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Park in the car park near the Pont des Prioux.
The circuit is signposted and the directions from the start are "Cirque des Nants, Montaimont."
(S/E) Cross the bridge and follow the road for about 150 metres.
(1) Take the path on the left, which is clear and climbs fairly quickly. The atmosphere is always damp and cool until you reach the Nants. If you set off early in the morning, the sun will only appear at the Nants.
The valley narrows and the path gets closer to the stream.
(2) At an altitude of around 2,050 metres, a crossroads will take you to Montaimont on your right (with recent plasticised signs). Take the normal route on the left, which quickly arrives (30 metres) at a bridge over the Nants stream. Pass along the right bank to arrive at the Chalet des Nants.
(3) You will find a two-room building with no door. You are now at the edge of the Vanoise National Park, marked by blue, white and red signs and a sign detailing a few rules and restrictions.
A few metres further on, the path splits: to the left towards the Valette refuge and to the right towards Montaimont, our destination.
You will have to cross numerous streams, hence the name of the cirque. Walking sticks are recommended for comfort. The trail is well marked and winds along the edge of the valley. Enjoy the scenery. Arrival at Lac du Clou (known as the "lac aux têtards" or "tadpole lake").
(4) This lake is a tiny stretch of water but makes for a nice stop (great photos with glaciers in the background) and is a haven for large colonies of tadpoles (or more, depending on the season).
A little further on, you will pass the ruins of the Chalet du Clou and cross a few more streams.
(5) The path plunges down to the right towards Montaimont, which you will soon see below. You will recognise it by the five barns with corrugated iron roofs, the Doron (torrent) de Chavière and the Roc de la Pêche refuge on the other bank.
You will arrive at Plan des Bôs and the junction with the Cirque du Génépy trail (renovated chalet on the plateau on the right).
(6) Ignore this trail and continue to Montaimont.
(7) Continue straight ahead. The path descends to cross the Doron and climbs back up the left bank to reach the refuge (very busy terrace).
(8) Take a look at the chapel as you pass, then continue along the wide path on your right and descend on the left bank. Leave a path on your left and continue to the concrete bridge over the stream.
(9) Cross the bridge and continue to the Pont de la Pêche car park.
(10) Cross the Doron again via a footbridge and, via a path on the left bank, return to the hamlet of Les Prioux and the starting point (S/E).
and hiking poles to avoid falling... beautiful views, a nice elevation gain, definitely worth doing!
Visorando member
Difficult 
Very difficult 
