steep descent above Lac du Vieux Emosson.
The refuge is below the dam, and the view is average. The welcome at the refuge was very friendly. The 9-person dormitory is well built and very clean. Average meal. 180 € for four people with the evening meal and picnic the next day.

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