La Fouly to Champex-Lac - Tour Mont Blanc

This 7th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) begins in La Fouly and gently descends alongside the Dranse de Ferret to Praz-de-Fort and Les Arlaches. It then leaves the valley to climb up to Lac de Champex. Let's do it! The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.
Follow the TMB signposts.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour Mont Blanc in 11 stages

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 683 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 844 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,607 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,052 m

Description of the walk

Start : Gîte de la Fouly [https://gitedelafouly...] in La Fouly
Follow the TMB signposts.

(S) From the Gîte de la Fouly, head North along Rte de Ferret, past the Hotel L'Edelweiss and as far as the Grand-Hôtel du Val Ferret (330m or so). Here, go left off the road, through the trees to reach a dam blocking the Dranse de Ferret

(1) On the other side of the dam, turn right.

(2) Then after 135m, bear right along the L'Amônaz trail that winds its way through the trees keeping the Dranse de Ferret close by, on the right. The route continues along the valley, maintaining the Dranse de Ferret on the right, all the way as far as Praz-de-Fort.

(3) The route crosses the Dranse de Ferret here and continues on the other side. The track goes through Les Arlaches and crosses Dranse de Ferret further on at Issert.

(4) Shortly after leaving the hamlet, take the fork to the left then leave the track at a sharp bend to pick up the trail that continues to head North. The path now climbs steadily, crossing tracks and following others.

(5) Our route crosses the Torrent du Darbellay and continues through the trees. The climb is continuous, from 1,055m in Issert to 1,420m near the Centrale Hydroélectrique Niollet 1.

(6) Follow the path continues through the trees to reach the Lac de Champex.

(7) Follow the road round to the right of the lake and through the village. Go past the Camping Les Rocailles and continue out of the village on the Val Darpette road until sign posts (and a big rock) indicate the TMB route off to the left.

(8) Cross over a stream and a little further on take a path that is sign-posted Auberge Gîte "Bon Abri" http://www.gite-bon-abri.com/ (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,604 m - La Fouly
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 1,577 m - Dranse de Ferret dam
  3. 2 : km 0.68 - alt. 1,574 m - L'Amônaz trail
  4. 3 : km 8.3 - alt. 1,151 m - Praz-de-Fort
  5. 4 : km 8.36 - alt. 1,157 m - Hamlet - Fork
  6. 5 : km 10.11 - alt. 1,060 m - Torrent du Darbellay
  7. 6 : km 13.18 - alt. 1,425 m - Centrale Hydroélectrique Niollet 1
  8. 7 : km 14.34 - alt. 1,484 m - Lac de Champex
  9. 8 : km 16.38 - alt. 1,472 m - Stream
  10. E : km 16.55 - alt. 1,443 m - Champex-Lac

Notes

Start : Gîte de la Fouly [https://gitedelafouly...] in La Fouly.

Facilities : Food and drink is available along the way but make sure you have enough water, especially in summer.

Note : Wear a hat and use suncream. If it's winter, make sure you have strong boots and check the weather before venturing out on the mountains.

Worth a visit

Enjoy the views and take your time. Take care of yourself and look out for wildlife along the way. Just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.

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