La Ravoire – Arêches Alpine Refuge

Park in the La Ravoire car park above La Bâthie.

(S) Begin the ascent of the Col de la Bâthie via a signposted path that crosses a large mountain pasture.

(1) Walk past the Chalet du Soufflet before reaching the Col de la Bâthie at the junction with^{the GRP®} Tour du Beaufortain trail.

(2) Turn right onto this path and continue along the hillside on the Beaufortain side until you reach the Chalet-Refuge des Arolles.

(3) Pass underneath it and continue south, then east, at the Légette du Grand Mont to reach, on the left, the junction with the path leading up to Les Combettes.

(4) Continue along the^GRP®, ignoring the path to Lac de Brassa on the right.
A visit to the lake is possible and the round trip will only add about an hour to the route.
Carry on and, after a 90° left-hand bend, head for Lac Tournant.

(5) Turn left for a short climb before a pleasant walk along the hillside to the Bonnets Rouges chairlift station. Below, you’ll see the Chalet-Refuge de l’Alpage, today’s destination. Reach it via the road or by cutting across the meadows below the ski lifts (E).

There are no difficulties on this well-signposted route, which has very little elevation gain.

(3) Refuge-Chalet des Arolles: this is the top station of the Piapolay chairlift.