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From the village of École-en-Bauges, head towards the Vallon de Bellevaux.
Park in the convent car park at an altitude of 868 m.
(S/E) From the car park, walk downhill for a few metres and turn left onto the forest road (restricted traffic). Start with a short climb through the forest before coming out into a pretty clearing with a wayside shrine.
(1) Cross the bridge and take the track on the right. Leave the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bellevaux on your left; this will be the way back. Follow the track on the right for about 200 m before leaving it.
(2) Turn left onto a path that climbs steeply into the forest.
This path runs alongside the Ruisseau d'Arclusaz stream, which you will cross at a ford at an altitude of 1,084 metres.
(3) Continue along the path, noting the chalets and barns nearby. The path then opens onto the mountain pasture. Continue south for barely 250 m before reaching a wide, beautiful track used by alpine farmers.
(4) Turn left towards the Chalet du Praz. On the right, the track descends to École via the Arolles car park. The path then passes next to a small, recently renovated building.
(5) Continue climbing up the track on the left. In a large right-hand bend, stay on the track and ignore the path that enters the forest. You will reach the Chalet du Praz and continue on the track until the next intersection.
(6) Leave the track to the left towards Chalet du Lauzarin and Chalet Bottier, which will be the return route. Continue along the track to Chalet des Arbets where the track ends.
Continue along the path towards Col d'Arclusaz, which has been visible for some time now: enjoy the view.
(7) Descend to Chalet des Arbets first, then to the intersection mentioned above.
(6) Take the track that branches off to the right. The route is peaceful until you reach Chalet du Lauzarin.
(8) Begin a short climb before descending to Chalet Bottier.
After this, the track continues downhill and soon turns into a long path that descends steeply into the forest. The descent takes place facing Mont Pécloz.
The trail finally emerges from the forest at Fond des Prés (1,150 m).
(9) Then take a good path on the left for 300 m, then turn left onto a trail that descends towards the village of La Chapelle, which was destroyed in 1944.
(10) A path then leads down to the Notre-Dame de Bellevaux chapel
(11) Continue to the intersection with the oratory.
(1) Return to the forest road that leads back to the car park (S/E).
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