The Barma lakes and mountain refuge, with circular walks starting from Plan de Coumarial

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This walk, starting from Plan de Coumarial, takes in five superb lakes in the Mont Mars Nature Reserve: the Vargno reservoir, the upper and lower Lounc lakes, and the Barma lakes. The suggested route follows the signposted paths No. 2D and 2C and the Via Alta No. 1. Path 2C, which overlooks Lake Vargno, is rated EE and is reserved for walkers accustomed to mountain walking. It is fully equipped with rope descents and via ferrata-style fixings at sections deemed difficult.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.66 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,448 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,455 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,772 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,741 ft
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Description of the walk

Park in the Plan Coumarial car park, a leisure area equipped with children’s play facilities and plenty of picnic spots. It is also the starting point for numerous walks in the Mont-Mars Nature Reserve. Setting off early ensures you’ll get a parking space.

(S/E) Walk up through the car park to the end and take the signposted Trail No. 2D towards the Refuge della Barma. Ignore the paths branching off to the left, keep heading north-east and climb the winding path through the forest.

(1) At a place called Creux, carry on straight ahead (east).

(2) At the T-junction, turn left and continue through the forest.

(3) At a fork in the road, turn left. Leave the forest and reach the hamlet of Creste Damon.

(4) Carry on straight ahead (north-east) and enter the woodland again.

(5) Turn right onto path no. 2C, still heading towards the Refuge della Barma. This narrow but well-maintained path overlooks Lake Vargno. It may be daunting for those prone to vertigo or who are not used to hiking in the mountains.

(6) Pass a small lake on the left (Lago Bonnet Contiguo). Cross the hamlet of Bonnet and continue climbing along the path. You will reach a junction above Lac Long Supérieur.

(7) Turn right onto Via Alta No. 1 towards the Barma Mountain Hut. At the Fork in the road shortly afterwards, keep left, still heading towards the hut. Pass a first junction and immediately reach a second junction near Upper Barma Lake.

(8) Walk round the lake on the left and arrive at the Rifugio Barma.

(9) There are two options here:
- If you’re wary of off-trail hiking in the mountains, turn back to the previous junction (8).
- Otherwise, as shown on the map, go round the refuge on the left. Follow a faint path to go round Lake Barma (Lago della Barma).

(10) At the T-junction, turn right. Just before the refuge, turn left and walk round Lago Barma Superiore on the left-hand side.

(8) Join Via Alta No. 1 and follow it in the opposite direction to the outward journey, towards Lago Vargno.

(7) Turn right and head downhill. At a junction in a shaded area, continue straight ahead. Descend via a series of hairpin bends.

(11) Turn sharply left, still on Via Alta No. 1, towards the Lago Vargno dam.

(12) Follow the crest of the dam. On the other side, head back up through the woodland along a series of steep hairpin bends.

(5) Turn right and follow the path you took on the way there in the opposite direction.

(4) At a place called Creste Damon, turn right at a 90° angle and head down a forest track.

(13) At a place called Creste Desot, take a sharp left-hand bend and continue down the forest track.

(1) At a place called Creux, turn right. Follow path no. 2D in the opposite direction to the outward journey to return to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,747 ft - Car park – Map of Coumarial
  2. 1 : mi 1.03 - alt. 5,883 ft - Western junction of the Western circular loop – Creux
  3. 2 : mi 1.27 - alt. 6,138 ft - T-junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.5 - alt. 6,385 ft - Fork
  5. 4 : mi 1.69 - alt. 6,276 ft - Eastern junction of the western circular loop – Creste Damon
  6. 5 : mi 1.96 - alt. 6,132 ft - Western junction of the central circular loop
  7. 6 : mi 2.35 - alt. 5,869 ft - Lago Bonnel Contiguo
  8. 7 : mi 3 - alt. 6,342 ft - Eastern junction of the central circular loop - Lago Lungo Superiore
  9. 8 : mi 3.45 - alt. 6,719 ft - Junction of the eastern circular loop - Lago Barma Superiore
  10. 9 : mi 3.6 - alt. 6,693 ft - Rifugio Barma
  11. 10 : mi 4.15 - alt. 6,650 ft - Lago della Barma
  12. 11 : mi 5.55 - alt. 5,558 ft - Junction
  13. 12 : mi 5.69 - alt. 5,531 ft - Lago Vargno
  14. 13 : mi 6.95 - alt. 6,096 ft - Creste Desot
  15. S/E : mi 8.66 - alt. 4,744 ft - Car park – Map of Coumarial

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