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From the village of École-en-Bauges, head for the Vallon de Bellevaux.
Park in the convent car park at an altitude of 868 m.
(S/E) From the car park, walk down a few metres and turn left onto the forest track (traffic restricted). Start with a short climb through the forest before emerging into a pretty clearing with a wayside shrine.
(1) Cross the bridge and take the track on the right. Pass the Notre-Dame de Bellevaux Chapel on your left; this will be your return route. Follow the track on the right for about 200m before leaving it.
(2) Turn left onto a path that climbs steeply through the forest.
This path runs alongside the Ruisseau d’Arclusaz, which you will cross by fording at an altitude of 1,084 m.
(3) Continue along the path; you’ll notice chalets and barns nearby. The path then opens out onto the mountain pasture; follow it south for just 250 m before reaching a wide, beautiful track used by herdsmen.
(4) Turn left towards the Chalet du Praz. To the right, the track descends towards École via the Arolles car park. The path then passes a small, recently renovated building.
(5) Continue climbing along the track on the left. At a wide right-hand bend, stay on the track, ignoring the path that heads into the forest. Reach the Chalet du Praz and continue along the track to the next junction.
(6) Let the track to the left towards Chalet du Lauzarin and Chalet Bottier go by; this will be the return route. Continue along the track to Chalet des Arbets where the track ends.
Continue along the path towards the Col d’Arclusaz, which has been in view for some time now: panoramic views.
(7) Head back down to the Chalet des Arbets first, then to the junction mentioned above.
(6) So take the track that branches off to the right. The route is peaceful all the way to the Chalet du Lauzarin.
(8) Begin a short climb before descending to the Chalet Bottier.
Beyond this, the track continues downhill and soon turns into a long path that descends steeply through the forest. The descent takes place facing Mont Pécloz.
The path finally emerges from the forest at a place called Fond des Prés (1,150m).
(9) Then take a good path to the left for 300 m, then turn left onto a track that descends towards the village of La Chapelle, destroyed in 1944.
(10) A path then leads down to the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Bellevaux
(11) Continue to the junction by the oratory.
(1) Return to the forest track which leads back to the car park (S/E).
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