From the Entre le Lac Mountain Hut to the Arpont Mountain Hut

This ninth stage takes place in the Vanoise massif. First along the GR® 5 to Val Claret and then via the Via Alpina, which crosses the Haute Vanoise before rejoining the GR® 5.
From the refuge, the path joins the GR® 5 at Plan de la Grassaz. The view opens out onto a vast plateau. The path passes Lake Grattaleu, the Refuge du Palet and the pass of the same name. It descends towards Val Claret and leaves the GR® 5 for the Haute Vanoise variant via the Via Alpina and the GR® 55. It climbs towards the Col de Fresse but bypasses it to reach the Col de la Leisse. The trail descends beneath the Grande Motte glacier, skirting the Lac des Nettes, and reaches the Refuge de la Leisse. At the Croé-Vie bridge, the Via Alpina leaves the GR® 55, heads for the Refuge d’Entre Deux Eaux, and crosses the Torrent de la Rocheure to rejoin the GR® 5. It climbs towards Lac des Lozières and then, at the foot of the glaciers, runs along a ridge overlooking the Doron Termignon valley and reaches the Refuge de l’Arpont.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: GTA, Grande Traversée des Alpes par les GR®5 et GR®55. Du Léman à Nice.

Details

n°67869740

Creation:
30 Dec 2024

Last update:
26 May 2026

Last review:
–

Activity: Walking
Distance: 22.63 mi
Average duration: 15h 30
Difficulty: Very difficult
Back to start: No
Ascent: + 5,837 ft
Descent: - 5,351 ft
Highest point: 9,022 ft
Lowest point: 6,604 ft

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Vanoise
City: Peisey-Nancroix (73210)
Start: N 45.480539° / E 6.838678°
End: N 45.319186° / E 6.793151°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3532ET, 3532ETR, 3633ET, 3633ETR
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Description of the walk

(S) From the Entre le Lac Refuge, turn right (south) and immediately at the junction, ignore the path on the right (west) which follows the foot of the rocky ridge. Head south-east and, after 50 m, at the fork, leave the previous day’s path on the left towards the eastern shore of the lake and continue along the one opposite (south-east). Join the GR®5 at Plan de la Grassaz (alt. 2320 m).

(1) Follow the GR®5 level to the right (south). At the Fork in the road, ignore the path on the right and continue left. Climb the ridge of Lac Grattaleu. At the lake’s edge, cross a path and go over the spillway. Continue for 200 m along a flat section (south); at the junction (alt. 2525 m), ignore the path straight ahead and take the one on the left (south-east) to reach the Refuge du Col du Palet.

(2) Immediately after the refuge, ignore the path to the right and cut across its bend via the path to the left. Return to the path and head (east-southeast) towards the Col du Palet. By taking a short detour to the Col de la Croix des Frêtes via the path to the right, you can admire a superb panorama of the Grande Casse.

(3) At the Col du Palet, ignore the side paths and continue for 100 m along the path straight ahead towards a fork above a small lake. Leave the path on the right (south), continue along the path straight ahead (east), pass the Gouille d’Eau basin and come out onto a track.

(4) Do not follow it downwards to the right; instead, follow the path straight ahead for 40 m. You will reach a track; follow it straight ahead for 40 m. Leave it at its left-hand bend and continue on the path straight ahead (east), which passes under a chairlift and leads to a junction at the top station of the Tichot chairlift.

(5) Continue straight on along the path (east), cross a track; continue straight ahead (east). Much further on, leave a path on the right and continue straight ahead to reach the junction at the ruins of the Chalet de Lognan.

(6) At the signpost, leave the GR® 5 straight ahead towards Tignes, and take the GR® 55 Via Alpina to the right (south), which crosses the Haute Vanoise in a high-mountain setting. You’ll reach a junction below the Tichot chairlift.

(7) Leave the GR® 55 to the left, which descends the very steep slope to the funicular station. Take the less steep path opposite, below the Tichot chairlift (south). Immediately, join the road to the altiport and follow it down opposite. At Les Chalets de la Balme, pass under the Lanches chairlift and reach a junction in front of a football pitch.

(8) Go round it via the path on the right which follows its length. Ignore an ascending path on the right. At the end of the pitch, ignore the path on the left and head up the track opposite. Cross the Ruisseau le Retort stream (alt. 2200 m). Follow it to the right (south-east) and after 250 m turn sharply left (north-west) to reach the lower station of the Fresse chairlift.

(9) Climb all the way to the right up the steep slope (south-east) alongside the chairlift and, at the Fork in the road, keep straight ahead. At around 2,450 m, pass under the chairlift to follow the Ruisseau Le Retort (south-east) and, about 800 m further on, reach a junction.

(10) Ignore the path heading off to the left towards the Col de Fresse (north-east) and, opposite, stay on the GR®55 (south-west), heading for a rocky ridge. Follow it to the right as you climb up a small valley and reach the Col de la Leisse at an altitude of 2761 m.

(11) Descend the pass (south-west) then (south) pass in front of Lac des Nettes, dominated by the Grande Motte Glacier on the right. Follow the right bank of the Torrent de la Leisse (south-west) and reach the Refuge de la Leisse.

(12) Descend the Leisse valley (west-south-west). After the less steep section at Plan de la Gasta (west), gradually head south into the valley, which narrows progressively. Arrive at the junction with the Pont de Croé Vie.

(13) At the signpost, leave the GR® 55, which crosses the Torrent de la Leisse via a footbridge. From there, looking back, you can admire the Grande Casse, the highest peak in the Vanoise. Continue along the Via Alpina path opposite, pass the ruins of a hamlet, then climb slightly towards a junction

(14) Ignore the path opposite leading to the chalets and the one heading in the opposite direction to the left towards the Refuge d’Entre Deux Eaux, and continue along the one on the right. Reach the Torrent de la Rocheure, ignore the path on the right and cross the Pont de la Renaudière opposite.

(15) On the other bank, rejoin the GR® 5 and follow it down to the right for 400 m. Upstream of a dam, cross the Rocheure and Leisse torrents in succession; downstream, these merge to form the Doron de Termignon. Follow its right bank to the old chalets of l’Île.

(16) At the fork in the hairpin bend, ignore the path on the left (classified as dangerous) running alongside the stream and turn right. Immediately afterwards, you’ll reach a Fork in the road. Leave the path opposite and take the track on the left (north-west) towards the Refuge de l’Arpont. Climb up the valley slope and reach a junction at the foot of some ruined chalets.

(17) Ignore the faint path to the right (north). Opposite (west), continue the ascent via switchbacks. At the third hairpin bend, reach a junction (alt. 2180 m). Ignore the path to the right towards the Para chalets. Climb diagonally up a steep slope (north-west) and arrive at a junction.

(18) Ignore the path on the right (north) and turn left (south-south-west) along the rocky ridges. Pass the high point (2,479 m) situated above the first Lac des Lozières. Descend between the other two lakes (south). Cross the footbridge over a torrent. From here, a beautiful view opens up over a cirque dominated by the Chasseforêt and Arpont glaciers

(19) Gradually head south-south-west to follow the Ruisseau de la Letta upstream. Cross it via a footbridge and continue climbing via switchbacks (south). Go round the Crête de la Frêt to the left (east) then (south). Follow the path running along the ridge overlooking the Doron de Termignon valley. Continue the descent to reach the Refuge de l'Arpont (E).

Waypoints

S : mi 0 - alt. 7,080 ft - Refuge-Entre-le-Lac (2146m)
1 : mi 0.7 - alt. 7,598 ft - GR 5 junction Map of La Grassaz
2 : mi 2.52 - alt. 8,481 ft - Refuge du Palet
3 : mi 2.74 - alt. 8,701 ft - Col du Palet
4 : mi 3.4 - alt. 8,297 ft - Intersection. Grattalu chairlift
5 : mi 3.74 - alt. 8,094 ft - Intersection. Top station of the Ticho chairlift
6 : mi 4.27 - alt. 7,638 ft - GR5/GR55 junction. Ruins of the Chalet de Lognan
7 : mi 4.56 - alt. 7,333 ft - Junction beneath the Tichot chairlift
8 : mi 5.22 - alt. 7,054 ft - Crossroads. Football ground.
9 : mi 5.92 - alt. 7,234 ft - Lower station of the Fresse chairlift
10 : mi 7.32 - alt. 8,343 ft - Crossroads. Col de Fresse
11 : mi 8.57 - alt. 9,019 ft - Col de la Leisse
12 : mi 11.29 - alt. 8,163 ft - Refuge de la Leisse
13 : mi 14.62 - alt. 6,886 ft - Croé Vie Bridge junction - Leisse (cours d'eau)
14 : mi 15.41 - alt. 6,962 ft - Refuge d'Entre Deux Eaux
15 : mi 15.86 - alt. 6,739 ft - Junction G5. Renaudière Bridge - Doron de Termignon (rivière)
16 : mi 16.34 - alt. 6,627 ft - Junction of the old chalets on the island
17 : mi 16.52 - alt. 6,804 ft - Crossroads. Ruined chalets
18 : mi 17.35 - alt. 7,654 ft - Crossroads (elevation 2337 m) below Mont de la Para
19 : mi 19.04 - alt. 7,936 ft - Footbridge over the spillway of Lac de la Roche Ferran - Lacs des Lazieres
E : mi 22.63 - alt. 7,575 ft - Refuge de l'Arpont