The Combe des Aiguilles d'Arves

This is a particularly pleasant hike, allowing you to discover the great cirque formed by these three Savoyard peaks, with the added bonus of a stop at the very friendly Refuge des Aiguilles.

Details

n°136656

Creation:
26 Jul 2015

Last update:
16 Jan 2024

Last review:
18 Aug 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.77 km
Average duration: 5h 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 773 m
Descent: - 775 m
Highest point: 2,420 m
Lowest point: 1,684 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Arves, Vallée de la Maurienne
District: Valloire (73450)
Start/End: N 45.120372° / E 6.417815°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3435ET, 3435ETR, 3535OT, 3535OTR
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Description of the walk

Park in the large car park in the hamlet of Bonnenuit on the edge of the airfield.

(S/E) Start by crossing the car park on level ground heading south, then cross the footbridges over the Valloirette and then the Ruisseau des Aiguilles. Continue through the forest and start climbing gently then steeply to reach the Chalets des Aiguilles.

(1) Ignore the paths leading off to the right or left and continue north-west, passing a chalet on your left, then the ruins of a second chalet. Cross the mountain pasture until you reach the chalet at a place called Le Commandraut.

(2) Continue and go around the Combe du Puy, crossing the stream flowing down from the Col de l'Epaisseur and, after a final climb, you will come to the Refuge des Aiguilles d'Arves.

(3) Continue westwards along a good, slightly uphill path to reach the Combe des Aiguilles and enjoy a remarkable view of this cirque.

(4) Take the same route in reverse to return first to the refuge, then to the Chalets du Commandraut and Chalets des Aiguilles, and finish at the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,686 m - Parking at the refuge in Bonnenuit. Bridge over the - Valloirette (rivière)
1 : km 0.78 - alt. 1,851 m - Chalets des Aiguilles
2 : km 2.68 - alt. 2,133 m - Commandraut chalet
3 : km 3.94 - alt. 2,240 m - Refuge des Aiguilles d'Arves
4 : km 5.38 - alt. 2,420 m - Combe des Aiguilles d'Arves
S/E : km 10.77 - alt. 1,685 m - Parking at the refuge in Bonnenuit

Notes

Water is available at the Aiguilles chalets (1) (be sure to close the electric gate) and at the refuge (3).
Shelter and overnight accommodation available at the refuge.

Worth a visit

Valloire is one of the most important resorts in Maurienne, with its ski area linked to that of Valmeinier.
The nearby Col du Galibier is a famous Tour de France stage.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5

Route interest
4.6 / 5

User 857095

18 Aug 2025 at 20:43 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with a very pleasant and welcoming refuge.
I went beyond the turning point at the start of the Cirque des Aiguilles because the path that continues (marked in black dots) is very passable if you remain vigilant. The end of the world is within walking distance. I only encountered one other hiker at this point. Gigantic, beautiful and peaceful wildlife watching. This involves an elevation gain of over 830 m.
Please note:

the point to watch out for when approaching the refuge (scree) is less vertiginous and difficult than advertised. I was worried before I discovered it.
the start is not quite as indicated: it is better to start just at the road bridge under the altiport.

Thank you for this hike, which is not listed in the local guidebooks. This explains why there are so few hikers and why the walk is so peaceful.
Thanks to the team.
Best regards
Catherine Triguel

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mariecrif

16 Jul 2025 at 07:45 7200 • Edited: 16 Jul 2025 at 07:46 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After a short climb through the woods and a quieter path through the valley, you will reach the refuge in about two hours. An easy hike in a slightly enclosed valley with beautiful views of the Aiguilles d'Arves at the end of the valley.

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quito84

09 Sep 2024 at 16:22 7200 • Edited: 09 Sep 2024 at 16:23 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in a beautiful valley! The welcome and meal at the refuge on our return were excellent! There was no one else there that day and the weather was average, but we waited patiently and were able to see the three peaks at around 2,400 metres. Thank you to the author for the suggestion!

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tixier.jean-p

04 Sep 2023 at 10:14 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, steady climb, arrival at a pleasant refuge, the valley that follows takes us into the Cirque des Aiguilles, giving a real feeling of being high in the mountains.
An added bonus is that the valley you climb up is also an alpine pasture with beautiful mixed breeds of cows.

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Rackoon

24 Jul 2023 at 09:03 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent circuit.

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Lire7lynx3

16 Aug 2022 at 15:06 7200 • Edited: 19 Sep 2022 at 13:28 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike through mountain pastures with lots of cows lying comfortably on the trail, others following close behind us to make us move... Fortunately, they don't continue all the way to the "Mauvais pas" (bad step) section.
There were no technical difficulties in reaching point 4 (the last one indicated on the Visorando map).
The trail continues after that and, we were told, leads to a lake near the "chat's head", but it's a steep climb and with the heatwave we would have had to set off much earlier...
We received a very warm welcome at the refuge for a much-needed break.
We really enjoyed being so close to the Aiguilles d'Arves, although last summer we preferred the Visorando circuit "Au pied des Aiguilles d'Arves - Basse du Gerbier" on the opposite side (more high-mountain and grandiose atmosphere).
We didn't use the description and rarely used the GPX file. Bring water and a hat (no trees and very little wind).

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Mimizen38

24 Apr 2022 at 19:43 7200

Hello,
Has anyone ever climbed the pass? How difficult is it technically? When is the best time of year to go? June might be too early, right?
Thanks in advance

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Wingardium

02 Oct 2021 at 09:29 7200 • Edited: 02 Oct 2021 at 09:33 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike in a high mountain setting under a beautiful blue sky.
After a slightly steep climb through larch trees at the start, you come out onto alpine pastures where the slope is easier. There were lots of herds of cows with their calves on 1 October, at least as far as the refuge (closed as it was already out of season).
I continued along the trail beyond the point (4) to the end to reach an altitude of 2,600 metres and get as close as possible to the Aiguilles d'Arves, even though this didn't add much to the already spectacular view.
I didn't encounter any difficulties on this route, although after this point (4) there are two stream crossings that require a little caution (a ditch to cross). The trail is very good and clearly visible throughout.
There were a few very shy marmots (they ran away when I was still far away) and very few people (I saw or passed four hikers)
In short, a hike to recommend!

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Danièle34980

28 Jun 2021 at 14:07 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A round trip to the refuge, with the option of lunch on site or refreshments: a superb hike through flower-filled meadows in June. Very fond memories

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limesy.martine@free

20 Jun 2021 at 08:50 7200 • Edited: 20 Jun 2021 at 08:52 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike follows the route, climbing all the way up to the peaks
When you reach the refuge, the path is blocked by a rockfall, but you can take a slight detour to the right
Return downhill A beautiful hike that is quite physically demanding on the way up Beautiful mountain pastures and encounters with marmots

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jfac

28 Aug 2020 at 17:59 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful outing in the mountain pastures to the Aiguilles d'Arves refuge and towards the combe. No major difficulties. Perfect weather. A good route for recovering after the Pointe des Cerces.

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randonita

17 Aug 2020 at 10:54 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hike that is almost entirely uphill.

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bernardino

01 Aug 2020 at 21:23 7200

Thank you for your comment. Could you please specify what you found average about the description so that I can make any changes you think necessary? As far as I can remember, I don't recall the tricky section you mention. Perhaps there have been some changes to the route since my last visit.
Enjoy your future hikes.
Have a good evening.

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les grolles

24 Jul 2020 at 16:59 7200

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

beautiful hike, lots of flowers

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mfcahlego

20 Sep 2019 at 14:26 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike, and the fact that the refuge was open allowed a small group of less experienced walkers to stop and enjoy the terrace

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